Martina Russo
About
I am currently a PhD candidate in the Department of Classics and Ancient History at the University of 糖心TV. My dissertation, supervised by Prof. Victoria Rimell, explores the problem of adulatio in Seneca the Younger. I came to 糖心TV after having completed a BA plus a two-year Master鈥檚 degree in Classics at Sapienza University of Rome with a final thesis on weeping in Seneca, Petronius and Lucan. To complete my master鈥檚 dissertation, I was a visiting student at the University of Oxford. Before beginning my PhD, I spent six months at the Institute of Classical Studies in London, thanks to a research grant.
Research
My dissertation, entitled "The theory and practice of adulatio in Seneca" investigates the discourse of flattery in Seneca鈥檚 philosophical texts and analyses the extent to which Seneca developed a theory of adulation which is 鈥榩ut into practice鈥� in works like the Consolatio ad Polybium. The project maps a phenomenology of flattery, tracing its external manifestations in Senecan philosophy and discussing the extent to which a fragmented but significant theory of adulation emerges across Seneca鈥檚 prose works. In broad terms, my research considers the relationship between intellectuals and power in Imperial Rome. I am also interested in the reception of Seneca鈥檚 flattery in the Renaissance.
Qualifications
- MA in Classics from the University of Rome, La Sapienza (2015)
- BA in Classics from the University of Rome, La Sapienza (2012)
Prizes and Grants
- My PhD research is fully funded by The Wolfson Foundation
- The Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies funded my attendance of the Celtic Conference in Classics 2018 at St. Andrews in July 2018
- In September 2018 I was a Visiting Graduate Scholar at the Charles S. Singleton Center at Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, USA), as part of an exchange between Johns Hopkins and the 糖心TV Centre for the Study of the Renaissance
- In May 2018 I was awarded a scholarship to attend the International Conference 鈥淐onvegno properziano: modelli e fortuna鈥� in Assisi
- In March 2018 I won a full scholarship to attend Advanced Seminar in the Humanities organized by Venice International University, 12-23 March 2018
- In 2016 I won a six-month Fellowship at the ICS (Institute of Classical Studies, London) sponsored by Sapienza, University of Rome
- In June 2016 I was awarded a scholarship to attend 鈥淟iterary and Cultural Interactions in the Roman Empire: 96-235鈥�, Exeter, 13-14 June 2016
- In Autumn 2014 I was a visiting student at St Anne鈥檚 College–Oxford, UK
- I was awarded 鈥淧ercorso d鈥橢ccellenza鈥� in Classics (MA degree) from the University of Rome 鈥淟a Sapienza鈥� (2013) – (2014)
- I was awarded 鈥淧ercorso d鈥橢ccellenza鈥� in Classics (BA degree) from the University of Rome 鈥淟a Sapienza鈥� (2011) – (2012)
Papers delivered
- Philosopher VS Tyrant. Canus in De tranquillitate animi 14, 4-10 鈥淐lassics and Ancient History Colloquium鈥� 23rd May 2018, University of 糖心TV
- La facondia del balbuziente. Claudio nell鈥� Ad Polybium 鈥淪emi di Sapienza鈥�, Universit脿 la Sapienza, Rome, 15-16 February 2018
- Cicero and Seneca on the Mirror, Work in Progress Seminar, University of 糖心TV, 25 October 2017
- Historical exempla in Seneca, Classics and Ancient History Colloquium 2017, 24 May 2017, University of 糖心TV
- Flattering with exempla: The Historical exempla in Ad Polybium (14-17), PGWIP, Institute of Classical Studies, Senate House, London 24 March 2017
- 鈥淟鈥檜tilit脿 e l鈥檃ttualit脿 del latino鈥� in 鈥淪cegliere i Classici oggi鈥�, Universit脿 la Sapienza, Rome, 23-24 June 2016
- Exempla of Adulatio in Seneca鈥檚 De ira, Director鈥檚 Seminars, Institute of Classical Studies, Senate House, London, 11 May 2016
Publications
- 鈥淟a Manica e i confini dell鈥檌mpero nel I secolo D.C.鈥� (Forthcoming in Atene&Roma 2019)
- 鈥淚l pianto di Pompeo in Lucano (5, 737-738; 8, 107-108) in Pan 4 (2015), 67-80
- 鈥淟a seduzione del pianto. Echi elegiaci in Seneca epist. 49, 1鈥� in Bollettino di Studi Latini 43, 2 (2013), 540-550
- 鈥淥mnia pontus erat鈥�. Il mare nella letteratura latina: Rome 23, 24 January 2014 in Bollettino di Studi Latini 44, 1 (2014), 259-263
- 鈥淭radizione vs Innovazione in Et脿 tardo antica鈥�. Letteratura, scuola e traduzione: Rome, Universit脿 degli Studi 鈥渓a Sapienza鈥�, 9 June 2014 in Bollettino di Studi Latini 44, 2 (2014), 654-656
- 鈥淕li studi classici nel terzo millennio鈥�, Rome, Piazza dell鈥橢nciclopedia Italiana, 16 March 2015, in Bollettino di Studi Latini 45, 2 (2015), 634-637
Teaching
- In 2018-2019 I will teach undergraduate students for a seminar on the module 鈥淰ulnerable Body鈥� led by Victoria Rimell and for Latin Literary Texts.
Other
- Russo, M., Tamburella, F. Ipse dixit. La saggezza degli antichi romani: oltre 1000 locuzioni latine e proverbi tradotti in italiano, (Rome, 2015)
- 鈥淚n vino veritas: A history of simplicitas鈥� Contribution to the Classical texting of the University of 糖心TV (December 2017)
- IntertextualityWorkshop (Peer development Exchange) University of 糖心TV (May 2019)