Category: medewerkervandemaand

The staff member of the month is Duccio Guasti, who is on the final stages of his FWO junior post-doctoral project. Michele Didoli talked to him about his life in Italy, his post-doc project and his latest fantastic academic achievements!

Dag, Duccio! In the department, you are known as a polyglot, but perhaps not everyone knows you speak… like Dante Alighieri. Tell us about yourself: is it true that you are almost a fellow countryman of the Sommo Poeta? Where did you study before landing at UGent?

Well, I was born in the valleys near Florence, and in Florence I got my BA, before moving to Berlin for my MA in historical linguistics. Then I won a scholarship for a 6-year graduate scholarship in Cincinnati, Ohio, which I used to get a second MA and a PhD in Classics. The vernacular has much changed since the times of Dante. I also suspect that he, like all Florentines, must have despised the way of speaking of the countryside.

Tuscans are famous for their boundless imagination when it comes to nicknames and monikers — so studying insults in Homer sounds like the perfect project for you. Tell us more! What was the worst insult there, according to the ancients? The most creative, in your view? Do you have a favourite?

“Oh fava!” (as you always say, mimicking my diction). Tuscans are renowned for being particularly outspoken, however I got my interest for satirical poetry from two non-Tuscans, Enrico Livrea and Mario Labate, whose courses on Horace and Archilochus I followed during my first years of university. Unlike them, I apply a sociolinguist approach to my analysis, using the study of insult to understand social implications. In fact, I move from the assumption that the most emotionally charged words are the ones that define boundaries. Therefore the subtitle of my first book is “language and society”: the study of insults in Homer is not self-serving, but the key to a new interpretation of the worlds he portrays. The worst insult according to the ancients was probably “father-beater”, one of the few that was illegal to say in Athens. The most creative ones we find in poets, like Hipponax, Aristophanes, Cercidas, who combine three or more words to create new offensive terms. Hipponax was also the first to put in writing the epithet of “motherfucker”, that is still today so common in American pop-culture.

The worst insult according to the ancients was probably “father-beater”, one of the few that was illegal to say in Athens. The most creative ones we find in poets, like Hipponax, Aristophanes, Cercidas, who combine three or more words to create new offensive terms.

Let’s talk about your recent achievements: you have just published a book and won an important prize that took you to Thessaloniki in June, right?

Yes! My first book Homeric Insults in Context. Language and Society in the Iliad and the Odyssey is being published in August. The board of the Trends in Classics series decided also to award it the “Trends in Classics Book Prize” for the best book submitted by a first time author. Here I use the analysis of insults to understand the values of the Homeric worlds and his intended audience in the context of 7th-century Greece, when he – or more probably they, the Homer of the Iliad and the Homer of the Odyssey – presumably composed their works.

Not just research – recently, you have taught several classes and courses both in Ghent and abroad, building on the experience you gained in the US during your PhD. What have these teaching experiences given you?

Teaching in different countries is an invaluable experience. In the United States, I was accustomed to students who always were eager to intervene. In Belgium I found them much shier, and I had to devise tactics to get them to talk more. Student intervention is fundamental, both to foster active learning and to be aware of what misconceptions the students may have. And let’s be honest: students often offer a fresh perspective. By interacting with them we have occasion to learn ourselves about the subjects we teach.

Teaching in different countries is an invaluable experience. (…) students often offer a fresh perspective. By interacting with them we have occasion to learn ourselves about the subjects we teach.

Tell us about Duccio outside the Blandijn and away from the Word file of your next book. What do you like to do in your free time? What do you like about Belgium? Is there something you’d love to do but haven’t yet found the time for?

At the moment my main hobby is karate, which also led me to meet my current partner. Of Ghent I really like the parks, where I can walk to clear my mind. Unfortunately, my first year here was very rainy, which prevented me to enjoy them as much as I wanted. An activity that I was not yet able to practice as much as I wanted in Belgium is the piano. I still live in a relatively small apartment, but I plan on buying my own instrument as soon as I have a permanent residence.

Thanks Duccio! We look forward to reading your book in August, then!

Selene Evangelisti is our first “staff member of the month” of the new year! She joined us a couple of months ago for a research stay in the framework of her PhD project at the University of Turin “Il greco alla corte dei Duchi di Savoia. Uno studio delle grammatiche greche del fondo antico della Biblioteca Nazionale Universitaria di Torino”.

Hi Selene! Can you tell us more about your PhD project? In one sentence, how would you describe it to someone at a dinner party who just asked out of politeness — and then, more seriously, what first drew you to studying Greek grammars from the old collection of the Biblioteca Nazionale Universitaria di Torino, and what was Greek actually doing at the court of the Dukes of Savoy (prestige, politics, humanism, education…)?

Hello, everyone! I like to joke saying that I study burnt sheets of paper, sometimes the size of a stamp, which were once entire manuscripts, containing Greek grammar texts. The goal, of course, is to discover how Turin teachers in the 1500s tortured students to make them learn Greek!

More seriously, I’m interested in Greek grammar texts because of my passion for teaching (before my PhD, I taught Latin and Greek in high schools for three years). And, also, there is an aura of mystery surrounding the arrival and knowledge of Greek in Turin: when Greek manuscripts first arrived, was Ancient Greek already known? Was it studied? If so, how, where and from which texts? During my research, for example, I discovered that from middle 1400s onwards, the study of Ancient Greek was part of the education of the Savoia, the royal family in Turin. During the same period, people who had taught Greek in other Italian or European cities stayed at court for fairly long periods. Now, it is a matter of connecting people and books!

