Dr Martina Astrid Rodda

My main current interest is disability and gender in Greek literature. My postdoctoral research project focuses on the representation of disabled mythical characters in the works of Lucian of Samosata, how it reflects changes in the ancient world’s view of disability, and how the characterisation of disability intersects with gender, class, and ethnic identity.

My doctoral thesis (which I’m currently revising for publication) was a study of formulaic variation in early Greek hexameter poetry, conducted using quantitative methods and drawing on contemporary linguistic approaches such as Construction Grammar and Distributional Semantics. I used these approaches to identify patterns of variation that are unique to early Greek epic formulae and do not occur in later hexameter poetry.

My past and current research projects have a strong interdisciplinary outlook, with my current interests engaging closely with current research and activism in Disabilities Studies. I have co-organised the 'Neurodiverse Classics: Constructive Connections' panel at the 2022 Classical Association Conference (Swansea, 8-11 April 2022). I’m also still working on the dialogue between current linguistics approaches (especially Discourse Analysis and Construction Grammar) and traditional philology. I maintain active interests in Hellenistic epic and Greek theatre, as well as Jewish literature and culture.

I use they/them pronouns.

Greek Literature options for Mods and Greats. I have past language teaching experience in both Latin and Greek.