Professor John Wilkins

Extension: 4243

Telephone: 01392 724243

I am a specialist in the history of food and medicine in Greco-Roman culture, with current interests in literature (eg comic drama) and medicine (especially nutrition). The texts I am currently working on are the Deipnosophistae (Philosophers at Dinner) of Athenaeus and On the Powers of Foods of Galen, both written in the last 2nd/early 3rd centuries AD, at a time when Greek authors were reviewing the previous millennium of Greek culture.

I have co-organised conferences on food, comedy, Athenaeus, Galen and, in 2008, a botanical conference, 'Plants & Knowledge'. I am particularly interested in current research and teaching to develop links between ancient and modern medicine in the area of lifestyle and therapy. In teaching, this is part of the BA module Food and Medicine; it is central to the MA pathway in Food and Culture. In research, this is pursued through the Department's Galen project and as part of the work of the Centre for Medical History. The Galen project coordinates the work of Chris Gill, Julius Rocca, me and others in a number of publications and conferences, not least the publication of al Galen's work in English, which is coordinated by Philip van der Eijk (Newcastle). For further details please email me or click here.

My publications include:

Euripides: Heraclidae (Oxford, 1993)
Archestratus: The Life of Luxury, John Wilkins and Shaun Hill (Totnes, 1994)

Food in Antiquity, ed. John Wilkins, David Harvey and Michael Dobson (Exeter, 1995)
Food in European Literature, ed. John Wilkins (Exeter 1996)
Athenaeus and his World, ed. David Braund and John Wilkins (Exeter, 2000)
The Rivals of Aristophanes, ed. D. Harvey and John Wilkins (London, 2000)
The Boastful Chef: The Discourse of Food in Ancient Greek Comedy (Oxford, 2000)

Food in the Ancient World (with Shaun Hill) (Oxford 2006)

'Athenaeus the Navigator', Journal of Hellenic Studies 2008