I’m interested in Greek grammar texts because of my passion for teaching. And, also, there is an aura of mystery surrounding the arrival and knowledge of Greek in Turin: when Greek manuscripts first arrived, was Ancient Greek already known? Was it studied? If so, how, where and from which texts?

What would surprise people most about your work?

Most people think that in such a “peripheral” area of Renaissance Italy, as Turin, there is not much to discover about Ancient Greek. When one thinks of the great centres of Greek culture in Italy, Venice, Milan, Rome, Padua and Florence immediately spring to mind…certainly not Turin. The Savoia family in the common sense was more interested in military campaigns than literature. However, the collection of Greek manuscripts at the Biblioteca Nazionale has a truly fascinating history, lost in the Piedmontese fog and in the flames, literally. In 1904, the library burned down and many codices were lost. Before that fire, the library held more than 400 Greek codices, including a surprising number of grammars. So much for the periphery!

Why did you choose Ghent for your exchange period? Was there a person, research tradition, or environment that made it the right place?

I chose UGent for my research stay because I was curious to learn more about the work and results of the MELA project. I also wanted to meet and exchange views in person with the research team, especially considering the project’s strong interest in Greek grammar texts. It seemed like a good idea to take a peek at their methodological approaches, in the hope of returning home with some new ideas and useful insights for my work. And it really was. The work environment is excellent: the team welcomed me with kindness and helpfulness, sharing their time, expertise and enthusiasm.

I chose UGent for my research stay because I was curious to learn more about the work and results of the MELA project. I also wanted to meet and exchange views in person with the research team, especially considering the project’s strong interest in Greek grammar texts.

A final question: When you leave Ghent, what do you think you’ll miss the most – academically or personally?

The weather, obviously! Just kidding… when I’ll go back to Turin at the end of March, I’m definitely going to miss the MELA team and, above all, my colleagues at the office. Over the last few months, they have practically adopted me (and, on many occasions, fed me!), making me feel at home. But that’s not all: also the exchange of ideas and the discussion about different ways of approaching research has been very fruitful. I think I’ll be taking home with me some new methodological ideas, a few cuberdons (of course!) and a lot of gratitude for you all!

Staff member of the month December 2025 is Samuel Carreño Ramos, who joined us these past months from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Samuel is writing a PhD thesis on the reception/representation of classical antiquity in modern fantasy and science-fiction, covering popular narratives of Roman imperialism, ‘empires rising and falling’, and more. He was with us from mid-September to mid-December to expand his work by incorporating analyses of modern video games.

Hi Samuel! Your PhD looks at how classical antiquity lives on in modern fantasy and science fiction, from Dune to Star Wars. What first sparked your interest in tracing Roman imperial ideas through these very different fictional worlds?

Oh dear, what a wonderful question, it helps me summarise all my experience in research, haha. Time for “yapping” about my thesis! It all began in 2021-22, when I first got a Master’s scholarship to work with the research project I’m still a part of, Marginalia Classica. In the progress of that research and in the shape of the final Master’s essay, I proposed that, since most of the contemporary fantastic literature is indebted ultimately from Tolkien’s secondary world theory, the way the Classics had been received in there would have also influenced the reception of the Classics in later fantastic literature. There are several ways classical reception works there, and one of them is the “Roman imperial ideas” you mention, specifically in the context of Númenor, both its successor realms (which I interpreted as the Eastern and Western empires), and the unification of both at the end of The Lord of the Rings in the lenses of a “happy ending” to an empire rather than “the Fall” of it.

The question this research posed, and the one that led me to this PhD, was what the general landscape of classical reception in secondary world creation (roughly what many call “worldbuilding”) looked like, and what phenomena have been key to understanding it other than Tolkien’s influence. In these two and a half years I’ve been in that quest, I’ve found that the ancient Greece and Rome are received in rather consistent and even “paradigmatic” ways in all the case studies I’ve approached: among them, the way the Greek and Latin languages are used in them, how fictional political structures are oftentimes based in their ancient counterparts, the pervasiveness of ancient splendour and decline narratives (Gibbon’s History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is especially relevant here), or how Classical Antiquity serves in general terms as a model for “intradiegetic Antiquities” (“ancient” periods of time proper of these secondary worlds). So far, my case studies have ranged from the Dune and Star Wars sagas you mentioned earlier or Tolkien’s Legendarium, to other sagas like The Elder Scrolls, The Witcher or Mass Effect. The Roman imperial ideas are really present in the Dune and Star Wars storyworlds, in the former’s “Imperium” or the latter’s “First Galactic Empire”: regarding that, I can mention DiTommaso’s 2007 proposal of a “dynamic of decline” in Dune and other products, or Michael B. Charles’ 2015 article about Star Wars and Rome.
I already know there will be a question about my time in Ghent, so I’ll use that question to explain a little more about my current approach to the research and these case studies.

From Madrid to Ghent, what took the most getting used to — the weather, the bikes, or the academic rhythm — and did working in a smaller, quieter city change how you approached your PhD work?

