Heidelberg University
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Dr Lukas Spielhofer

Department of Classics
University of Heidelberg
Marstallhof 2-4
D-69117 Heidelberg

Germany

Office: Sandgasse 7, ZG 09
Telephone: +49 6221 54-2256
E-Mail: lukas.spielhofer@skph.uni-heidelberg.de
 

Office hours

Portrait of Lukas Spielhofer

Research interests

  • Ancient fable (esp. Babrius and Aesopica)
  • Ancient didactic poetry (Hesiodus, Nicander, Vergil, Nemesianus)
  • Sensory perception in (ancient) literature
  • Ecocriticism and non-/post-human approaches to ancient texts
  • Late antique ‘minor’ poetry (esp. cento, prosimetron, hymns)
  • Early humanist poetry (carmina liminaria, book epigrams, literary inscriptions)
  • Digital editing and digital media in Classics

Education

Table

Education
2018–2021
PhD in Classics from the University of Graz (Austria) (dissertation: “Babrius’ Mythiambi: An Interpretative Commentary, with Notes on Composition, Structure, and Poetic Programme”; examiners: Ursula Gärtner [Graz]; Niklas Holzberg [Munich])
2013–2023
Degrees in Classics (BA 2017, Mag.phil. 2018), Educational Sciences (BA 2017), Romance Studies (MA 2021), and Digital Humanities (MA 2023) from the University of Graz
Academic Positions
since 04/2024
Postdoctoral Research and Teaching Fellow (Assistant), Heidelberg University, Department of Classics (Chair: Jonas Grethlein)
2023–2025
Erwin Schrödinger-Fellow of the FWF, University of Oxford, Faculty of Classics/Oriel College and University of Amsterdam
2021–2023
University Assistant (Post-Doc), University of Graz, Department of Classics (Chair: Ursula Gärtner)
2020–2021
Doctoral Fellow of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, University of Graz, Department of Classics
2019–2021
Lecturer for Classical Philology, University of Graz, Department of Classics
2018–2021
High School teacher (subjects Latin and Greek), Akademisches Gymnasium Graz
2017–2019
Research Assistant (Pre-Doc), University of Graz, Department of Classical Philology (Project title: „Fabula docet – Wer will schon saure Trauben? Grazer Repositorium antiker Fabeln (GRaF)“, PI: U. Gärtner)
Fellowships, Grants, and Awards
2024
Academic Excellency Scholarship of the Austrian Ministry of Education, Science, and Research (BMBWF)
2024
Promotio sub auspiciis Praesidentis rei publicae. Austria’s highest award in recognition of excellent academic performance
2023–2025
Erwin-Schrödinger Postdoctoral Fellowship of the Austrian Research Fund (FWF) (for a research stay at the University of Oxford and the University of Amsterdam)
2022–2025
‚Sparkling Science‘-grant of the BMBWF for the project „SISTE VIATOR. Latein auf Stein 2.0. Lateinische Inschriften für Digitales und Außerschulisches Lernen (LIDAL)“ (PI: U. Gärtner)
2020–2021
DOC Doctoral Fellowship of the Austrian Academy of Sciences
2018
Würdigungspreis of the BMBWF for the best diploma and master’s degree graduates
2014–2017
Academic Merit Scholarship of the University of Graz
Mobility
2026
Erasmus Teaching Mobility at the University of Barcelona (Secció de Filologia Grega; 09.-13.02.2026)
2023–2025
Erwin-Schrödinger Fellowship at the University of Oxford (Faculty of Classics/Oriel College; 01.10.2023-31.03.2024 and 01.05.-30.09.2025) and the University of Amsterdam (Amsterdam Centre for Ancient Studies and Archaeology; 01.03.-30.04.2025)
2024
Research stay at the University of Toronto (Department of Classics; 16.-27.09.2024)
2023
Research stays at Ghent University (Faculty of Humanities; 05.02.-01.03.2023; 11.-25.08.2023)
Conferences
2027
„Cognitive Approaches to Didactic Poetry“, international conference, University of Bonn, 25.-27.02.2027 (co-organized with T. Kuhn-Treichel und K. Winter)
2024
„Per limina. Printed Paratexts and the Intellectual Networks of Humanism (15th-18th c.)“, international workshop, University of Innsbruck, 06.-07.12.2024 (co-organized with F. Schaffenrath, G. Abbamonte and D. Graz)iano)
2023
„With new Muse – Babrius: Basics, Approaches, Perspectives“, international workshop, University of Graz, 12.05.2023 (co-organized with U. Gärtner)
2022
„Et in cothurnis prodit Aesopus nouis. On the interaction between ancient fable and literary genres“, international conference, University of Graz, 02.-04.06.2022 (co-organized with U. Gärtner)
2020
„Ancient Fables: Sour Grapes? New Approaches“, international conference, University of Graz, 02.10.2020 (co-organized with U. Gärtner)
2019
„GRaF-SchülerInnenkongress 2019“, University of Graz, 24.05.2019 (co-organized with U. Gärtner)
2018
„usus uetusto genere, sed rebus nouis – Workshop zur Antiken Fabel“, international workshop, University of Graz, 09.-10.11.2018 (co-organized with U. Gärtner)
2018
„GRaF-SchülerInnenkongress 2018“, University of Graz, 25.05.2018 (co-organized with U. Gärtner)

