Visiting historian to discuss Herod the Great

The Palaces of Herod the Great will be discussed at an upcoming University of Queensland free pubic lecture.

Professor Barbara Burrell from the University of Cincinnati will present the lecture, to be held on Thursday, August 22, at 8pm in Room 388, Goddard Building, St Lucia campus.

“Herod the Great’s biblical reputation has often disguised his grandeur as one of the last of the Hellenistic monarchs,” Professor Burrell said.

“I will examine the various palaces that he built whilst in power from 37-4BC in order to show the true character of his reign.

“It will also enable us to appreciate his complex relations with the diverse people in the realm, his dealings with the wider Greek world, and with the Romans.”

A Research Associate Professor in the Department of Classics at the University of Cincinnati, Professor Burrell is also Field Director of the Penn Excavations at Caesarea Maritima — one of the last of Herod’s palaces.

She is currently a visiting Senior Research Fellow at The Australian Centre for Ancient Numismatic Studies at Macquarie University.

A graduate of Harvard University, Professor Burrell’s work combines expertise in numismatics, archaeology and ancient history, with special emphasis on the Roman East.

The lecture will be chaired by UQ’s Associate Professor Dorothy Watts from the School of History, Philosophy, Religion and Classics. It is sponsored by the School, the Department of Classics and Ancient History and the Queensland Friends of the Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens.

Media: for further information, contact the Classics and Ancient History Officer (telephone 07 3365 2643, email: classics@uq.edu.au) or Joanne van Zeeland at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 2619 or email: communications@uq.edu.au).