The academic rhythm has been wonderful, and it has even contributed to making my own rhythm better. All thanks to both Alexander Vandewalle, my supervisor during these months, and my colleagues in the department, Alexander’s course on videogames and in the Post-MESH lab, I’ve met some wonderful professionals and people. Ghent has many great things, but as cheesy as it may sound, it is absolutely true that the rhythm, Alexander and my colleagues have been the best parts. In Madrid I live far away from the university, and I am definitely going to miss being able to move just with my own legs and a bike without relying on trains or the understandable incidents of a city where almost 7 million people live. About the bikes, I think I’m now the most fit I’ve ever been, back in Madrid I intend to rely less on transport and, when possible, move by foot and even biking, too: I feel healthier and I want to keep that. The quietness has been delightful too, for the first time in my life it has helped me realise how noisy Madrid is, and I’ve concluded that the less sensory stimulation, the more efficient my research will be. The quietness has helped me immensely to focus and carry on with my work, and personally to be less stressed out, too. Another realisation has been related with the weather, too: I’ve always loved rain and dreamed of living in a place where it rains a lot as opposed to all the sun in Madrid, but after living in Ghent… Goodness, I do be more of a sun enjoyer now. I think I just want to experience all kinds of weather in a climate rather than just sun or just clouds, hahaha.

You arrived with plans to bring video games into your research on empires and their afterlives. As you leave Ghent, how has this stay changed or sharpened the way you think about fantasy worlds, past or future?

There we go, the question that links with the first one! So, I mentioned several videogames among my case studies. I had approached them both from the perspective of Classical Reception studies and, to a lesser extent, Transmedia studies. Video games made up the largest component of my case studies, but out from my student and researcher years, I lacked any academic education on Video Game studies. I already needed to go for an internship for at least 90 days to obtain an International Doctor title in my home university, so why not use this internship on learning about video game studies? It was suggested to me twice that I got in contact with Alexander for such a possibility, and here we are! So, the intention was precisely to change my approach towards secondary worlds and video game ones. After working with him, first in the theoretical basis of video game studies and its links with transmedia narratology, secondary worlds and the Classical world, second by applying those perspectives to the case study of the Mass Effect main trilogy, I consider it reasonable to switch my research’s focus into “triple A” fantasy and SF video games with secondary worlds: both because of the array of possibilities it provides me to study the paradigmatic receptions I mentioned earlier, because of its current dynamism and because I really needed to pick from the vastness of case studies available. Some key studies that I’ve applied to my research during these months are Jesper Juul’s Half-Real (2005), Jan-Noël Thon’s Transmedial Narratology (2016), Marie-Laure Ryan’s concept of the “principle of minimal departure” (1980) or Metzger and Paxton’s “Gaming History” (2016).

Ironically, my approach hasn’t really changed that much; instead, my work during the internship has complemented my previous work. For instance, whereas in the past I could look at how there are some intradiegetic Antiquities in this or that game, analyse them and call it a day, with my newly acquired knowledge on video game studies I am now able to recognise how fictional Antiquities are all over the place in video games like Mass Effect as a means of providing depth to the world’s chronology, of making it seem “more real(istic)” and of boosting the exploration of such ancient periods to advance in the game’s intended chain of events. That’s what Metzger and Paxton called “gamification of the past”. All in all, yeah, “sharpened” is definitely the proper term here.

A last question! If Ghent were a level in a video game, what would its main challenge or reward be?

I think Ghent has really been one of my life’s canonical events, haha. It would be included, in my case, in the “First Time Living Abroad” level, which would bring challenges such as “Survive Groceries + Bike” with the “Ride Your Bike from Sint Baafs to Korenmarkt” horror minigame (oh my God, those tram tracks), and its main reward would be “Focus +100”, “Calmness +200”, “(academic and personal) Self-Confidence +300”.

Staff member of the month November 2025 is Francesca Samorì, who joined us from Ravenna! Francesca joined the Greek Section this month as an FWO Junior Postdoctoral Researcher, and we are delighted to welcome her to the team. Giulia Paoletti chatted to Francesca about her research, living in Ghent and her life outside of work!

Hi Francesca and welcome to the Greek Section! How has your first month in Ghent been? Any fun discoveries about Belgium that you didn’t expect?

Hi, thank you! My first month in Ghent has been great: considering all the getting-used-to tasks and the bureaucratic errands that were on my to-do-list, I’ve been adjusting to my new everyday life so much more easily than expected. I immediately felt welcomed at the university and in the city, and this played a very important role in making the transition smoother, I’m sure! I had been to Belgium a few times before, including Ghent, but getting to discover these places as a wannabe-local is an entirely different thing! One of the most amazing discoveries for me was how much the city of Ghent is interwoven with its natural surroundings; water and green spaces merge perfectly with the town, and the autumn colors make everything even more fascinating! I will seize the opportunity of living here to get to visit Belgium as much as possible. I’ve been to Bruges – because where else could you start? – but I can’t wait to see all the wonderful surprises this country has to offer!

One of the most amazing discoveries for me was how much the city of Ghent is interwoven with its natural surroundings; water and green spaces merge perfectly with the town, and the autumn colors make everything even more fascinating!

What are you working on during your postdoctoral fellowship?