Publications

Monographs

  • Babrios: Ein Interpretationskommentar zu den Prologen und Fabeln 1 bis 17, Stuttgart 2023 (Hermes Einzelschriften 125). [Ch. Cusset, AAHG 78.1, 2025, 35-39; D. Schmitz, Forum Classicum, 2025.2, 142-147].

Edited Volumes

  • Together with U. Gärtner: Ancient Fables and Literary Genres. Texts, Contexts, Interactions, Berlin/Boston 2025 (Trends in Classics – Supplementary Volumes 198). 
  • Together with U. Gärtner: Ancient Fables – Sour Grapes? New Approaches, Hildesheim/Zürich/New York 2022 (Spudasmata 195) [A. Bisanti, Gnomon 97.2, 2025, 227-234; V. Bottini, AAHG 76.3, 2023, 118-124; M. Cozzolino, BSL 53.2, 2023, 790-792; D. Fasolini, CFCL 43.2, 2023, 385-386].

Articles

  • “The Unyielding Rock. Elemental Imagery in Prometheus Bound”, Classical Quarterly (forthcoming).
  • “Ceu fulgura caeli terrificant. Visuality and Spectacular Hunting in Nemesianus’ Cynegetica”. In: Flores Militello, V./Pelttari, A. (eds.): Spectacles, Visual Culture, and the Literature of Late Antiquity (Sera tela) (forthcoming).
  • “Biting Back. Embodiment and Affective Images in Horace’s Epodes”, Archivi delle Emozioni 6.1, 2026, 43-65. 
  • Together with V. Flores Militello: “Minerva in der Neuen Welt. Eine Edition, Übersetzung und Interpretation von José de Villerías’ Pallas”, Wiener Studien 139, 2026, 177-220. 
  • “Variations on Aesop. PRyl. 493 reconsidered”, Phoenix 80.1, 2026, 12-35.
  • Together with U. Gärtner: “In cothurnis prodit Aesopus nouis – Ancient Fable and the Literary Genres”. In: Gärtner, U./Spielhofer, L. (eds.): Ancient Fables and Literary Genres. Texts, Contexts, Interactions, Berlin/Boston 2025 (Trends in Classics – Supplementary Volumes 198), 1-15. 
  • “Of Lions and Eunuchs: The Fables of Babrius between Epic and Epigram”. In: Gärtner, U./Spielhofer, L. (eds.): Ancient Fables and Literary Genres. Texts, Contexts, Interactions, Berlin/Boston 2025 (Trends in Classics – Supplementary Volumes 198), 299-325. 
  • “Poets in Dialogue: Literary Communication and Authorial (Self-)Characterisation in Humanist Liminary Poetry”, Humanistica Lovaniensia 73, 2024, 179-209. 
  • “Nets, Rods, Flutes. The Metapoetics of Fishing in the Mythiambi”. In: Gärtner, U./Spielhofer, L. (eds.): Ancient Fables – Sour Grapes? New Approaches, Hildesheim/Zürich/New York 2022 (Spudasmata 195), 153-174.
  • “Autorbild und Autorfiktion bei Babrios und Minoides Mynas”. In: Tischer, U./Gärtner, U./Forst, A. (eds.): ut pictura poeta. Author images and the reading of ancient literature, Turnhout 2022 (Giornale Italiano di Filologia – Bibliotheca 29), 233-258.
  • Together with S. Baumann: “Intertextual and Metapoetic Aspects of Ausonius’ cento nuptialis (Cent. nupt. 12–32; 57–66)”. In: Baumbach, M. (ed.): Cento-Texts in the Making. Aesthetics and Poetics of Cento-Techniques from Homer to Zong!, Trier 2022 (Bochumer Altertumswissenschaftliches Kolloquium 109), 135-155.
  • “‚Erstgeborener, Zweigestaltiger, dreimal Geborener‘ – Epitheta in den Orphischen Hymnen zwischen Deskriptivität, Allusivität und Narrativität”, Gymnasium 129, 2022, 431-452.
  • “(De/Re-)Constructing Identity in Babrius’s Mythiambi”, Hermes 149/3, 2021, 364-381.
  • “Das Grazer Repositorium antiker Fabeln (GRaF) und seine Potenziale für die Entwicklung von Medienkompetenz”, Der Altsprachliche Unterricht 5/2021, 48-51.
  • Together with S. Lang: “Digitale Lernplattformen und Open Educational Resources im altsprachlichen Unterricht I: Technische Spielräume am Beispiel ‚Grazer Repositorium antiker Fabeln‘ (GRaF)”, Zeitschrift für digitale Geisteswissenschaften 5, 2020. 
  • Together with S. Lang: “Digitale Lernplattformen und Open Educational Resources im altsprachlichen Unterricht II: Didaktische Spielräume am Beispiel ‚Grazer Repositorium antiker Fabeln‘ (GRaF)”, Ianus 41, 2020, 31-43.
  • “Babrios – Person, Werk, Überlieferung”. In: Gärtner, U. (Hg.): Grazer Repositorium antiker Fabeln (GRaF), 2019. 
  • “Aesop – Person, Werk, Überlieferung”. In: Gärtner, U. (Hg.): Grazer Repositorium antiker Fabeln (GRaF), 2019. 

Book reviews

  • Malomud, A.: Der geographische Raum in den Werken des Nikander von Kolophon. Tübingen, Mohr Siebeck. 2024. XII, 265 S. Gr.-8° (Themes and Forms in Graeco-Roman Literature, 3.)”, Anzeiger für die Altertumswissenschaft 78/3, 2025, 109-112.
  • “Simona Martorana (Hrsg.): Il ‚Romulus‘ della ‚Recensio Gallicana‘. (Firenze: Sismel – Edizioni del Galluzzo) 2024“, Gymnasium 132/1, 2025, 92-94.
  • “Holzberg, Niklas: Babrios. Fabeln. Griechisch-deutsch, Berlin/Boston 2019”, Anzeiger für die Altertumswissenschaft 71/72 (2018–2019), 2020, 112-115.

Digital Publications

  • Latin Dedicatory Poems of the early modern Period (LADEPO), 2023. 

