Return to the homepage
  • Library
  • UC Online
  • News
  • Events
  • Maps
  • Staff
  • Work at UC
  • 150 Years
  • Study
    • Study
      • Courses and qualifications
      • Subjects
      • Online learning
      • Arts
      • Business
      • Digital Screen
      • Education
      • Engineering
      • Health
      • Law
      • Science
      • All departments
      • Scholarships
      • Examinations
      • Graduation
      • Graduate School
      • Key dates
      • Publications
      • Study abroad and exchanges
      • Work-Integrated Learning
      • Academic support
      • Special consideration
      • Summer School
      • Transition Programmes
      • Quick Links
      • LEARN
      • Logins
      • Timetables
      • Library
      • Scholarships
      • Transcripts
      • Grading
  • Enrol
    • Enrol at UC
      • Enrolment process
      • Enrolment and Course Dates
      • Admission and University Entrance
      • Identity and citizenship verification
      • International student enrolment
      • PhD and doctoral degree applications
      • Manage your study
      • Fees and funding
      • Student Agreement
      • Change your enrolment
      • Update your contact details
      • Contact Student Services
      • Quick Links
      • Enrol now with myUC
      • Re-enrol now with myUC
      • Qualifications and courses
      • Scholarships
      • Academic Support
      • Transcripts
  • Research
    • Research
      • Become a research student
      • Find a supervisor
      • Support for Researchers
      • Māori Research Partnerships
      • Research Impact
      • Research Institutes and Centres
      • Research specialties
      • Facilities and equipment
      • IP Commercialisation
      • Innovation Jumpstart
      • Ethics Approval
      • UC Research Awards
      • Contact us
      • Quick Links
      • Find an expert
      • Find a supervisor
      • Jobs at UC
      • Ethics Approval
      • Postgraduate forms
      • Library (research)
  • Life
    • Life
      • The campus
      • Facilities
      • Getting around
      • Student life
      • Accommodation
      • Support services
      • Know The Code
      • Sustainability Office
      • UC Students' Association (UCSA)
      • CCR
      • Golden Key
      • Health, safety and wellbeing
      • Life in CHCH
      • Life in NZ
      • Get active
      • Canterbury Card
      • Quick Links
      • UCGo
      • Maps
      • Parking
      • Health Centre
      • UC RecCentre
      • Student events
      • Clubs and societies
  • Support services
    • Support services
      • Finding support
      • Need to talk?
      • Health Services
      • Academic support
      • Assistive technology
      • Accessibility
      • Financial assistance
      • Academic grievances
      • Equity and diversity
      • Parents and whānau
      • Job and careers advice
      • New student support
      • Current student support
      • Postgraduate student support
      • High school student support
      • Adult student support
      • International student support
      • LGBTQI student support
      • Māori student support
      • Pasifika student support
      • Onsite services
      • Quick Links
      • In an emergency
      • Security
      • Raise a concern
      • IT Services
      • Academic Skills Centre
      • Library (support)
      • Contacts
      • Wellbeing Hub
  • Engage
    • Engage
      • Alumni
      • Business and industry
      • Canterbury University Press
      • Communications and Engagement
      • Community partnerships
      • External exam invigilation
      • Find an expert or consultant
      • Giving to UC
      • International partnerships
      • Knowledge Commons
      • News
      • School resources
      • Work at UC
      • Work placements
      • Quick Links
      • Donate to UC
      • Contact UC
      • Current vacancies
      • Erskine Fellowship
      • News
      • Public events
      • Liaison Office
  • About
    • About
      • What is special about UC
      • UC7
      • Ako - Learning & Teaching
      • Governance
      • Leadership
      • Health and Safety
      • Sustainability Hub
      • People and Culture
      • Asset Planning and Delivery
      • History
      • Information and Records Management
      • Ngā Uara | Our Values
      • Contacts
  • Logins
    • Logins
      • LEARN
      • Zoom
      • Student email
      • Staff email
      • myUC
      • My Timetable
      • Canterbury Card Account
      • My Library Account
      • OneDrive
      • UC CareerHub
      • UC Services Portal
      • Password Reset
      • UCGO
      • ourUC
      • Staff logins
      • More logins
Skip to main content
uc-research-profile

Use the Tab and Up, Down arrow keys to select menu items.

