
Professor Johannes Baltussen
Hughes Professor of Classics
School of Humanities
Faculty of Arts
Han Baltussen (FAHA) is the W.W. Hughes Professor at the Department of Classics, Archaeology and Ancient History. After his education in Classics and a PhD in Ancient Philosophy at Utrecht University (1993), he held several postdoctoral fellowships (Utrecht University; Harvard's Center for Hellenic Studies, Washington D.C.; Kings College London). In London he was Research Associate to the Ancient Commentators on Aristotle Project and tutor in ancient Greek philosophy at King's College and University College London. He has held fellowships at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton (2006), the Flemish Royal Academy in Brussels (2010), Leiden University (2014), the Institute of Advanced Studies (UWA, 2017) and ICS (Dorothy Tarrant Fellowship, London 2021, postponed to 2022). Since 2011 he holds the Chair as ninth Hughes Professor of Classics, one of the University's three founding chairs, which had been vacant since 1992. He was co-editor of the Cambridge journal Antichthon (2015–2021) and served as the Head of the Academy's Section of Classical Studies (2017–2020). He has authored 3 monographs, co-edited 3 volumes and written numerous articles on a range of topics in ancient philosophy and intellectual history. He is currently working on a book project on ancient consolation and a new translation of Eunapius' VPS (Loeb vol. 134).
- My Research
- Career
- Publications
- Grants and Funding
- Teaching
- Supervision
- Professional Activities
- Contact
My research interests cover a range of topics in intellectual history and the history of ideas -- from antiquity to the early modern age. My work has successfully connected the world of Greece and Rome with our own time, in both public talks and scholarly projects on topical subjects such as grief (see The Conversation and "The Power of the Humanities"), censorship, Stoicism. I have collaborated with colleagues on subversion and censorship (with P.J. Davis), the transmission of philosophy from the Hellenistic period to Late Antiquity (with DT Runia and J Mansfeld), and Stoicism in the Enlightenment (with Lisa Hill). I regularly give public talks and lectures to highlight the ongoing importance of human concerns so similar across time. I am currently an Associate Investigator of the ARC Centre for the History of Emotions and co-editor of the journal Antichthon, published by Cambridge University Press. Other interests include the history of writing, reading and books. I am currently preparing a monograph on ancient consolations, a commentary on Theophrastus' fragmentary history of philosophy, and a new translation of the Lives of Philosophers and Sophists by Eunapius of Sardis for the well-known Loeb Classical Library series.
Excellence in Research Australia (ERA): My research outputs go mostly towards Field of Research (FoR) 2203 Philosophy, some towards 2202, History and Philosophy of Specific Fields & 2005 Literary Studies. In the 2015 and 2018 ERA results, Philosophy at Adelaide received a score of 5 out of 5.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2011 Walter W. Hughes Professor of Classics University of Adelaide 2002 - 2011 Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor University of Adelaide 2001 - 2001 Adjunct lecturer Greek philosophy University College London 1997 - 2002 Research Associate and temporary lecturer & tutor King's College London 1997 - 2002 Chief Assistant Editor Ancient Commentators Project (0.8) King's College London -
Awards and Achievements
Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount 2021 Fellowship Dorothy Tarrant Fellowship Institute of Classical Studies, London United Kingdom £5,000 2017 Fellowship Visiting Professor Institute for Advanced Study Institute for Advanced Studies, UWA Australia $3,000 2014 Scholarship Spinoza Fellow Leiden University Leiden University (LUCAS) Netherlands — 2010 Fellowship Fellowship Royal Flemish Academy Brussels Royal Academy Brussels Belgium — 2010 Research Award Faculty Research Award University of Adelaide Australia — 2009 Fellowship Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities Australian Academy of the Humanities Australia — 2006 Fellowship Member, School of Historical Studies, IAS Princeton Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton NJ United States — 1996 Scholarship Junior Fellow Centre for Hellenic Studies, Harvard University United States 40,000 -
Language Competencies
Language Competency Dutch; Flemish Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review French Can read, write and understand spoken German Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review Italian Can read -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 1988 - 1993 Utrecht University Netherlands PhD 1983 - 1986 Utrecht University Netherlands MA 1978 - 1983 Utrecht University Netherlands BA -
Research Interests
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Journals
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Books
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Book Chapters
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Conference Papers
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Internet Publications
Year Citation 2015 Baltussen, H., & Marks, K. (2015). Learning lessons from Antiquity about Coping with Grief. Australia Academy of the Humanities. 2012 Baltussen, J. N. (2012). Coping with Bereavement and Grief: Lessons from History. The Conversation. — Baltussen, H. (n.d.). Theophrastus of Eresus. Oxford University Press.
