Profile

Arthur is Reader in Ancient History and specialises in Greek and Roman History as well as neo-Latin. He has a keen interest in the Eastern Empires and especially the Persians.

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Recent Publications

Books

The Life and Journey of the Athenian Statesman Themistocles as a Refugee in Persia, pp. 179, Edwin Mellen 2003

Sulla: The Last Republican, Routledge, 2005, pp. 233 (second edition, revised)

Rome and the Unification of Italy, Bristol Phoenix Prees 250 pp 2 nd ed 2005

The  Army in  the Roman  Revolution, Routledge 150pp 2007

Articles

'The Short Career of Q. Lucretius Afella’, Eranos 101, 2003, pp. 84-93

‘The Terminal Date of Sulla’s Dictatorship’ , Athenaeum 93 (2005), 423-439.

‘The Tragedy of C. Gracchus: Ancient Drama or Modern Farce?’, Klio 85 (2003), 322-332.

‘Sulla and the games of Hercules’, L’Antiquité Classique 74 (2005), 217-223

‘The Murder of Ephialtes’, Giornale Italiano di Filologia 54 (2002), 89-94

‘Berenice in Rome’ (with J. Madden), Museum Helveticum 60 (2003), 39-43.

Forthcoming

with John Madden (Galway) on an editio princeps of William Herbert’s Responsio ad Campionem (in press with Olms)

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Research

King and Court in Achaemenid Persia

In the past twenty years or so scholarly interest in Achaemenid Persia has quickened. No longer is its study regarded as a kind of adjunct to that of Classical Greece. To date however, there has been no in-depth study of the centre of the Persian Empire - the King and the royal court – a situation which is analogous to writing the history of seventeenth century France without a proper understanding of the Court of Versailles. Thus this study has a twofold aim. It is hoped to close a gap in our studies and to provide a better insight into the King and his role in the governing of the Empire.

The King stands at the centre of this enquiry as he stands at the centre of his empire. What is generally understood of the King and his court may be briefly summarised as follows. The King lived in semi-seclusion in the midst of his court: a peripatetic household moving with the seasons from one royal palace to another. Central to that household was the Kingís Table, to which supplies were brought and then distributed. As at other courts throughout history, the courtiers enjoyed a life of leisure and entertainments while intrigues flourished. From his court, the King ruled a vast empire, linked to the court through the celebrated system of couriers.

This work will be based on Ancient Greek and Persian sources. However, where appropriate, it will draw on expertise from other disciplines such as anthropology and sociology. Above all, however, it will be written from a comparative perspective, constantly referring to life in other courts in other times and places for the purposes of contrast and comparison and drawing on recent work in court studies.

We can never know Persepolis as well as we know Versailles but with this study Arthur will enhance our current knowledge.

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Fellowships and Awards

Visiting Fellow, University of East Carolina (annually 2001-4)

Visiting Fellow, University College Galway, 2004

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Service

Editorial Board, Les études classiques

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Teaching

Arthur teaches a wide array of topics from Latin language to the history of the Persian empire. His teaching is mainly in ancient history, both Greek and Roman.

Arthur currently is supervising several students in Greek and Roman history

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