Our ‘Spotlight on’ series showcases the world-leading work of our academics. Professor Edith Hall is passionate about the lessons we can learn from ancient civilisations and is leading a campaign to put Classics education back on the UK curriculum.
Professor Hall’s love for classics is rooted in her childhood when she even named her pet cat Ailoura, which was derived from ‘ailouros’ the Ancient Greek for ‘cat’.
After a PhD focusing on ancient Greek theatre, Edith sought to align her study of ancient civilisations to modern-day issues. Her research expanded in several directions, exploring issues such as gender, ethnicity, and social class through the lens of ancient literature.
Across her career she has published over 30 books, on topics including ethnic stereotypes in ancient Greece and the influence of classics on working-class people.
In 2018, Professor Hall brought Aristotle’s ethics to modern day life through her book ‘Aristotle’s Way: How Ancient Wisdom Can Change Your Life’, which has been widely translated.
Her latest book, ‘Epic of the Earth’, takes readers on an environmentally focused exploration of Homer’s Iliad. It discusses how the depictions of deforestation and consumption of natural resources, provide powerful insight into the foundations of our relationship with nature.
Edith is passionate about breaking down the elitist reputation surrounding classics education.
Having witnessed and despaired at the reduction in classical subjects beyond the private education sector, Edith began campaigning for classics education to be more widely available in state schools.
Edith argues that learning about the culture, politics and society of our ancient ancestors can foster analytical, critical, and oracy skills, whilst enhancing cultural literacy and awareness.
In 2017 Edith established the Advocating Classics Education (ACE) project to champion this cause. Her mission is to show how this can be simply and cost-effectively achieved, without the need to teach Latin and Ancient Greek.
By removing the language barrier, Edith has shown that schools do not need specialist teachers to embrace this subject. Classics can be taught by any secondary school teacher – she even has examples of PE teachers taking up the challenge.
Since 2022 ACE has been based at Durham University and is co-directed by Edith and Professor Arlene Holmes-Henderson. Together they continue to champion the wider update of classics whilst working to raise the profile of classical subjects and influence UK educational policy.
Recently Professor Hall has collaborated with prison education charity Novus, to deliver a pilot project teaching classics in prisons.
Edith believes ancient Greek moral philosophy can offer prisoners new perspectives on happiness, decision-making, and boost their speaking and debating skills.
Edith designed a course for Novus to run in a prison as a trial. This has now been extended to further prisons and the hope is that this can be expanded nationwide.
Professor Hall is committed to bringing her research to a wider audience. Known for her daily classics-related social media posts, she even opened the selection of the title and cover image of her latest book to her followers! She is also a regular on both radio and TV discussions relating to Classics.
Across her career Professor Hall has also supported and championed the careers of many fellow classicists, through PhD supervision and enthusiastic collaboration.
In 2023 Professor Hall received the Classical Association Prize in recognition of energy, determination and commitment to making classics more accessible and inclusive.
This is the latest recognition of a career that continues to inspire a new generation to explore the enduring relevance of ancient wisdom in the modern world.
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