  • UC Research Profile
  • Search
  • Browse
    • Subject areas and disciplines
    • Colleges and departments
  • Administration
    • Email UC Research Profile Administrator
    • Update your UC Research Profile page in Profiler (Staff Only)
  • Quick Links
    • Research at UC

Associate Professor Patrick Dominic O'Sullivan

Contact

Department: Classics

Email: patrick.osullivan@canterbury.ac.nz

Direct Dial: +64 3 3694984

Office: Rm 103B UC Arts City Location- 3 Hereford Street

Languages: English, Ancient Greek, French, German, Italian, Latin

About
Research / Creative works
Supervision
Networks
Projects
Methods & Equipment

Fields of Research

  • Ancient Greek and Latin language and literature
  • Archaic and Classical Greek poetry, philosophy and intellectual history
  • Ancient aesthetics and psychological theories
  • Greek theatre, including tragedy and satyr play
  • Ancient rhetoric and literary theories
  • Archaic and Classical Greek art

Researcher Summary

Patrick O'Sullivan is a graduate of Melbourne and Cambridge  Universities. He has won awards for his research, and has twice been voted Top Lecturer in the College of Arts at UC. His research interests primarily focus on Archaic and Classical Greek intellectual and cultural history. He has published widely on: Greek  epic and lyric poetry, theatre, (incl. tragedy and satyr play), rhetoric and the First Sophistic, ancient visual aesthetics and literary criticism, athletics, atheism in antiquity, as well as on Greek and Roman art, including their reception in antiquity and beyond. In 2008 he was involved as translator and actor in a full production of Euripides' Cyclops, produced in Christchurch, which was linked to his (co-authored) book on Greek satyric drama, published in 2013. He has a contract with Routledge for a forthcoming book, provisionally entitled, The Rhetoric of Greek Art. Other ongoing projects include athletics and poetics in Pindar's victory odes, and Hercules in Roman epic.

Subject Area: Disciplines

  • History, History of Art, Classics and Curatorial Studies: Ancient Greek; Ancient History, Philosophy and Theory; Classical Art; Classical Language and Literature; Classics

Resources

  • Staff webpage

Prizes and Awards

  • Canterbury Fellowship at the University of Oxford, UK (January-April 2020). ( 2020 )
  • Visiting Fellowship, University College, Oxford. ( 2020 )
  • Canterbury Fellowship at the University of Cambridge, UK. ( 2016 )
  • Rutherford Visiting Scholarship at Trinity College, Cambridge, UK. ( 2016 )
  • Visiting Scholar, Ormond College, University of Melbourne. ( 2009 )
  • Visiting Fellowship, Wolfson College, Cambridge, UK. ( 2003 )
  • Marsden Fund Grant - Awarded by the Royal Society of New Zealand ( 2002 - 2005)