In Preparation

  • Experiencing the Non-Human. Nature and the Reader in Didactic Epic (Habilitation project)

Talks and presentations (selected)

  • “Ovidian Echoes in Lucian’s Dialogues of the Sea-Gods”, LMU Munich. conference: ‘Ignored Intertexts. New Approaches to Greek-to-Latin Allusions’, 08.-10.10.2026.
  • “Homer, Odyssey 5.228–261”, Ghent University. conference: ‘Titubanti Testi 12’, 25.02.2026 (together with Prof. Richard Armstrong, Houston).
  • “Fables as Embedded Narration: Frames, Narrators, and Self-Reflexivity”, University of Graz. conference: ‘Aesopus talem tum fabellam rettulit. Narratological Approaches to Ancient Fables’, 25.-27.09.2025.
  • “Framing the Canon: Digital Tools and Humanist Paratexts in 16th-century Vienna”, Hungarian Research Center for the Humanities and Hungarian National Laboratory for Digital Heritage. conference: ‘Early Modern Humanist Canons in East-Central Europe’, 17.-19.09.2025.
  • “The Unyielding Rock: Elemental Resistance in the Prometheus Bound”, University of Coimbra. conference: ‘16th Celtic Conference in Classics’, 15.-18.07.2025.
  • “Lehre auf den ersten Blick? Liebe und Didaxis in Ovids Ars amatoria 3”, Petronian Society Munich Section, 04.06.2025.
  • “Anthropomorphism and the Experience of Nature in Didactic Epic”, Universiteit van Amsterdam. conference: ‘Amsterdam Classics Seminar’, 17.04.2025.
  • „An den Toren der Träume: Traum, Prophetie und Humor in der antiken Fabel“, Universität Graz. conference: ‚Hortulus Gratiarum. Ursula Gärtner zum 60. Geburtstag‘, 10.01.2025.
  • “Nature and the Human Gaze? Ecocritical Perspectives on Ancient Didactic Poetry”, University of Toronto, Department of Classics. conference: ‘Literature Stream Seminars’, 24.09.2024.
  • “What is Fable, Really? Reflections on Genre in Imperial Fable Collections”, University of Mainz. conference: ‘Form, Function, and Fables: Genre in Early Christian, Jewish, and Graeco-Roman Traditions’, 6.-7.06.2024.
  • “The Poetics of Grammar. (Paratextual) Poetry in Early Modern Textbooks”, University of Oxford, Corpus Christi college. conference: ‘Corpus Christi Classics Seminar’, 29.05.2024.
  • “Natur erfahren. Anschauliches Erzählen bei Hesiod”, Heidelberg University. conference: ‘Gräzistisches Forschungskolloquium’, 24.04.2024.
  • „Contrasting Bodies – Contrasting Emotions: Vividness in Avianus 29 and 41”. University of Graz. conference: ‚Ancient Fables in a Late Antique Guise – New Approaches to Avianus‘, 24.-25.11.2023.
  • „smoke-hued, hissing, heavy-scented: The Theriaca of Nicander – a multi-sensory experience“. TU Dresden. conference: ‚Experiencing smell and taste in the Greco-Roman world‘, 08.-10.09.2023.
  • “Babrio 10, 30 e 49”. Ghent University. conference: ‚Titubanti Testi 7‘, 20.06.2023.
