Dr Christopher Siwicki

Focusing on classical architecture and the city of Rome, the unifying aim of my research is to better understand how ideas and meanings become invested in structures, and how people living in antiquity viewed their built environments. My research currently has four distinct but closely related strands: perceptions of architecture and architects in antiquity; the investment of cultural identity in buildings; conflicts over public space in cities; and attitudes to material heritage in the past. Linking these topics is the theme of architecture as a cultural phenomenon. This moves away from traditional approaches that focus on technical matters of construction, to pursue new lines of inquiry about the place and value of architecture in society – I am interested in not just how structures were built, but what people outside of the construction process thought about those buildings. I adopt an interdisciplinary approach to investigating these questions, combining the study of ancient literature and material culture. Embracing engagement with other academic fields has also led to rewarding collaborations with those working in architecture and heritage studies.

See 'Research' for publications.

Postdoctural Research Fellow, The Norwegain Institute in Rome (The University of Oslo) (2020 - present)

Grete Sondheimer Fellow, The Warburg Institue (2020)

Lecturer in Classical Studies, John Cabot University Rome (2019)

Rome Fellow, The British School at Rome Research Institute (2018-19)

Lecturer in Ancient History and Culture, The University of Exeter (2015-2018)

PhD in Classics, The University of Exeter (2011-2015)

Part-time lecturer, The School of Architecture, The University of Lincoln (2009-2011)

The Director's Research Assistant, The British School at Rome Research Institute (2007-2009)

MA in Ancient History and Classics, The University of Exeter (2006-2007)

BA in Ancient History, The University of Exeter (2003-2006)