Dr Efrosyni Boutsikas FSA

Dr Efrosyni Boutsikas is a classical archaeologist with research interests in Greek religion, ritual experience, monumental architecture, mythology and astronomy (archaeoastronomy). She undertook her studies at the universities of Sheffield and Leicester before joining the University of Kent. Efrosyni is currently co-director of the University's Interdisciplinary Centre in Spatial Studies (KISS).

Efrosyni served as a Vice-President of the Société Européenne pour l’Astronomie dans la Culture (SEAC) between 2011–2014. She is currently a Council Member of the International Society for Archaeoastronomy and Astronomy in culture (ISAAC) and a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Astronomy in Culture. Her research has been featured on TV, radio and the press throughout Europe and North America.

Efrosyni's research focuses on the expression of ancient Greek perceptions of the cosmos in myths, religious performance and architecture, and the temporal and spatial organisation of festivals.

Her recently-completed project (partially funded by the British Academy, the Society of Antiquaries of London and the British School at Athens) investigates the shaping of memories, ritual experience and cosmological beliefs in ancient Greece. A second recent project, funded by the Royal Society of New Zealand, focused on the survey of Greek religious spaces in Sicily, Asia Minor and Cyprus. It investigated the choice of landscapes and temple placement in the context of multicultural religious interactions.

Efrosyni is a member of the Centre for Heritage.   

Efrosyni teaches various aspects of ancient Greek culture such as religion and mythology, art and architecture and ancient Greek astronomy and cosmology.

Efrosyni has successfully supervised doctoral research on Greek religious practice. Current PhD supervision includes the use of virtual reality in interpreting and understanding religious landscapes and ritual experience in ancient Greek oracles. 

She welcomes enquiries from prospective postgraduate students looking to undertake research in any aspects of Greek religion, mythology and astronomy; the application of digital humanities in the study of the Greek world; religious architecture, performance and landscapes.