Alexandra Shacklady

Alexandra’s research examines the relationship between the literary representations of the fifth-century Athenian general Kimon and his foreign policy, and the historical reality behind the texts. By interrogating the accounts of Thucydides, Diodorus Siculus and Plutarch, the project seeks to understand how and why the authors emphasise or obscure different aspects of the historical picture for their own literary and narrative reasons. This analysis then forms the basis of an attempt to establish how far the literary sources can be meaningfully used to support a historical reconstruction of the early Pentekontaetia period, and to explore the insights given into the key events and developments, in particular the role of economic factors in motivating Athenian activity and behaviour.

PhD

Supervisor: Hans van Wees (Primary Supervisor) and Paola Ceccarelli (Secondary Supervisor)
Working title: ‘Kimon and Athenian Foreign Policy: The Historiographical Perspective’
Expected completion date: 2024

Conference Presentations and Talks

• ‘Athenian Campaigns: Comparing the Narratives of Thucydides and Diodorus Siculus.’ Sixth Form Classics Society Talk, 3rd December 2018.

• ‘Narratives of the Pentekontaetia: Literary Agendas and Obscure Economics in Thucydides and Diodorus Siculus.’ Institute of Classical Studies PGWiP Seminar Series, 2nd October 2015.

Conference Organisation

Member of organising committee for UCL History Postgraduate Research Conference, ‘The Commemoration of Conflict’, 27th May 2014.

Awards

A.G. Leventis Scholarship for PhD Research 2014-16.