With my FWO postdoctoral fellowship I will be pushing the boundaries of my expertise, which is really stimulating for me. In fact, until now I have been specializing in the intellectual and religious history of the late 13th-early 14th-century Byzantium, focusing on the religious controversy with the Latins and on the issue of the union of the Byzantine Church with the Church of Rome: therefore, I’ve always worked with prose texts, especially polemical treatises and historical chronicles. My new project, whose title is Book epigrams and manuscripts as vectors of late-Byzantine literary, political and ideological history (13th-15th cent.), will give me the opportunity to explore this crucial period through a different lens, the one pertaining to manuscript production and to the composition of book epigrams – that is to say the metrical inscriptions contained in these very same manuscripts. The DBBE team at our university is the ideal environment to carry out this research: through a multi-layered analysis of some of the most exemplary of these poems, I will hopefully unlock the historical potential of Book Epigrams and reflect on the way in which manuscripts shaped and were shaped by the political, cultural, and religious landscape of late Byzantium. In doing so, I aim to contribute to critically reevaluate the Palaeologan period (1261-1453), a highly disregarded phase in Byzantine history.

Is there a part of your research that gives you that ‘I’ll just work five more minutes…’ feeling?

Yes, absolutely! It usually happens when I feel that something is missing, or is not as clear as I would like it to be. It can be anything: a word whose translation is not quite satisfying, a historical reference that seems to elude me, or a challenging examination of a manuscripts. It’s like chasing the missing piece of a jigsaw: “just five more minutes, it must be here somewhere, I just have to look some more!”

I will hopefully unlock the historical potential of Book Epigrams and reflect on the way in which manuscripts shaped and were shaped by the political, cultural, and religious landscape of late Byzantium.

What do you enjoy doing outside of academia? Any hobbies or favourite activities since moving here?

I guess you could say that what I do in my free time resembles pretty much what most of us do outside of academia: just trying to relax and recharge, possibly with a practical activity that could help ease the mind and the eyes! I like to do yoga and go swimming, but also read a good book curled up in a blanket or go out with friends. As I said, I plan to visit Belgium as much as possible, so this year’s weekends will be mostly dedicated to exploring new places! But lately I also found myself particularly enjoying furnishing and decorating my new apartment, trying to personalize it according to my own taste. The big glass window of my living room inspired me to try again with gardening: my first attempts, in the past, were not entirely successful, but I hope this time I will be able to improve, so that one day I can enrich my windowsill with many plants… For now, I started with one, let’s see how it goes!

Staff member of the month October 2025 is Juan Bautista Juan López, who joined us from Valencia! Juan has been working in the Greek section since October 2024, when he joined the team of the Database of Byzantine Book Epigrams as a post-doctoral researcher. Giulia Paoletti chatted to Juan about his research, living in Ghent and some recent life updates!

You’ve been here for almost a year now—how has that first year gone for you, and have you discovered any favorite places or things about Ghent or Belgium along the way?

It’s been a very full and rewarding first year! I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the department and settling into a rhythm here in Ghent. The city has been such a pleasant surprise—its blend of medieval charm and vibrant student life makes it easy to feel at home. I love cycling along the Oudegentweg towards Nazareth and De Pinte, by the Leie and the Schelde, or out into the surrounding countryside. For quieter moments, I often spend time in the botanical garden or visit the Sint-Stefanuskerk. And one of my favorite weekend rituals is browsing the Sunday book market on the Ajuinlei.

My research focuses on intellectual networks and manuscript production in the Byzantine world, especially during the early Palaiologan period (roughly 1280–1350).

Can you give us the inside scoop on your work at Ghent University—what’s your role and what research are you currently diving into?

I’m a postdoctoral fellow in the Greek Section of the Department of Literary Studies. My day-to-day involves working with the Database of Byzantine Book Epigrams (DBBE)—a digital tool for collecting, cataloguing, and analyzing epigrams (short poems) produced by Byzantine authors. My research focuses on intellectual networks and manuscript production in the Byzantine world, especially during the early Palaiologan period (roughly 1280–1350). I’m particularly interested in how scholars communicated, influenced each other, and passed along texts.

Outside of research, how do you relax and keep your balance?

I try to keep a healthy balance by staying active—I enjoy walking, running, cycling around the outskirts of Ghent, going to the gym, and playing football. Cooking and reading are also ways I like to unwind. I’m a big football fan too, and I always keep an eye on Valencia CF. Beyond that, I make time to explore Belgium outside Ghent. Short trips to cities like Brussels, Leuven, Bruges, Antwerp, or Ostend—sometimes on my own, sometimes with family—have been wonderful ways to recharge.

I make time to explore Belgium outside Ghent. Short trips to cities like Brussels, Leuven, Bruges, Antwerp, or Ostend have been wonderful ways to recharge.

Word on the street is there’s been a big celebration in your life recently… would you like to tell us about it?

Yes! I recently got married. My wife and I come from different countries, so organizing a big celebration back home was tricky. Instead, we chose to celebrate here in Ghent with a small but meaningful ceremony at the beautiful Stadhuis, surrounded by our closest family. After five years together and many shared travels, marking this milestone here felt especially memorable.

Maria Rosa served as a postdoctoral researcher within the ERC project MELA, during which she focused on the epistolary corpus of Manuel Kalekas. With her project now concluded, she reflects on her time in Ghent and the many reasons she found it so rewarding.

Hi Maria Rosa! You joined our Section two years ago — hard to believe it’s been that long! Now that your contract has concluded, what do you think you are going to miss the most?

It’s incredible to think that two years have passed already — time really does fly! What I’ll miss the most is, without question, the friends and colleagues I’ve met here in Ghent. Our office was a truly special space — not just a workplace, but a lively hub where disciplines met and minds connected. We were a wonderfully diverse group: experts in Indo-European, Spanish, Byzantine and Germanic linguistics, in astronomy, and even in Byzantine poetry — a combination that might sound unusual at first, but which created an ideal environment for creative dialogue. Our spontaneous conversations — often beginning as casual chats over coffee — frequently turned into stimulating exchanges that influenced our respective projects in unexpected and productive ways.