Research/Scholarly/Creative Works

Authored Books
  • O'Sullivan P. and Collard C. (2013) Euripides: Cyclops and Major Fragments of Greek Satyric Drama. Oxford: Oxbow. 528pp.
Chapters
  • O'Sullivan P. (2023) ‘Pindar’ (forthcoming). In Erskine A; Hollander, DB; Papaconstantinou A (Ed.), The Encyclopedia of Ancient HistoryWiley Online Library.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2022) Epinician Virtue-Signaling: The Poetics of Aretê in Pindar’s Victory Odes. In Reid H; Serrati J (Ed.), Ageless Aretē: Essays from the 6th Interdisciplinary Symposium on the Hellenic Heritage of Sicily and Southern Italy: 67-90. Siracusa, Sicily: Parnassos Press.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2021) From Olympus to Aitna: Homer, Gorgias and the Power of Music in Pindar’s Pythian 1. In H. Reid and V. Lewis (Ed.), Pindar in Sicily: 119-142. Iowa: Parnassos Press.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2021) Satyric Friendship in Euripides' Cyclops. In Antonopoulos A; Harrison, G.; Christopoulos M (Ed.), Reconstructing Satyr Drama: 375-394. Berlin: De Gruyter.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2020) Rhetoric in Euripides. In Markantonatos A (Ed.), Brill's Companion to Euripides: 571-604. Leiden: Brill.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2017) Cyclops. A Companion to Euripides: 315-333. Malden & Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/9781119257530.ch22.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2017) Gods, heroes and anti-heroes in the Logie Collection. In Morrison GL; Minchin-Garvin PMA; Elder T (Ed.), We could be heroes: the gods and heroes of the ancient Greeks and Romans: 65-72. Christchurch: Canterbury University Press.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2016) Attic Black Figure Amphora. In Ridley REA (Ed.), Fifty Treasures: Classical Antiquities in Australian and New Zealand Universities: 44-45. Melbourne: Australasian Society for Classical Studies.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2012) Dionysos, Polyphemos, and the idea of Sicily in Euripides' Cyclops. In Rosenbloom D; Davidson J (Ed.), Greek Drama IV: Texts, Contexts, Performance: 169-189. Oxford: Aris & Phillips.
  • Matthews B., O'Sullivan P., Lochhead I. and Lovell-Smith M. (2011) Architecture & Design. In Jones C; Matthews B; Clement J (Ed.), Treasures of the University of Canterbury Library: 28-46,-228-230. Christchurch: Canterbury University Press.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2011) Dio Chrysostom and the Poetics of Phidias' Zeus. In McWilliam J; Puttock S; Stevenson T; Taraporewalla R (Ed.), The Statue of Zeus at Olympia: New Approaches: 137-154. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2008) Herakles the Greek Hero: Nothing Succeeds Like Excess. In Maguire M; Rankin E; O'Sullivan P (Ed.), The Labours of Herakles: as a New Zealand Pioneer: 57-63. Christchurch: PaperGraphica.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2005) Homer. In Ballif M; Moran MG (Ed.), Classical Rhetorics and Rhetoricians: Critical Studies and Sources: 214-218. Westport: Praeger Publishers/Greenwood Ebooks.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2005) Thrasymachus. In Ballif M; Moran MG (Ed.), Classical Rhetorics and Rhetoricians: Critical Studies and Sources: 368-371. Westport: Praeger Publishers / Greenwood Ebooks.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2005) Greece: Sophists. In Miller PA; Platter C (Ed.), History in Dispute, Vol. 20: Classical Antiquity and Classical Studies: 172-180. Detroit: St. James Press.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2005) Of Sophists, Tyrants and Polyphemos: The Nature of the Beast in Euripides' Cyclops. In Harrison GWM (Ed.), Satyr Drama: Tragedy at Play: 119-159. Swansea: Classical Press of Wales.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2003) Victory Statue, Victory Song: Pindar's Agonistic Poetics and Its Legacy. In Phillips D; Pritchard D (Ed.), Sport and Festival in the Ancient Greek World: 75-100. Swansea: Classical Press of Wales.
  • O'Sullivan P. and Helzle M. (2001) The Arts'. In Kirby JT (Ed.), The Roman Republic and Empire (264 BCE-476 CE) in the World Eras Series, vol. 3: 65-139. Detroit: Gale Group.
  • O'Sullivan P. and O'Sullivan N. (2001) The Arts. In Kirby JT (Ed.), Classical Greek Civilization in the World Eras Series, vol. 6: 41-94. Detroit: Gale Group.
Journal Articles
  • O'Sullivan P. (2020) From the Great Banquets of Aeschylus: Gorgias, Aristophanes and Xenakis’ Oresteia. Trends in Classics Suppl. Vol. 84: Fragmentation in Greek Drama: 545-570.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2019) ‘Aeschylus’ Diktyoulkoi: A Typically Atypical Satyr Play?’. Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies 62(2): 49-65.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2016) Successes and Transgressors: Athletes in the Ancient Greek Imagination. Iris Online.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2015) Pindar and the Poetics of the Athlete. Classics@ Online Journal 13(Greek Poetry and Sport).
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2012) Sophistic Ethics, Old Atheism, and "Critias" on Religion. Classical World 105(2): 167-185. http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/clw.2012.0010.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2008) Aeschylus, Euripides and Tragic Painting: Two Scenes from Agamemnon and Hecuba. American Journal of Philology 129(2): 173-198.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2008) Review Article of: S. Goldhill and R. Osborne (ed.), Rethinking Revolutions Through Ancient Greece. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 2006. Polis: Journal of the Society for Greek Political Thought 25(2): 337-343.
