Polyxeni Strolonga
Education
Ph.D. in Classical Philology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, December
2008. Adviser: David Sansone
M.A. in Classics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2002
B.A. in Greek Philology (concentration Classics), University of Athens, Greece, 1998
Additional Training
American Academy in Rome, Classical Summer Program, 2003. Director: Ann Vasaly
Research Interests
My research interests focus on the intersection between anthropology and classics with emphasis on social and economic theories of exchange and reciprocity. I am currently working on a monograph that studies the social, religious and linguistic aspects of the practice of reciprocity as narrated in the Homeric Hymns to Demeter, Apollo, Aphrodite and Hermes. For this project I explore the narrative pattern of reciprocity as structural device in the major Homeric Hymns and compare the various types of exchange in the Hymns with narratives on reciprocity in Homeric prayers and lyric hymns in an attempt to redefine the genre of the Homeric Hymns. My teaching and research interests also include gender studies, Greek and Latin poetry and Greek Religion.
Publications
Book (in progress)
The Poetics of Reciprocity in the Major Homeric Hymns
Articles
“The Foundation of the Oracle at Delphi in the Homeric Hymn to Apollo.”
Greek, Roman and Byzantine Studies 51 (2011) 529–551
“A Contest of erga: Aphrodite against Athena, Artemis and Hestia in the Homeric
Hymn to Aphrodite.” (forthcoming in Illinois Classical Studies)
“Teaching Uncomfortable Subjects: When Religious Beliefs Get in the Way.” In
Teaching Uncomfortable Subjects in the Classics Classroom. Edd. Fiona
McHardy and Nancy Rabinowitz (forthcoming)
“Male Views on Marriage: The Case of Alcaeus” (in progress)
"Playing morigera: Submissive Characters in Plautus.” (in prrogress)
Presentations
Conference Papers and Presentations
“Men Crossing Borders: Alcaeus on Marriage.” Crossing Borders, Crossing Lines. To be
presented at Feminism and Classics VI, Department of Classics, Brock University,
May 24-27, 2012
“Shaping Religious Beliefs: The Case of the Major Homeric Hymns.” Classical Association,
Annual Meeting, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK, April 2012
“The Closing Formula in the Homeric Hymns to Demeter, Apollo and Hermes.” APA
Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX, January 2011
“Reciprocity and Genre.” Refereed panel, APA Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX, January 2011
(panel organizer and introductory remarks)
“Godlike Beauty and its Reception in the Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite.” International
Conference on Reception and the Gift of Beauty in the Western Tradition. University of
Bristol, UK, July 2010
“Variatio in Foundation Myths: The Oracle at Delphi and the Homeric Hymn to Apollo.”
Classical Association of Canada Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC, Canada, May 2009
“Graduate Studies in Classics.” Organized by the Eta Sigma Phi Classical Honorary Society,
Winter 2009 (presenter)
“A Contest of erga: Aphrodite Against Athena, Artemis and Hestia in the Homeric Hymn to
Aphrodite.”CAMWS Annual Meeting, Tucson AZ, April 2008
“Welcome to the Circus: Balancing the Workload and ‘Real Life’ Throughout Your Career.”
Graduate Student Issues Committee Panel, CAMWS Annual Meeting,
Tucson AZ, April 2008 (panel organizer)
“Disce ut Doceas: Preparing to be a Teaching Assistant in Latin.” American Classical League,
June 2007, CAMWS Annual Meeting, Tucson AZ, April 2008 (workshop organizer and
presenter)
“Timeo deos et dona ferentes: The Perils of the Divine Gifts in the Homeric Hymns.” CAMWS
Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, OH, April 2007 “The Perils of Beauty and the Aesthetics of
Exchange in Greek Poetry.” Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities, Ninth
Annual Conference on Beauty, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, May 2007
“Acting like a morigera: Submissive Characters in Plautus’ Comedies.” CAMWS
Annual Meeting, Gainesville, FL, April 2006
“A Successful Negotiator: Reciprocity in the Homeric Hymn to Demeter.” APA Annual
Meeting, Montreal PQ, January 2006
“Nutus amantis: Interpreting the Body Language of Love in Ovid.” CAMWS Annual Meeting,
Madison, WI, April 2005
“Immortality and Reciprocity in the Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite.” Graduate Student
Conference on Becoming Divine: Concepts of Immortality in the Ancient World.
Harvard University, Department of the Classics, March 2004
Invited Papers
“A Contest of erga: Aphrodite against Athena, Artemis and Hestia in the Homeric Hymn to
Aphrodite.” Eta Sigma Phi Classical Honorary Society, Symposium, Brigham Young
University, October 2008
“Reciprocity and Divine Benevolence in the Homeric Hymns.” Brigham Young University,
March 2008
“Structure and Unity in the Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite.” University of Illinois at Chicago,
Department of Classics, February 2002.