That daily intellectual cross-pollination, the sense of shared curiosity, and above all, the warmth and humor of the people around me — these are the things I’ll carry with me and miss dearly.

Kalekas lived during a time of intense political, theological, and cultural conflict — a context that’s deeply reflected in his letters, which offer a unique window onto the ideological and emotional landscape of late fourteenth-century Byzantium.

You are a Byzantinist and a post-doc inside the MELA Project. Can you tell us more about your work?

Yes, absolutely! As a Byzantinist within the MELA project, my research focused on the epistolary corpus of Manuel Kalekas, one of the most fascinating intellectuals of the late Byzantine period. Kalekas lived during a time of intense political, theological, and cultural conflict — a context that’s deeply reflected in his letters, which offer a unique window onto the ideological and emotional landscape of late fourteenth-century Byzantium.

My work centered especially on the linguistic dimension of his epistles. I analyzed the stylistic and syntactic features of his Greek, identifying those elements that are distinctive of the so-called Palaiologan phase of Byzantine Greek. This included studying his use of rhetorical strategies, lexical choices, and morphosyntactic constructions — all of which help us understand not only his individual voice, but also the broader evolution of Byzantine prose in an era of East-West exchange and internal turmoil.

I’ve developed a very personal routine here in Ghent for unwinding after work. Most days, I’d go for a walk along the canals — something I never got tired of. (…) During those walks, I often went in search of a good Italian-style espresso — which, as many Italians in Belgium can confirm, is easier said than done!

How do you like to relax after a long day of brain gymnastics — Netflix, naps, or just staring blankly at a wall sipping coffee?

I’ve developed a very personal routine here in Ghent for unwinding after work. Most days, I’d go for a walk along the canals — something I never got tired of. The city has a way of calming you down with its quiet water, narrow streets, and ever-changing skies (yes, even the grey ones!).

During those walks, I often went in search of a good Italian-style espresso — which, as many Italians in Belgium can confirm, is easier said than done! After much trial and error, I came to the firm conclusion that the best espresso in town was not in any café, but right in our building: the one brewed in the Greeks’ kitchen on the first floor! That became something of a ritual — a moment of connection, caffeine, and conversation that perfectly capped off even the most intense day of research.

 

 

Marthe Nemegeer is our Staff Member of the Month! She recently began a position as PhD researcher under the supervision of Professor Andrea Cuomo. Her work focuses on the palaeographical, linguistic, and theological dimensions of Byzantine texts and translations. Olivier Demerre spoke with her about her research, her academic journey in Ghent and London, her commitment to teaching Greek to high school students, and the role of sports in maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Succes, Marthe!

Hey Marthe! Could you tell us a bit more about your current position at Ghent University and what you’re working on for your research?

Hi Olivier, of course! I am currently funded by Ghent University as a PhD researcher under the supervision of Prof. Andrea Cuomo, while awaiting the outcome of my FWO application. My research proposal focuses on Manuel Kalekas’ Greek translation of St. Anselm’s Cur Deus homo, which I wish to study from a palaeographic, linguistic, and theological perspective. If my application is approved, I will prepare an edition of Kalekas’ autograph and then analyse the Greek text in comparison with the Latin using NLP tools. In addition to the linguistic analysis, I also aim to explore the broader context and impact of this translation on Byzantine thought. In the meantime, I am revising parts of my supervisor’s research on the scholia to Sophocles’ Electra and preparing an edition of Demetrios Kydones’ Homily on the Ascension of the Lord. So I have a few parallel projects going on, which keeps things varied and gives me the opportunity to explore different aspects of Byzantine studies.

You studied Greek in Ghent and completed part of your studies at the Royal Holloway in London; how was that experience, both academically and personally?

Indeed, I obtained a second MA in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies. Academically, I would say it was a very interesting and enriching experience to study in London and learn how their organisation differs from our Belgian institutions. London Universities (my program was taught jointly by Royal Holloway, King’s College, and University College) are actually very informal and administer much less exams than here in Ghent. Almost every course is assessed through short papers (often only 3000 words). Professors are addressed by their first names and students come to school in sweatpants – very odd… They also do not offer the same courses each year, which severely limits one’s options, but I immensely enjoyed my courses on papyrology with Nikolaos Gonis and Sanskrit with Italia Maddalena, even though they were both chosen as ‘second options’. Last but not least, London was the perfect base for visiting the universities of Oxford, Canterbury, and Cambridge.
To be honest, the personal experience was a bit disappointing. Because there was no set curriculum, I barely saw my fellow ‘LABS’ students who took different classes than me, so that it was hard to form close friendships. This is made even more difficult by the fact that London is so big and everyone comes from different places – sometimes hours away from the city – so meeting up for a quick coffee wasn’t easy. But I shouldn’t complain. I lived there with my cousin, who had just started a postdoc in biomedicine, and we explored the city together 😊

You’ve also taught one of the workshops for high school pupils which the section offers, what were they about, and what did you enjoy most about teaching them?