  • O'Sullivan P. and Maitland J. (2007) Greek and Latin Teaching in Australian and New Zealand Universities: A 2005 Survey. Antichthon 41: 109-120.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2005) Pindar and the Statues of Rhodes. Classical Quarterly 55(1): 96-104. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/cq/bmi006.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2004) Review article of P. Vasunia, The Gift of the Nile: Hellenizing Egypt from Aeschylus to Alexander (University of California Press: Berkeley and Los Angeles, 2001). Prudentia 36(1): 75-80.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2000) Satyr and Image in Aeschylus' Theoroi. Classical Quarterly 50(2): 353-366.
Conference Contributions - Published
  • O'Sullivan PD. and Wong A. (2012) Odysseus the Athenian: Thucydides, Antisthenes, and an Homeric hero in an intellectual age. In ASCS 33 [2012] Proceedings: 15.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2010) Use your Illusion: 'Critias' on Religion Reconsidered. In ASCS 31 [2010] Proceedings: 14.
Other
  • O'Sullivan P. (2023) Tsantsanoglou (K.) Tragic Papyri. Aeschylus’ Theoroi, Hypsipyle, Laïos, Prometheus Pyrkaeus and Sophocles’ Inachos. (Trends in Classics Supplementary Volume 135.) Berlin and Boston: De Gruyter, 2022. Classical Review 00.0: 00-00. [Book Review].
  • O'Sullivan P. (2021) R. Hunter, R. Laemmle, Euripides: Cyclops. Cambridge Greek and Latin classics. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press, 2020. 268 pp. ISBN 9781108399999. $29.99 (pb).. Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2021.03.03 Bryn Mawr College. [Book Review].
  • O'Sullivan P. (2020) Scrapping Latin and Classics will unfairly short-change our students. Education HQ(December 17).
  • O'Sullivan P. (2019) Satie's Satyric Socrates and Other Platonic Ideas. Christchurch: [Programme essay for Satie: Socrate, Performance in Christchurch, NZ].
  • O'Sullivan P. (2019) Wit and eroticism of the Greek Symposium, Revealed. UC Communications [Interview/article].
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2017) Adapted translation of libretto for Iannis Xenakis' version of Aeschylus' Oresteia. Christchurch, NZ.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2017) From Aeschylus to Xenakis via the Oresteia. : 4-6. Christchurch, NZ: [Programme essay for production of I. Xenakis’ Oresteia, Christchurch].
  • O'Sullivan P. (2014) M.L. West (Ed),The Epic Cycle: A Commentary on the lost Troy Epics. Oxford & New York: Oxford University Press, 2013; 352pp. Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2014.10.6 [Book Review].
  • O'Sullivan P. (2014) Mary C. Stieber, Euripides and the Language of Craft. Mnemosyne supplements. Monographs on Greek and Roman language and literature, 327. Leiden: Brill, 2011; 494pp. Journal of Hellenic Studies 134: 164-165. [Book Review].
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2012) Jean-François Pradeau (Ed.), Les Sophistes. Écrits complets. Tomes 1 & 2. Paris: Flammarion, 2009. The Classical Review 62(2): 392-394. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0009840X12000273. [Book Review].
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2011) S. Goldhill and E. Hall (edd.) Sophocles and the Greek Tragic Tradition. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 2009). Classical Review 61(1): 36-39. [Book Review].
  • O'Sullivan P. (2008) Euripides’ Cyclops: Not Your Average One-Eyed Cantabrian. UC Chronicle 43(1): 4-4. [Interview/article].
  • O'Sullivan P. (2008) Silliness, Seriousness and Satyr Drama: Tragedy at Play. [Programme Essay for production of Euripides’ Cyclops].
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2006) A. Nightingale, Spectacles of Truth in Classical Greek Philosophy: Theoria in its Cultural Context. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 2004. Journal of Hellenic Studies 126: 212-213. [Book Review].
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2006) G. Paduano, Euripide: Il Ciclope. Introduzione, traduzione e note. Milan: Biblioteca Universale Rizzoli, 2005; 133pp. Classical Review 56(2): 513. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0009840X06002721. [Book Review].
  • O'Sullivan P. (2004) Review of Homer, The Odyssey. Translated by M. Hammond. The Classical Bulletin 80: 43-45. [Book Review].
  • O'Sullivan P. (2003) Review of "Pictorial Narrative in Ancient Greek Art" (Author: M. Stansbury-O'Donnell. Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1999). The European Legacy 8(1): 114-115. [Book Review].
  • O'Sullivan P. (2002) Review of "The Fragility of Goodness. Luck and Ethics in Greek Tragedy and Philosophy (Revised Edition)" (Author: M. Nussbaum, Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2001). Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2002.10.06 [Book Review].
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2001) D. Collins, Immortal Armor. The Concept of Alkê in Archaic Greek Poetry, (Rowman and Littlefield: Maryland and Oxford, 1998).. Bryn Mawr Classical Review 01.02.02 [Book Review].
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2000) A. J. Bowen, Xenophon. Symposium, (Aris and Phillips: Warminster, 1998).. Prudentia 32.1: 58-62. [Book Review].
  • O'Sullivan P. (1999) Images and Ideas. University of Canterbury Research Magazine(December 1999): 13-14. [Interview/article].
  • O'Sullivan PD. (1999) A. Stewart, Art, Desire and the Body in Ancient Greece, (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1997), Bryn Mawr Classical Review: 99.10.9.. Bryn Mawr Classical Review 99.10.9. [Book Review].
  • O'Sullivan PD. (1989) K. Mackinnon, Greek Tragedy Into Film, (Croom Helm: London, 1986).. Primitiae 7: 4-5. [Book Review].
  • O'Sullivan PD. (1989) M. Hammond, The Iliad: A New Prose Translation. Primitiae 7: 6-7. [Book Review].
Conference Contributions - Other
