P. E. Easterling
Encyclopedia
Patricia Elizabeth Easterling FBA (née Fairfax) (born 11 March 1934) is an English
classical scholar, recognised as a particular expert on the work of Sophocles
.
before graduating with first class honours and distinction in Classics at Newnham College, Cambridge
in 1955. After an initial spell lecturing at the University of Manchester
(1957-58), Easterling taught within the Cambridge Classics Faculty as a Fellow
of Newnham College until 1987 when she took up the position of Professor
of Greek
at University College London
.
In 1994 she returned to Cambridge and Newnham as the 37th Regius Professor of Greek
. On retirement in 2001 she became an Honorary Fellow of Newnham College.
In 1998 she was elected a Fellow of the British Academy.
, particularly tragedy
; she also studies the survival and reception of ancient drama.
She has been a General Editor of the Cambridge Greek and Latin Classics series since its foundation over thirty years ago, and has published an edition within this series of Sophocles’ Trachiniae
(1982).
Her most recent book is Greek and Roman Actors (Cambridge 2002), co-edited with Edith Hall
. She is currently writing a commentary on Sophocles' Oedipus at Colonus
.
Articles
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
classical scholar, recognised as a particular expert on the work of Sophocles
Sophocles
Sophocles is one of three ancient Greek tragedians whose plays have survived. His first plays were written later than those of Aeschylus, and earlier than or contemporary with those of Euripides...
.
Life and career
Born in Blackburn, Easterling attended Witton Park High SchoolWitton Park High School
The Witton Park High School is a comprehensive secondary school in the west of Blackburn.-Admissions:It is for ages 11-16. It is near Witton Country Park, to the east of Blackburn. A levels are taken at Blackburn College. It has GNVQ courses in Business, Art, Leisure & Tourism...
before graduating with first class honours and distinction in Classics at Newnham College, Cambridge
Newnham College, Cambridge
Newnham College is a women-only constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1871 by Henry Sidgwick, and was the second Cambridge college to admit women after Girton College...
in 1955. After an initial spell lecturing at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
(1957-58), Easterling taught within the Cambridge Classics Faculty as a Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of Newnham College until 1987 when she took up the position of Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
.
In 1994 she returned to Cambridge and Newnham as the 37th Regius Professor of Greek
Regius Professor of Greek (Cambridge)
The Regius Professorship of Greek is one of the oldest professorships at the University of Cambridge. The chair was founded by Henry VIII in 1540 with a stipend of £40 per year, subsequently increased in 1848 by a canonry of Ely Cathedral....
. On retirement in 2001 she became an Honorary Fellow of Newnham College.
In 1998 she was elected a Fellow of the British Academy.
Academic Interests
Easterling works mainly on Greek literatureGreek literature
Greek literature refers to writings composed in areas of Greek influence, typically though not necessarily in one of the Greek dialects, throughout the whole period in which the Greek-speaking people have existed.-Ancient Greek literature :...
, particularly tragedy
Theatre of Ancient Greece
The theatre of Ancient Greece, or ancient Greek drama, is a theatrical culture that flourished in ancient Greece between c. 550 and c. 220 BC. The city-state of Athens, which became a significant cultural, political and military power during this period, was its centre, where it was...
; she also studies the survival and reception of ancient drama.
She has been a General Editor of the Cambridge Greek and Latin Classics series since its foundation over thirty years ago, and has published an edition within this series of Sophocles’ Trachiniae
The Trachiniae
Women of Trachis is an Athenian tragedy by Sophocles.-Synopsis:The story begins with Deianeira, the wife of Heracles, relating the story of her early life and her plight adjusting to married life. She is now distraught over her husband's neglect of her family. Often involved in some adventure, he...
(1982).
Her most recent book is Greek and Roman Actors (Cambridge 2002), co-edited with Edith Hall
Edith Hall
Edith Hall is a British scholar of classics and cultural history, and from 2006 until 2011 held a Research Chair at Royal Holloway, University of London, where she directed the Centre for the Reception of Greece and Rome until November 2011, when she resigned over dispute regarding funding for...
. She is currently writing a commentary on Sophocles' Oedipus at Colonus
Oedipus at Colonus
Oedipus at Colonus is one of the three Theban plays of the Athenian tragedian Sophocles...
.
Publications
Books- SophoclesSophoclesSophocles is one of three ancient Greek tragedians whose plays have survived. His first plays were written later than those of Aeschylus, and earlier than or contemporary with those of Euripides...
: TrachiniaeThe TrachiniaeWomen of Trachis is an Athenian tragedy by Sophocles.-Synopsis:The story begins with Deianeira, the wife of Heracles, relating the story of her early life and her plight adjusting to married life. She is now distraught over her husband's neglect of her family. Often involved in some adventure, he...
, edited, Cambridge, 1982 - Greek Religion and Society, edited with J V Muir, 1984
- The Cambridge History of Classical Literature, General editor with E J Kenney
- The Cambridge Companion to Greek Tragedy, Editor, 1997
- Greek and Roman Actors: Aspects of an Ancient Profession, edited with Edith Hall, 2002
Articles
- Constructing the Heroic in Christopher Pelling, Greek Tragedy and the Historian, Oxford, 1997: 21-37
- The Infanticide in Euripides' Medea, Yale Classical Studies 25 (1977): 177-191
External links
- Profile of P E Easterling
- Picture of P. E. Easterling
- Homer, Tragedy and Beyond: Essays in honour of P. E. Easterling, New Hellenic Society 1991
- Sophocles and the Greek Tragic Tradition: Essays in honour of P. E. Easterling on her 75th birthday. Cambridge University Press 2009 ISBN 978-0-521-88785-4
- British Academy fellowship entry