Research interests

Current Research

• In my book manuscript I explore the 2nd century C.E. reality through the writings of Lucian of Samosata, a native Syrian who wrote in Greek and was a Roman citizen. Lucian wrote a large volume of works that cannot be filed under one specific genre, including satires, admonitory treatises, and philosophical dialogues. He flourished as a rhetorician, and even hold an official position in the Roman Empire. I discuss Lucian's works in comparison to an earlier, a contemporary and later Roman authors and try to indicate that there has been interaction between several nations at the boundaries of the Roman Empire and up to a degree there has also probably been fusion. Lucian's self presentation and promotion as well as his attitude towards other nations show clearly that he perceives the Roman Empire in its entirety and considers it an entity which encompasses several different co-existing nations. Finally, I focus on Lucian's Nachleben in European literature and art and I argue that the Roman Empire, the Roman and the Greek culture may have been long dead at the time, but the spirit of Lucian, his playful tone, his insight and astute perception have lived in later authors, namely Erasmus, More, Flaubert, Moliere, and Holberg, who were inspired by his motifs and sometimes his rhetorical and other narrative techniques.

• Publications

• Invited Lectures

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• Reviews