Bonnie MacLachlan, Western University

Department of Classical Studies Professor Emeritus London, Ontario bmacl@uwo.ca

Expert In

Ancient Greek literature and poetry Ancient religion (Greek and Roman) Classical tradition (Greek and Roman) Curse tablets Gender and sexuality in antiquity Greek mythology Women in antiquity

Bio/Research

My feminist formation took shape in the 1970s, embedded in the broader context of the activist movements for Civil Rights, Peace and Community Development. I was fortunate to be part of the original editorial collective of the Women's Press in Toronto, where the goal of broadly-based social equality informed our decisions about manuscripts that we would publish. As an academic I continue to be motivated by this goal, in my teaching, my research and my participation in the UWO community. I received my PhD from the University of Toronto in 1987, and began teaching at Western in the Classical Studies Department in 1989.My two principal areas of specialization are ancient Greek poetry and religion. Among the courses I have taught are the texts of Homer and Sappho, and those related to ancient religious thought. I also have taught Greek and Roman Mythology and the course covering the situation of women in Greco-Roman antiquity. Research My principal current project examines ancient rituals conducted by women in Southern Italy and Sicily. This has led me to explore ancient "curse tablets" composed for women who were seeking redress from other women or men who had wronged them. A longer-term project entails a study of Greek poetry as it confers collective identity through shared narratives.

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