Yes, Anne and I taught two workshops together, giving high school pupils a ‘playful introduction to Ancient Greek’. As the name says, we introduced them to the basics – the what, when, and where of Ancient Greek. I really enjoyed seeing their growing enthusiasm throughout the class. At first, they have no idea what we are talking about, but as the session goes on, they begin to understand understanding, learn the alphabet, write their own names, and are challenged to find connections between their own language and Ancient Greek. In the first class, most pupils had Dutch as their mother tongue, but the second class was made up entirely of girls who spoke Arabic. This was particularly interesting and challenging for Anne and me.

We’ve heard you’re a big fan of sports, and that you might even be aiming for a spot (at least in the audience!) at the next Olympic Games… How does your passion for sports inspire or support your academic journey?

Haha, yes… we will see about the Olympics, but I do enjoy a lot of sports. I think it’s a great way to clear my head and take a step back from work when I cannot see the forest through the trees anymore. As we all know: mens sana in corpore sano. I also see many parallels between sports and academics: the discipline, the perfectionism, even the competition… In both fields, it’s about pushing limits, staying focused and constantly striving for improvement, though I hope that by doing both, I prevent myself from becoming too extreme in either. This thought reminds me of another Ancient wisdom: Μηδὲν ἄγαν 😉

Divna Manolova is our Staff Member of the Month! She recently started her project, funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship, which explores the role of versification in teaching astronomy in Byzantium. We chatted about her new project, AI spotting diagrams in historical sources, the flat Earth theory, her favourite chocolate shop, and her dance classes. Welcome, Divna!

Hi, Divna! You recently started you new position in our section as a Marie-Curie fellow, welcome! Could you explain the focus of your project?

Hello, Olivier, and thank you! My project’s acronym is COSMOPOET which stands for the study of the role poetry and versification more generally (might have) played in the teaching of the astral sciences in Byzantium. My focus falls specifically on didactic poetry used within the framework of teaching cosmology and introductory astronomy. I study the Phaenomena by Aratus of Soli (d. before 239 BCE) and the way it was read, commented and studied as part of, what I argue, is a ‘new’ curriculum forged by thirteenth-century Byzantine scholars. I contrast the reading of the Phaenomena with the reading of prose texts such as The Heavens by Cleomedes (first century CE) and ask what the difference was between explaining the structure of the universe in hexameters and reading about it in prose. Those interested in the project’s activities could follow us on Bluesky.

My project’s acronym is COSMOPOET which stands for the study of the role poetry and versification more generally (might have) played in the teaching of the astral sciences in Byzantium.

You’re also a member of EIDA (Editing and analyzing hIstorical astronomical Diagrams with Artificial I-intelligence), an interdisciplinary project that utilizes computational resources to retrieve and analyze diagrams in manuscripts. Could you briefly explain what a diagram is, describe your role in this project, and share your perspective on the usefulness of AI for our field?

Yes, of course! I became a member of EIDA in 2023 when I moved to Paris for my previous postdoc as a MSCA Paris Region fellow. At the time, my work was also about the teaching of the astral sciences in Byzantium but the focus was very much on the use of diagrams in instructional works. My main corpus consisted of the 84+ extant manuscripts preserving Cleomedes’ treatise The Heavens and on the diagrams most of them contain. At present, I continue thinking along the same lines both within COSMOPOET and as EIDA’s scientific collaborator and me and my colleagues keep asking the same question you asked, Olivier, namely “what is a diagram?”. I am sure it does not come as a surprise if I say that many of us at EIDA embrace different definitions even though we restrict our corpus to astronomical diagrams preserved in historical sources (mostly manuscripts but also prints in the case of the Chinese material). In terms of their design they all employ the geometrical idiom, that is they employ lines and circles, arcs of circles, and points, and they feature a variety of labels in a variety of scripts written in all kinds of colours and directions. These are also the elements that we have focused on in developing and in training computer vision tools that can facilitate the creation of natively digital scholarly editions of diagrams. EIDA is a Digital Humanities, and more specifically a Computer Vision project, so the challenge but also the beauty of our work is the conversation between historians and computer vision researchers (a fun example of this collaboration is this outreach talk my colleague Jade Norindr and I did for Astronomy on Tap Paris last year). In this sense, the working definitions of a diagram I employ change when I am thinking about the training of one of EIDA’s computer vision algorithms and when I wear my historian’s hat and think of the late Byzantine scholars and scribes and what they defined as diagrammatic. Finally, when thinking of what diagrams are and aren’t I find it useful to ask what the difference is between telling something and showing something. In fact, diagrams can both show and tell and on top of that, they can show multiple things at the same time, for instance a diagram can simultaneously explain the lunar phases and how a lunar eclipse occurs. A narrative can only do this in a linear fashion – first explain one phenomenon, then the other. A diagram, however, can offer a synoptic view and explain both at the same time.

As to your question about the usefulness of AI in our field: based on my experience so far, I think that the answer depends, first, on the research questions one wants to pursue and second, on the amount of data one has. If a researcher’s corpus is relatively small, then probably creating an AI tool to study it is not necessary, whereas truly large corpora become more manageable thanks to AI.

Given your work in teaching ancient science, particularly ancient astronomy, do you have an opinion on the recent flat Earth theory and its implications for science education today?