  • O'Sullivan P. (2023) Nomos, Phusis and the Poet in Pindar’s Epinikians. Universitat de Barcelona, Spain: 7th Open International Conference of the Network for the Study of Archaic and Classical Greek Song: What’s in a Poet? The Figure of the Poet in Archaic and Classical Greece, 3-5 Jul 2023.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2021) ‘Arete, Sophia and Pindar’s Athletic Ideal’. Exedra Mediterranean Center, Syracuse, Sicily: Interdisciplinary Symposium on Arete, 14-17 Jun 2021.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2020) From Olympus to Aetna: Rhetoric, Poetics and Pindar’s Big Fat Greek Music. Arts Centre, 3 Hereford Street, Christchurch: HACA Conference, University of Canterbury, 27-27 Nov 2020.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2019) Ambivalence and Power: Music in Pindar’s Pythian I. Exedra Mediterranean Center: Syracuse, Sicily: Pindar in Sicily Conference, 13-16 Oct 2019.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2018) Morsels from the Banquet of Aeschylus: Ancient Receptions and a Fragmented Modern Oresteia. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece: Trends in Classics International Conference: Fragmented Parts, Coherent Entities: Reconsidering Fragmentation in Ancient Greek Drama, 24-27 May 2018.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2018) My Big Fat Greek Poetry: Aeschylus, Reception and Xenakis’ Oresteia. University of Canterbury School of Music, Arts Centre, 3 Hereford St., Christchurch.: 2018 Annual Meeting of the New Zealand Musicological Society: ‘Into the Unknown’, 30 Nov-2 Dec 2018.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2016) With (a) little help from their Philoi: Satyric Friendship in Euripides' Cyclops. University of Patras, Greece: Greek Satyr Play: Reconstructing a Dramatic Genre from its Remnants, 1-3 Jul 2016.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2015) Beauty and the Beasts: Danae and the Satyrs in Aeschylus' Dictyulci. University of Adelaide, Australia: 36th Conference of the Australasian Society for Classical Studies, 27-31 Jan 2015.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2015) Keynote Address - Sex, Politics & Religion: The Significance of Greek Art & Architecture. Christchurch, New Zealand: 14th Biennial New Zealand Association of Classical Teachers Conference (NZACT 2015), 3-5 Jul 2015.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2014) Aeschylus' Dictyulci: A Singular Satyr Play? University of California, Davis, CA, USA,: Aeschylus at Play: Satyr Drama and the Idea of Tragedy, 3-4 Apr 2014.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2012) Life, the universe and everything: Empedocles' philosophy of painting. Melbourne, Australia: Australasian Society for Classical Studies General Meeting and Conference (ASCS 33), 5-9 Feb 2012.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2011) Friends of Dionysos: Philia in Euripides' Cyclops. University of Auckland, New Zealand: ASCS XXXII: Australasian Society for Classical Studies Conference, 23-27 Jan 2011.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2010) Use your Illusion: ‘Critias’ on Religion Reconsidered’. University of Western Australia: ASCS XXXI: Australasian Society for Classical Studies Conference, 3-5 Feb 2010.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2009) The Literary Powers of Zeus Olympios. University of Sydney, Australia: ASCS 30: Conference of the Australasian Society for Classical Studies, 2-6 Feb 2009.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2008) Dio Chrysostom and the Poetics of Pheidias' Zeus. Brisbane, Australia: The Statue of Zeus at Olympia, 3-4 Jul 2008.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2008) Euripides' Cyclops in Performance 2008. Christchurch, New Zealand: Australasian Society for Classical Studies, 29th Conference and General Meeting, 27-31 Jan 2008.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2007) Curb Your Enthousiasmos: Polyphemos, Dionysos & the Idea of Sicily in Euripides' Cyclops. Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand: Greek Drama Conference IV, 3-6 Jul 2007.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2007) Iphigeneia, Hecuba and the Art of Pity in Greek Tragedy. Sydney, Australia: Australasian Universities Language and Literature Association Conference (AULLA) 2007: Cultural Interactions in the Old and New Worlds, 5-7 Feb 2007.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2006) ASCS Language Survey. University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia: Australasian Society for Classical Studies 27th Conference and General Meeting (ASCS 27), 30 Jan-3 Feb 2006.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2006) Geographical and Political Space: The Idea of Sicily in Euripides' Cyclops. University of Melbourne, Australia: Close Relations - The 'Spaces' of Greek and Roman Theatre, 19-23 Sep 2006.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2005) Hit and myth: Athletes and the heroic ideal in Classical Greece. Christchurch, New Zealand: New Zealand Association of Classical Teachers Conference (NZACT), 10 Jul 2005.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2005) Pindar's Highway Statues Revisited. University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand: Australasian Society for Classical Studies, 30 Jan 2005.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2003) Polyphemos as Tyrant in the Cyclops. Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA: Satyr Drama: Tragedy at Play. An Academic Colloquium and Production of Euripides' Cyclops, 20 Feb 2003.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2002) Another Look at Polyphemos in Euripides' Cyclops. Sydney, Australia: Greek Drama III Conference, 1 Jul 2002.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2002) Artist and Sophist in Classical Greek Thought. Edinburgh, UK: Joint Classical Association and Classical Association of Scotland Conference, 1 Apr 2002.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2002) Competitive Aspects of Orality, Literacy and Visual Artworks in Classical Greece. Melbourne, Australia: The Fifth Biennial Orality and Literacy in Ancient Greece Conference: Oral Performance and its Context, 1 Jul 2002.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2000) Agonistic Aesthetics: Poets, Victory Odes and Visual Monuments. Sydney, Australia: Olympic and the Olympics Conference, 1 Jul 2000.