  • „Does Size Matter? Babrius’ Tetrasticha“. University of Graz. conference: ‚With new Muse – Babrius: Basics, Approaches, Perspectives‘, 12.05.2023 (together with Vittorio Bottini, University of Toronto/Tübingen).
  • “Poems in the Letters of Ausonius: Techniques, Contexts, and Functions.” University of Cyprus. conference: ‚Greek and Latin carmina minora in Context‘, 17.-19.03.2023.
  • „Poems in Context: The Prosimetric Letters of Ausonius as Macrotext“. Ghent University, Department of Literary Studies (section Latin), 17.02.2023.
  • „Partizipative Formate als Vermittlungsansatz (geistes-)wissenschaftlicher Forschung: Erfahrungen, Herausforderungen, Potenziale“. University of Graz. conference: ‚Brennpunkt WissKomm 2022‘, 24.09.2022.
  • „The Lion, the Fox, and the Camel: The Fables of Babrius between Epic and Epigram“. University of Graz. conference: ‚Et in cothurnis prodit Aesopus nouis. On the interaction between ancient fable and literary genres‘, 02.-04.06.2022.
  • „‘I will sit on your restless heart; I will ride on my enemy’s shoulders’: Expressing Anger through Bodily Metaphors in Horace’s Epodes“. University of Exeter. conference: ‚Experience Through Metaphor. Cultural Histories of Emotion and the Body‘, 18.03.2022.
  • “The Graz Repository of ancient Fables (GRaF): A participative approach to creating Open Educational Resources”. conference: ‚Co-Creating Citizen Science‘. arQus – European University Alliance. online, 06.05.2021.
  • „Intertextual and Metapoetic Aspects of Ausonius’ Cento nuptialis (C. n. 12–32; 57–66)“. Ruhr-Universität Bochum. conference: ‚Interdisciplinary Workshop on the Technique of Cento Texts‘, 13.-14.11.2020 (together with Sally Baumann, University of Graz).
  • „Nets, Rods, Flutes – The Metapoetics of Fishing in the Mythiambi“. University of Graz. conference: ‚Ancient Fables – Sour Grapes? New Approaches‘, 02.10.2020.
  • „Das Grazer Repositorium antiker Fabeln (GRaF): Eine digitale Lehr- und Lernressource zu Phaedrus, Aesop und co“. Universität Salzburg. conference: ‚6. Tagung zur Didaktik der alten Sprachen in Österreich‘, 28.-29.02.2020.
  • „Fabeln erschließen – Strukturen beschreiben: Überlegungen zur Kommentierung von Babrios’ Mythiamboi“. Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. conference: „Forschungsseminar Latinistik“, 07.01.2020.
  • „Zweimal Babrios zum Mitnehmen – Verständnis und Rezeption eines ‚verschollenen‘ Autors“. University of Graz. conference: ‚ut pictura poeta. Autorbilder als literarische, historisch-biographische und mediale Denkfiguren und ihr Einfluss auf die Lektüre antiker Literatur‘, 09.-11.05.2019.
  • „ὑπ' ἐμοῦ δὲ πρώτου τῆς θύρης ἀνοιχθείσης — Reconstructing identity in Babrius’s Mythiamboi“. University of Edinburgh. conference: ‚The Literary Self: from Antiquity to the Digital Age‘, 04.-05.06.2018.

