Viola Periti
PhD Student - Classics
Background
I received my BA in Literature and my MA in Classics at the University of Pavia, where I also attended the Istituto Universitario di Studi Superiori (IUSS), as well as the Almo Collegio Borromeo. During my Master I was lucky enough to spend a semester as Erasmus student at the LMU in Munich (2017) and at Leiden University (2019). Then, I decided to pursue my doctoral degree at the University of Edinburgh where I am currently working on Valerius Maximus.
Qualifications
Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, AFHEA (Edinburgh Teaching Award)
M.A. Classics, University of Pavia
M.A. Humanities (Diploma di licenza), IUSS
B.A. Humanities, IUSS
B.A. Literature, University of Pavia
Undergraduate teaching
Tutor for:
Latin 1C
Latin 2B
Classical Literature in translation
Roman World 1B
Greek 1B
Research summary
My PhD thesis develops the current trend in scholarship that examines the Facta et dicta memorabilia as a work of literature in its own right. It gives credit to Valerius Maximus’ artistry, narrative strategies, and ideas, and to his role in the transmission of history. The thesis investigates how Valerius deals with the dynamics of power between individuals – how these are established, maintained, or subverted – with a particular focus on the relationship between power and the art of speaking.
Current research interests
My major interests concern Latin prose and poetry of the Late Republic and Early Empire with a focus on authors of the Tiberian age (Valerius Maximus, Velleius Paterculus, Seneca the Elder), the interrelation between memory, exemplarity, history, as well as on the creation, transmission and politics of memory.Current project grants
2019-2023: School of History, Classics and Archaeology School Doctoral Scholarship, University of Edinburgh