Well, the myth I have always been quick to debunk during museum tours is rather the incredibly persistent popular belief that in the Middle Ages people believed that the Earth was flat. The European Middle Ages embraced the doctrine of the sphericity of the Earth (and the universe) as a mainstream scientific explanation even though alternative cosmological models were also attested (e.g., an egg-shaped Earth or, indeed, a rectangular and flat Earth). Nevertheless, all medieval European astronomy is based on an assumption that a spherical earth is positioned in the centre of a spherical universe and hence the rules of spherical geometry apply. Believing that the Earth is flat or believing that there is no proof that it is not in our contemporary world this raises questions concerning attitudes towards the notions of scientific truth and expertise and even identity and community construction. As educators what we could do in any sphere of knowledge is to help train the mind to question, to assess, to doubt, to examine, to argue, to discuss. Thinking and understanding are not a given. We need to insist and to persist in insisting that those skills require formation and continuous exercising irrespective of whether the subject we teach is within the arts, the humanities or the sciences.

As educators what we could do in any sphere of knowledge is to help train the mind to question, to assess, to doubt, to examine, to argue, to discuss. Thinking and understanding are not a given.

Having recently arrived in Ghent, could you share the most unexpected cultural shock you have experienced and what has made you feel most at home?

I think what I am having most fun with is the difference between what I would consider close and far and what the people of Ghent would characterise as such. Some people are shocked when I tell them it takes me only 25 minutes to walk to work!

As with everything excellent in life, to me at least, what makes me feel at home are people and their kindness – whether it is the chocolatrice near my place who knows me already and indulges me by explaining the process behind the creation of her pralines, or the Bulgarian bakery around the corner where I can have the rare pleasure of speaking my native language, my tango school where I do not have to talk at all, or my friends who took care of me when I tore ligaments in January, Ghent has quickly become my home away from home and I hope it gets even better with spring approaching!

What do you enjoy doing when you don’t have your head in the clouds?

When is that? 😊 Mostly I read books, listen to podcasts, and travel. Monday is a tango night and recently I have joined a crochet and knitting group that meets in a café once a month. It is not easy but it is a way to meet people and to do something that does not involve looking at a screen all the time. I am also a sundial and a labyrinth enthusiast so the rectangular labyrinth in Ghent’s Town Hall is on my get-to-know-Ghent to-do list!

 

This month’s featured staff member is Anna Athanasopoulou, who recently started her postdoctoral fellowship at Ghent. Her project explores art, ecocriticism, and the body in Imperial literature. We asked her about her new research, academic journey, and first impressions of Flanders.

Hello, Anna! You joined our department in October after receiving a BOF postdoctoral scholarship—congratulations! Could you tell us a bit more about your project?

Certainly! My current project looks at representations of human-nature entanglement in the Greek literature and art of the Roman empire (ca. 1st-5th c. C.E.). At the core of my investigation is the physicality of these interactions, particularly how the human body engages with the natural environment through different sensory modes, such as touch, sound, and smell. While the environmental aspects of imperial literature haven’t gone unnoticed by scholars of the Roman period – especially in recent years – this project stands out for its emphasis on the embodied, sensory, and immersive dimensions of human interaction with nature. Ultimately, the aim is to deepen our understanding of imperial ecological sensibilities and constructions of selfhood (by examining how representations of human-nature entanglement shape and challenge notions of the ‘self’ in the imperial context).
Environmentally speaking, the Roman empire, as scholars like Kyle Harper have shown, was a world in dire straits – not unlike our own. As such, another central aim of this project is to tease out the resonance between these ancient works and modern environmental concerns.

The start of a new project is always exciting. What are you most looking forward to in the coming years?

I have several papers and a book project in the pipeline that I’m very excited about! I feel fortunate to be able to discuss my work with scholars such as Prof Koen De Temmerman and Prof Marco Formisano, both of whom have been incredibly welcoming and have already offered invaluable feedback and support in the short time I’ve been here. I very much look forward to collaborating with fellow eco-friendly scholars both in Ghent and internationally, and I also hope to undertake a short research stay abroad as part of my fellowship.

This project stands out for its emphasis on the embodied, sensory, and immersive dimensions of human interaction with nature. Ultimately, the aim is to deepen our understanding of imperial ecological sensibilities and constructions of selfhood.

Can you share a bit about your studies and experiences abroad before coming to UGent as a postdoctoral researcher?

Originally from Athens, Greece, I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Athens, which provided me with a solid foundation in classics. During this time, I also spent a semester abroad at the Sorbonne in Paris – an experience I remember with great fondness! I then went on to pursue my Master’s at University College London. My MA coursework was supervised by a range of esteemed experts in the field and my MA dissertation was written under the supervision of Prof Phiroze Vasunia. The academic environment at UCL, with its emphasis on classical reception studies, modern theoretical approaches to classics, and interdisciplinarity, laid the groundwork for my future scholarly pursuits and shaped my theoretical approach to classical literature. For my doctoral studies, I joined the vibrant research community at the University of Cambridge, where my thesis on multisensory and embodied approaches to imperial Greek ecphrasis was supervised by Prof Tim Whitmarsh and Prof Caroline Vout. Alongside my doctoral research, I gained extensive teaching experience as a college tutor. After completing my PhD, I got to teach at UCL and Oxford, before joining UGent as a postdoctoral researcher.

Having traveled to Athens, Paris, London, Cambridge, and now to Ghent—how has your experience been in adapting to Flemish standards so far, compared to the other countries where you’ve lived? Any tips for your international colleagues?