Teaching

since 2024: Heidelberg University
2023-2025: University of Oxford, Oriel College
2019-2023: University of Graz

Reading Courses

  • Latin Didactic Poetry (Lucretius; Vergil, Georgics; Ovid, Ars Amatoria) (spring 25)
  • Translation and Interpretation of Greek Texts II (fall 24/25; fall 26/27)
  • Translation and Interpretation of Greek Texts I (spring 24; fall 24/25; fall 25/26; spring 26; fall 26/27)
  • Greek Literature – Translation and Comment (Euripides, Bacchae; Aristophanes, Frogs; Herodotus) (fall 23/24)
  • Greek Core (Pindar; Simonides; Sophocles, Antigone; Aristophanes, Clouds) (fall 23/24)
  • The Aesop-Romance (fall 22/23)

Proseminars

  • Literary Symposia – Plato, Xenophon, Plutarch, Lucian, Julian (spring 26)
  • Cicero, Pro Caelio (fall 25/26)
  • Menander, Dyskolos (fall 24/25)
  • The Philippics of Demosthenes (fall 22/23)
  • Catullus’ carmina (spring 22)
  • Roman Biography – Cornelius Nepos and Suetonius (fall 21/22)
  • Seneca, De clementia (fall 19/20)

General Classics and Language courses

  • Introduction to Classical Philology (fall 26/27)
  • Greek Language I (fall 22/23)
  • Greek Language II (spring 23)
  • Latin Language I (spring 22)

Research seminars

  • Modern Literary Theory and Ancient Texts (spring 23)

Ancient language pedagogy

  • Tutorial accompanying Practical Teaching Experience 4: Greek (fall 21/22)
  • Tutorial accompanying Practical Teaching Experience 2: Greek (fall 20/21)

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