  • O'Sullivan P. (1999) The Virtues of Words and the Limits of Art. Auckland, New Zealand: New Zealand Assocation of Classical Teachers, Triennial Conference, 1 Jul 1999.
  • O'Sullivan P. (1997) Empedocles' Cosmic Painters. London, UK: London/Oxford/Cambridge Ancient Art History Conference/Seminar, 1 May 1997.
  • O'Sullivan P. (1997) Gorgias and the Psychology of Images. London, UK: Classical Association Conference, 1 Apr 1997.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (1996) Gorgias and the Psychology of Images’. New York, USA: American Philological Association Conference, 28-30 Dec 1996.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (1993) Truth, Illusion and Deceit in Early Greek Views of Art’. Sydney, Australia: Plato and Aristotle, Platonism and Aristotelianism Conference, 28-30 Jan 1993.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (1991) Homer and Geometric Man’. Perth, University of Western Australia: ASCS XVII: Australian Society for Classical Studies Conference, 1-3 Feb 1991.
Oral Presentations
  • O'Sullivan P. (2022) A Fragment of the Odyssey in NZ! Teece Museum, Christchurch: PhiloLogie and UC Classoc ‘Coffee and Classics’ Series, 13 Sep 2022.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2022) 'Mixed Feelings: Myth and Mirth, Death and Desire on Greek Vases from the Logie Collection’. Teece Museum, Christchurch, NZ: Coffee and Classics, 05 Apr 2022.
  • O'Sullivan P., Sciarrino E. and Field P. (2022) ‘It’s Epic: Odysseus’ Journey from Homer to Joyce’. A discussion panel. Arts Centre, Christchurch, NZ.: Public Lecture Series organised by Classics Dept. & Teece Museum, 09 Aug 2022.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2021) Monstrous Heroes and Heroic Monsters in the Teece Museum. Arts Centre, 3 Hereford St, Christchurch: NZ Association of Classical Teachers Meeting, 08 Apr 2021.
  • O'Sullivan P. and Haynes N. (2021) Women in Greek Epic. UC, Christchurch: Troy and Ancient Epic: Lecture/Discussion, 31 Mar 2021.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2020) Homer, Vergil and the Shield of Aeneas. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, USA: 05 Nov 2020.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2020) War Music: Rhetoric, Poetics and Pindar’s Pythian 1. University College, Oxford University, UK.: University College Research Seminar, Oxford University, UK., 27 Feb 2020.
  • O'Sullivan P. and Haynes N. (2020) Women in Greek Myth. Christchurch, NZ: Myth, Power & Identity in the Graeco-Roman World: Lecture/Discussion, 04 Aug 2020.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2019) Sappho, Satyrs, Socrates and Seduction: Aspects of the Greek Symposium’. Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities, Arts Centre, Christchurch, NZ: Fantastic Feasts Exhibition, 13 Sep 2019.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2018) Alone of all the Gods: Concepts of Death and the Afterlife in Ancient Greece. Arts Centre, Christchurch, NZ: UC Connect: Ancient afterlife after dark: Classics talk, 16 Aug 2018.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2018) Sappho fr. 16 (own translation) and Aristophanes' Speech on Eros from Plato’s Symposium. The Physics Room: ‘Love in Vain: Readings about Heartbreak’, 14 Nov 2018.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2018) The Measure of All Things: Myths, Maths and Other Aspects of Greek Art. Arts Centre, Christchurch: Maths Craft New Zealand: Christchurch Maths Craft Day, 01 Jul 2018.
  • O'Sullivan PD., Allan B., Swift L., Sciarrino E. and Field P. (2018) 'Tyranny and Crises of Democracy: What we can learn from Antiquity'. Arts Centre, Christchurch: 'Tyranny and Crises of Democracy: What we can learn from Antiquity', An Evening With ... Public Lecture Series, 06 Mar 2018.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2017) ‘Aeschylus and Xenakis' Oresteia’: Pre-performance talks for The Oresteia Experience.. Great Hall, Christchurch, NZ.: The Oresteia Experience, 10 Sep 2017.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2017) Aeschylus Then and Now: Xenakis’ Oresteia and some Untimely Wagnerian Meditations. University of Canterbury, NZ: Canterbury School of Continental Philosophy Seminar, 08 Sep 2017.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2017) On Becoming a Man: Heroic Journeys in Greek Mythology. Arts Centre, Christchurch, NZ: Heritage Week, 15 Oct 2017.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2017) The Measure of All Things: Myths, Maths and Other Aspects of Greek Art. Arts Centre, Christchurch, NZ: Maths Craft New Zealand: Christchurch Maths Craft Day, Maths Craft New Zealand: Christchurch Maths Craft Day, 18 Jun 2017.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2017) 'Two Sides to Every Story: Myth, Image and Viewing Greek Vases’. Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities: PhiloLogie Society: James Logie Memorial Collection 60th anniversary, 03 Jul 2017.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2016) Aristotle's Poetics: Epic Poetry, Problems and Solutions. Faculty of Classics, Cambridge University, UK: Cambridge Ancient Philosophy Seminar.