It’s been quite a peripatetic lifestyle so far and I’ve been fortunate to live in such beautiful and culturally rich cities! Each move has given me the opportunity to experience different academic systems, cultures, and languages, which has been invaluable for both my personal growth and academic development. The transition from Cambridge to Ghent has been relatively smooth, thanks in large part to the warm welcome and support from my supervisor and colleagues here.
As for tips – and this is also advice for myself as someone who has only recently arrived in Ghent and still has much to explore in Flanders – I’d say: make the most of your time here, engage with people and seize every opportunity to experience the Flemish culture in all its richness and variety!

It’s been quite a peripatetic lifestyle so far and I’ve been fortunate to live in such beautiful and culturally rich cities! Each move has given me the opportunity to experience different academic systems, cultures, and languages, which has been invaluable for both my personal growth and academic development.

What do you enjoy doing to relax and unwind from work?

One of my favourite ways to unwind at the end of a busy day is reading for leisure – mostly modern classics, contemporary fiction, and artist books; I also enjoy leafing through art exhibition catalogues. I find that it relaxes my brain while keeping it engaged in something other than work! Beyond that, I love visiting museums and exhibitions, taking long walks in the countryside, and I’ve recently rediscovered the joy of doing jigsaw puzzles!

The staff member of this month is Elpida Konia, who started working with us in September 2024, as an assistant in the Modern Greek courses. Elpida recently moved from Athens to Brussels as seconded teacher, paid by the Greek Ministry of Education. Katja De Herdt asked Elpida about her teaching experiences, her research on young adult literature and much more.

Hi Elpida! On Mondays you teach Ancient Greek and History to Greek teenagers at Kestekidio Hellenic School in Brussels, next day you’re working with Flemish students in Modern Greek. Which part of your job is most challenging?

Well, what I am actually experiencing is a demanding but fascinating teaching schedule. Maintaining student motivation can be a significant challenge in both contexts. Greek teenagers often feel disconnected from Ancient Greek texts because they are distant both in time and language. While Ancient Greek is part of their cultural heritage, they may not see its immediate relevance to their daily lives. As a result, maintaining my adolescent students’ interest in the subject can be difficult and requires insight and creativity. That said, while both parts of the job present unique challenges, teaching Modern Greek to Flemish students could be considered the most challenging because of the language barrier and the cultural distance between the students and the subject. However, an unexpected yet inspiring aspect of my current teaching experience is Flemish students’ prior knowledge of Ancient Greek and their keen interest in Greek culture which brings energy and vibrancy to our lessons.

You have been living in Brussels for 1,5 years now, after quite a few decades in Athens. You are passionate about Athens. Do you have the same πάθος with Brussels? How do you spend your weekends in our capital?

I am absolutely passionate about your capital. I chose to live in Brussels because of its reputation as the heart of Europe. Over the past year, I have experienced a city that is as welcoming as it is fascinating, blending historic elegance with modern vibrancy. I truly appreciate its contemporary, multicultural vibe, as well as the old buildings that tell stories of a rich past. Beyond the city, the beautiful Belgian countryside offers stunning landscapes and charming villages, perfect for peaceful escapes. On weekends, I often find myself exploring the lush parks, the bustling neighborhoods and the wonderful museums of the city. Moreover, one of the things I love most about my life in Brussels is that I’ve been able to incorporate jogging and cycling into my daily routine.

What I find quite surprising is that I often shiver while Belgians stroll comfortably in shorts or light jackets. It seems Belgians have a remarkable resilience to cold weather.

If you have to name one weird habit of Belgian people, what would it be? No worries, we can take it! Could you imagine living in Belgium for the rest of your life?

By all means, I can imagine living here for a long time. I have great admiration for the Belgian way of life, which embraces health and well-being—cycling through scenic routes, jogging in lush parks, or simply enjoying outdoor activities. However, since you asked, what I find quite surprising is that I often shiver while Belgians stroll comfortably in shorts or light jackets. It seems Belgians have a remarkable resilience to cold weather. I suppose this habit comes from a practical approach to the unpredictable climate and the sudden changes of the weather. I’ve even heard some locals joke that as long as the sun is out, it’s “warm enough,” no matter the actual temperature.

In 2016 you finished a PhD on Modern Greek Literature. Why did you choose this topic and what should we know about it?

My passion for the Greek language and culture has been a driving force throughout my academic journey. I have dedicated both my undergraduate and postgraduate studies to linguistics and philology, and I have developed a deep appreciation for the complexities and nuances of the Greek language. However, as my career progressed, my interests began to evolve in response to my experiences as a teacher in secondary education. While teaching adolescents, I became increasingly aware of the power of literature to engage young minds and influence their personal and intellectual growth. This realization sparked a new direction in my research, prompting me to explore the field of contemporary Greek young adult literature. While my initial academic focus had been on traditional linguistic and philological studies, I now found myself drawn to the narratives that resonate with younger audiences, exploring how these texts can be a means of both cultural expression and psychological exploration.

While teaching adolescents, I became increasingly aware of the power of literature to engage young minds and influence their personal and intellectual growth. This realization sparked a new direction in my research, prompting me to explore the field of contemporary Greek young adult literature.

On which days and where can we find you at Blandijn, to have a nice talk on Greek literature or biking in Flanders?

You can usually find me at Blandijn on Tuesdays and Fridays where I am either teaching or working on lesson plans. My (shared) office is 05.03.120.027 on the 2^nd floor. I’d love to have a nice chat about Greek literature or share some biking tips in the region. Just let me know when you’re around, and we can grab a coffee and dive into whatever topic you’re most excited about—whether it’s discussing the beauty of Homer’s epics or the best cycling routes around Ghent! Looking forward to it!