Christiane Sourvinou-Inwood

Christiane Sourvinou-Inwood (Greek: Χριστιάνα Σουρβίνου; February 26, 1945 – May 19, 2007) was a scholar in the field of Ancient Greek religion and one of the most influential Hellenists.

Christiane Sourvinou-Inwood
Born(1945-02-26)February 26, 1945
Volos, Greece
DiedMay 19, 2007(2007-05-19) (aged 62)
Oxford, UK
NationalityGreek
Spouse(s)Michael Inwood
Academic background
Alma materUniversity of Athens (BA), University of Oxford (DPhil)
ThesisMinoan and Mycenaean Afterlife Beliefs (1973)
Academic work
DisciplineClassics
Sub-disciplineAncient Greek religion; classical archaeology
InstitutionsUniversity of Reading
Notable works"What is Polis Religion" and "Further Aspects of Polis Religion" (1990, republished in 2000), "Reading" Greek Culture (1991)

Biography

Sourvinou-Inwood was born in Volos, Greece, in 1945, but grew up in Corfu. Sourvinou-Inwood studied at the University of Athens, and began research in the field of Mycenology in Rome and later in Athens.

She graduated from Oxford in 1973 with a doctorate on Minoan civilization and Mycenaean beliefs in the afterlife. She was a lecturer in classical archaeology at Liverpool (1976–78),[1] and a senior research Fellow at University College, Oxford (1990–95). She also worked as Reader in Classical Literature at the University of Reading (1995–98).

Career and Influence

Sourvinou-Inwood has been praised for the clarity and directness of her approach. In the words of a colleague, "she wanted scholars to abandon fashionable assumptions" and "to read ancient texts through the eyes of their contemporary readers"[2].

According to the University of Reading Classics Department, Sourvinou-Inwood's acknowledged supremacy in the area of Greek religion studies made a lasting contribution to the Department's research, and this field continues to be one of its strongholds in the twenty-first century.[3]

Polis-Religion Model

One of Sourvinou-Inwood's most influential works was her development of the 'Polis-religion' model. This was originally explored in two articles, entitled "What is Polis Religion?" and "Further Aspects of Polis Religion".[4]

Honours

Selected bibliography
  • Theseus as Son and Stepson: A Tentative Illustration of Greek Mythological Mentality (1979); ISBN 0900587393
  • Studies in Girls' Transitions: Aspects of the Arkteia and Age Representation in Attic Iconography (1988)
  • "Reading" Greek Culture: Texts and Images, Rituals and Myths (1991); ISBN 0-19-814750-3[6]
  • "Reading" Greek Death: To the End of the Classical Period (1995); ISBN 019814976X
  • "What is Polis Religion?" and "Further Aspects of Polis Religion" in Oxford Readings in Greek Religion (edited by Richard Buxton 2000)
  • Tragedy and Athenian Religion (2003); ISBN 0739104004
  • Athenian Myths and Festivals: Aglauros, Erechtheus, Plynteria, Panathenaia, Dionysia (posthumously edited and published by Robert Parker 2011); ISBN 9780199592074

Novels
  • Murder Most Classical (under the pseudonym Christiana Elfwood, 2007); ISBN 978-1843863571
  • Murder at the City Dionysia (2008); ISBN 978-1843864745
  • Murder near the Sanctuary (2008); ISBN 978-1843864752

Notes
  1. Parker, Robert (2007-05-30). "Obituary: Christiane Sourvinou-Inwood". the Guardian. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
  2. "Through ancient eyes: Christiane Sourvinou-Inwood – TheTLS". TheTLS. 2007-05-30. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
  3. https://www.reading.ac.uk/classics/about/class-history.aspx A Short History of Reading's Classics Department
  4. Originally published in The Greek city: from Homer to Alexander (1990) edited by Oswyn Murray and Simon Price and republished in Oxford Readings in Greek Religion (2000) edited by Richard Buxton
  5. Resulting in the publication of Sourvinou-Inwood, Christiane (2003). Tragedy and Athenian Religion. Lexington Books. ISBN 9780739104002.
  6. Barringer, Judith M. (4 March 2014). "Review of "Reading" Greek Culture". Bryn Mawr Classical Review. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
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