  • O'Sullivan P. and Maguire M. (2014) From Antiquity to Aotearoa: The Logie Collection and a Modern NZ Artist's Use of Ancient Imagery. University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand: The 2014 UC Platform Festival.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2013) A Grand Illusion and Old Atheism: The Origins of the God Debate in Ancient Greece'. University of Sydney, Australia: Sydney Ideas: University of Sydney's Premier Public Lecture Series Program.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2013) The Kindness of Strangers: Odysseus and the Satyrs in Euripides' Cyclops. University of Sydney, Australia: Department of Classics and Ancient History, University of Sydney Seminar Series.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2008) Drinking, Desire and the Friends of Dionysos. Melbourne, Australia: Public Lecture at the University of Melbourne, 11 Oct 2007.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2008) Prestige, Power and Panhellenism in the Ancient Olympic Games. Christchurch, NZ: University of the Third Age.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2008) Art as Persuasion, Magic and Deceit: Some Greek Philosophical Concepts. Melbourne, Australia: Centre for Classics and Archaeology Research Seminar, 16 Oct 2008.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2007) Sex, Drinking and Other Religious Activity in Ancient Greece. Christchurch Art Gallery: Montana Wednesday Evening Lecture Series, 05 Dec 2007.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2005) Art, Poetry and Pindar's Olympian 7. University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand: Department of Classics, Research Seminar, 03 Aug 2005.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2005) Empedocles, Plato and a Portrait of the Artist among the Greeks. University of Western Australia, Perth: Discipline of Classics and Ancient History Research Seminar, 01 Aug 2004.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2005) Images and Emotions: The Rhetoric of Greek Art. University of Western Australia, Perth: Discipline of Classics and Ancient History Public Lecture, 01 May 2005.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2004) The Good, the Bad and the Athlete: Concepts of Athletics in Ancient Greece. University of Canterbury Staff Club: PhiloLogie: Friends of the James Logie Memorial Collection, 30 Apr 2004.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2001) Aspects of Art and Emotion in Archaic and Classical Greek Culture. University of Otago, NZ: Otago Classical Association, 22 May 2001.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2001) Word and Image in Pindar and Beyond. Dunedin: Research Seminar, Department of Classics, University of Otago.
  • O'Sullivan P. (2000) The Greeks and Wagner. University of Canterbury Okeover House: The Wagner Society of Christchurch, 06 Aug 2000.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (1996) Early Greek Concepts of Mimetic Imagery. Corpus Christi College, Oxford University: Classics 'Work-in-Progress' Seminar, 01 Jun 1996.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (1996) Greek Concepts of Visual Imagery. University of Cambridge, UK: Literary Seminar, Faculty of Classics, Cambridge, 01 Mar 1996.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (1996) The Power of Images in Early Greek Epic. University of Cambridge, UK: Interdisciplinary Seminar, Faculty of Classics, Cambridge, 01 Oct 1996.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (1995) Messenger Speeches in Euripides' Phoenissae. University of Cambridge, UK.: Literary Seminar, Faculty of Classics, Cambridge, 01 Mar 1995.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (1994) On Being an 'Art-Lover' in Ancient Greek Culture’. Magdalene College, Cambridge, UK: Magdalene College Classics Society, 01 Oct 1994.
Performances
  • O'Sullivan P. (2019) Satie: Socrate, Performance in Christchurch, NZ.. 'The Orator': Arts Centre, Christchurch, NZ. [Spoken performance/narration].
  • O'Sullivan P. and Bond R. (2008) Cyclops, by Euripides. Translator, Actor and Co-Director: Old Queen's Theatre, Christchurch, New Zealand. [Live theatre].
Reports
  • O'Sullivan P. (2021) Report on book proposal for satyr play.Liverpool University Press. Commissioned by Senior Commissioning Editor in Classics and Medieval Studies.
  • O'Sullivan PD. (2017) Postdoctoral Research Project on Euripides. In Report on Postdoctoral Research Project on Euripides, Commissioned by Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service: DAAD).
  • O'Sullivan P. (2015) Report on manuscript on fragments of Greek Tragedy.Bloomsbury Academic Publishing. Commissioned by Bloomsbury Academic Publishing. 1-6.
  • O'Sullivan PD. and Maitland J. (2006) Survey of Latin and Greek Teaching at University Level 2005.Commissioned by Australasian Society for Classical Studies.
Exhibition/Curatorial Exercises
  • O'Sullivan P. (2020) Meet the Monstrous: Myths and Mortals. Co-curator - author of texts to accompany artefacts in exhibition.: Teece Museum, Christchurch. 1 Nov 2020-1 Oct 2021. [Texts to accompany artefacts in exhibition.].
  • O'Sullivan P. (2018) Beyond the Grave: Death in Ancient Times. Co-curator: Teece Museum, Christchurch. 9 May 2018-24 Feb 2019. [Essay on attitudes to death in ancient Greek culture.].
Film/Video
  • O'Sullivan P.(2022) Classics - UC Possibilities. Presenter: Commissioned by University of Canterbury. [Video-youtube]. 11 mins.
  • O'Sullivan P.(2020) Classics - UC Arts. Speaker/presenter: [Video - youtube].
  • O'Sullivan P.(2018) Alone of all the Gods: Concepts of Death and the Afterlife in Ancient Greece. Presenter of Public Lecture: [Video-youtube]. c. 60 mins.
  • University C.(2014) ‘Old Chem Campaign’: On the Move of Classics and Music to the Arts Centre. Speaker: [Video - youtube].
Theses / Dissertations
  • O'Sullivan P. (1998) Image and Artifice in Early Greek Literature. PhD Thesis, Cambridge. University of Cambridge.
  • O'Sullivan P. (1991) The Human Figure in Early Greek Epic and Painting. Master's Thesis, Melbourne. University of Melbourne.

