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Research

My principal research interests lie in the intersection of ancient history and archaeology within the Mediterranean and more widely across the ancient world. Previous topics of study include the interrelationships between art and text, the changing perception and experience of sacred space, the political uses of architecture, the impact and use of epigraphic documents as both text and monument and the reception of the ancient world in the modern. My PhD, now published with Cambridge University Press, focused on the spatial development of monumental dedications at Delphi and Olympia. My second book with Cambridge University Press examined the complex relationships between space and society across the Greek and Roman worlds and the usefulness of spatial analysis as a tool for both archaeologists and historians. My book in 2014 with Princeton University Press brought the literary, epigraphic and archaeological evidence for the development, perception and role of Delphi from its inception through to the 21st century. My most recent book, Ancient Worlds, is a study of the growing connections between ancient civilisations from the Mediterranean to China. I have joined the Global History and Culture Centre based in Warwick's History department as its first ancient history member and during 2017-8 I continued my ancient global history research as a Leverhulme Research Fellow.

My current research interests include:

  • Luxury in the ancient world
  • Representations of death at sea in Greek and Roman grave stele
  • The spatial location of inscriptions within Greek sanctuaries
  • The permeability of boundaries in Greek and Roman sacred spaces
  • The role of Sparta within the development of Athenian self-identity
  • The relationship between Boiotia and Delphi during the fourth century BC
  • The inter-relationships between different ancient world communities
  • The socio-cultural and political impacts of trade in luxury goods across the ancient world.
  • The archaeology of ancient ritual practice and experience
  • The global history of ancient fashion

More information available at: michaelscottweb.com/index.php/profile/research

Ancient Worlds book

Delphi

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