Dr Ailsa Hunt

Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology
Honorary Research Fellow

Contact details

My research specialism is in Roman religion. My first monograph aims to shake up many current scholarly assumptions about Roman religion (Hunt, A. 2016. Reviving Roman Religion: Sacred trees in the Roman World. Cambridge.). My next major project is an exploration of the theology which informs the naming of gods in the Roman world (both from a pagan and Judaeo-Christian perspective).

Qualifications

  • PhD in Classics (Cambridge, 2009-2012)
  • MPhil in Classics (Cambridge, 2008-2009)
  • BA Hons in Literae Humaniores (Oxford, 2004-2008)

Biography

Before coming to Birmingham I held a temporary lectureship at the University of Cambridge and a fellowship at Newnham College, Cambridge (2015-2017), before which I was a Junior Research Fellow at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge (2012-2015).

Research

My major research interests are in Roman religion and in questions about how Romans thought about the world around them. At present I am particularly interested in Roman conceptions of the natural world and in the theology which informs the naming of gods in the Roman world. I like to approach an idea or question from a multitude of disciplinary angles, using literature, epigraphy, material and visual culture to inform my understanding of the Romans and their ideas.

Currently I am working on an article which explores the meaning of the slippery Latin word numen, within the context of a colourful history of scholarly arguments built on this word. Soon I will begin work on a new monograph which will explore the theology which informs the naming of gods in the Roman world.

Other activities

I am joint honours lead for CAHA.