PROJECT | GRANTING BODY | YEAR | AMOUNT |
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Short-term fellowship (not taken up due to covid restrictions) | Humanities Research Centre, ANU | 2020 | (in kind) |
Short-term fellowship | Institute for Advanced Studies (UWA) | 2017 | $3,000 |
Paper international Conference | Center for the History of Emotions (AI) | 2015 | $3,000 |
"Stoic Liberalism and the Enlightenment" (with Lisa Hill) | Australian Research Council (DP) | 2014-16 | $300,000 |
"The Dynamics of Censorship in Antiquity" (with Peter J. Davis) | Australian Research Council (DP) | 2011-13 | $249,000 |
Short-term fellowship | Leiden University (Spinoza Fellow) | 2014 | $3,000 |
Invited paper international Conference | Center for the History of Emotions (AI) | 2014 | $3,000 |
"Hitching a Ride on iPods" (podcasting to enhance student engagement) | DVC(A) eLearning grant | 2013 | $13,000 |
Overseas conference papers, archival research in UK libraries | Various Faculty Travel Grants | 2005-13 | $18,000 |
Invited paper international Conference | Center for the History of Emotions (AI) | 2012 | $3,000 |
"Ancient consolation and psychotherapy" | Australian Research Council (DP) | 2007-09 | $69,000 |
Simplicius' Methodology | Faculty Small Research Grant | 2003 | $3,500 |
International conference London | Multiple sources (UK based) | 2002 | £10,220 |
Junior Fellowship | Harvard Center for Hellenic Studies, Washington D.C. | 1996-97 | $40,000 |
Travel grant short study leave, Fondation Hardt (Geneva, Switzerland) | Dutch Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) | 1996 | €2,000 |
PhD scholarship | Dutch Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) | 1993-96 | $68,000 |
On study leave July-Dec 2020.
- CLAS 1003 Introduction to Greek and Roman History (L, T) [a]
- CLAS 1004 Introduction to Greek and Roman Literature (L, T) [a]
- CLAS 2008 Life in the Golden Age of Rome (L, T) [e]
- CLAS 2029 Rome! Rise of Empire (CC, L, T) [o]
- CLAS 2032 Classical Mythology (L, T) [o]
- CLAS 2037 Athenian Democracy: Reacting to the Past (CC, L, T,) [e/not in 2020]
- CLAS 2038OL Latin and Greek for Scientists (summer school, online) (CC, L) [a]
- CLAS 3026 Afterlife and Underworld in Antiquity (CC, L, T) [e]
- CLAS 3030 Athens to Alexandria (capstone course) [a]
- CLAS 4001-3 Honours (common and special courses; thesis) [a]
N.B.1. CC=Course Coordinator; L=Lecturer; T=Tutor; N.B.2. Course availability: annually [a], or alternating in even [e] or odd [o] years
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2020 Co-Supervisor (Mis)translation of Sexual Violence in Ovid's Metamorphoses Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Miss Gemma Caitlin Neall 2020 Co-Supervisor Nekyia and Katabasis in 21st century receptions of the Ilaid Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Mr Patrick James Moritz 2019 Principal Supervisor The Ascent to the Hidden One: The Reception of the Egyptian One God in Neoplatonism and the Greek Magical Papyri Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Miss Tiana Blazevic-Bastow 2019 Principal Supervisor Seneca's Moral Epistles Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Mr Tamas Karoly Preston 2019 Principal Supervisor The Living Body in Early Greek Thought: Presocratic Philosophy and Early Greek Medicine Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Miss Mary Elizabeth Harpas -
Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2014 - 2017 Co-Supervisor Dental Crown Morphology Variations Associated with Congenital Syphilis and their Importance in Paleopathological Diagnosis Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Stella Ioannou 2013 - 2016 Co-Supervisor Faunus and the Fauns in Latin Literature of the Republic and Early Empire Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Ms Tammy DI-Giusto 2012 - 2014 Principal Supervisor Venus Restrained: The Regulation of Rome's Women in the Second Punic War. Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Lewis Mark Webb 2011 - 2017 Co-Supervisor A Dynamic Equilibrium: Doctors and Patients in Seventeenth Century England Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mrs Elizabeth Connolly 2005 - 2008 Co-Supervisor Understanding and Dealing with Evil and Suffering: A Fourth Century A.D Pagan Perspective Master of Arts Master Part Time Ms Susanne Harvey Wallis
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Committee Memberships
Date Role Committee Institution Country 2018 - 2018 Member ERA REC Humanities and Creative Arts University of Adelaide Australia 2014 - ongoing Member Research Committee School of Humanities University of Adelaide Australia 2014 - 2016 — Member Executive Council Australian Academy of the Humanities Australia 2011 - ongoing — Barr Smith B. Cowan Scholarship Committee University of Adelaide Australia 2009 - 2014 — Member Faculty Research Committee University of Adelaide Australia 2004 - 2008 — Chair Faculty Library Committee University of Adelaide Australia -
Memberships
Date Role Membership Country 2010 - ongoing Member Australian Historical Association Australia 2003 - ongoing Board Member Australasian Society of Classical Studies Australia 1998 - ongoing Member Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies (UK) United Kingdom 1997 - ongoing Member Society for Classical Studies (US) United States -
Consulting/Advisories
Date Institution Department Organisation Type Country 2020 - 2020 TEQSA College Scientific research Australia -
Editorial Boards
Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country 2017 - ongoing Member Rutgers University Studies in the Classical Humanities Rutgers University United States 2016 - ongoing Board Member Studies in Late Antiquity — United States -
Offices Held
Date Office Name Institution Country 2017 - 2020 Head of Classics Section Australian Academy of the Humanities Australia 2015 - ongoing Editor Antichthon: journal of ancient world studies Australasian Society for Classical Studies Australia 2014 - 2016 Council Member Australian Academy of the Humanities Australia 2013 - 2017 Program Coordinator BA(Advanced) University of Adelaide Australia 2009 - 2013 Head of Department University of Adelaide Australia 2003 - ongoing Adelaide Representative Executive Board Australasian Society for Classical Studies Australia -
Review, Assessment, Editorial and Advice
Date Title Type Institution Country 2015 - 2021 Editor of Antichthon (Greek materials) Editorial University of Adelaide — 2014 - ongoing Reviewer fellowship applications Grant Assessment Institute of Advanced Study, Princeton United States
Connect With Me
External Profiles