The department has a number of leading experts in the field of ancient Greek literature, including Dr George Gazis, Professor Edith Hall, Dr Lucy Jackson, and Dr Chiara Palladino. Staff with complementary expertise in ancient Greek philosophy, poetry, and history include Dr Giulia Bonasio, Dr Chris De Lisle, Professor Philip Horky, Professor Polly Low, and Professor Edmund Richardson.

Our research expertise is concentrated in the field of ancient Greek tragedy, comedy, and satyr play, and examines how these plays were produced and continued to live on and off stage for over two thousand five hundred years. We also specialise in the ancient Greek epic poems of Homer, and their relationship with older poems from the ‘Near East’ such as Gilgamesh. 

Current research activity is focused around Professor Edith Hall’s groundbreaking study of Aristotle’s works as pieces of literature. This project, which has been funded by the European Research Council, includes significant pubic engagement and outreach activities in schools and prisons in the North East of England.