Student Supervision

Displaying all items.
    Completed
  • PhD - Wong A: Antisthenes’ Odysseus: its Context in Ancient Literature and Culture (2017)
  • Masters - Courtney K: 'Sophocles' Oedipus and Platonic Virtue' (2005)
  • Masters - Looyer N: The Ambivalent Heroism of Ajax in the Odes of Pindar (2019)
  • Masters - Perry T: 'The Appropriateness of Strife in Homer, Hesiod and Pindar' (2004)
  • Masters - Wakelin S: Intellectual voices in Herodotus’ narrative of the divine (2018)
  • Masters - Wise A: 'Ritual and Reason: The Sacrificial Motif in Sophoclean Tragedy' (2009)
  • Honours - Boyce C: 'The Various Opinions in Euripides' Electra: the Views on Clytaemestra' (2011)
  • Honours - Callaghan A: Homeric Echoes: Emotion & Ambivalence In Early Greek Art (2012)
  • Honours - Coulter M: Water is Best: Okeanos and Pontos in Early Greek Epic (2013)
  • Honours - Ferguson J: Brain and Brawn: Perceptions of Athletic Skill and Sophia in Homer and Pindar (2012)
  • Honours - Hawke S: ' Herakles from Antiquity to Aotearoa: Aspects of the Hero in Ancient Literature and Modern New Zealand Art' (2010)
  • Honours - Hobson S: 'The Commodification of Pandora' (2009)
  • Honours - Hollinshead B: Socrates the Satyr: Wisdom as Madness in Plato’s Symposium (2021)
  • Honours - Kerby I: Kalos inscriptions and Erôs in the Greek Symposium (2019)
  • Honours - Ladd A: The Problematizing Figure of Ajax expressed in Archaic and Classical Literature and Greek Art’ (2014)
  • Honours - Looyer N: The Comic Heroism of Odysseus in Homer’s Iliad (2016)
  • Honours - Manson S: Centaurs and Satyrs (2018)
  • Honours - Perry T: 'The Psychology of Knowledge in Heraclitus' (2000)
  • Honours - Pettit J: 'Aspects of Justice at the time of Hesiod, Solon and Aeschylus in the literature and images of their period' (2003)
  • Honours - Pinkney N: Aspects of Art, Erôs and Pity: Visual Artworks in the Tragedies of Aeschylus and Euripides (2015)
  • Honours - Purton J: 'The use and Abuse of Achilles in Catullus and Ovid' (2009)
  • Honours - Rosevear E: Herakles in the James Logie Collection’s Glass Lantern Slide Collection (2018)
  • Honours - Shimasaki N: Aristophanic Cleon as Burlesque Tyrannical Ogre (2013)
  • Honours - Tudehope C: Aspects of Euripides' Cyclops (2018)

Review and Refereeing

Displaying all items.
  • Antichthon: Journal of the Australasian Society for Classical Studies ( 2014 )
  • Antichthon: Journal of the Australasian Society for Classical Studies ( 2016 )
  • Antichthon: Journal of the Australasian Society for Classical Studies ( 2005 )
  • Australasian Society for Classical Studies (Conference Proceedings) ( 2010 )
  • Bloomsbury Publishing Academic ( 2015 )
  • Bloomsbury Publishing Academic ( 2015 )
  • Classical Antiquity ( 2013 )
  • Classical Philology ( 2019 )
  • Euro 101 ( 2006 )
  • Philosophy and Literature ( 2010 )
  • Phoenix: Journal of the Classical Association of Canada ( 2000 )
  • Referee for The European Legacy (ms on Hesiod). ( 2015 )
  • The American Journal of Philology ( 2020 )
  • The Classical Journal ( 2020 )
  • The European Legacy ( 2015 )

Affiliations

  • Australasian Society for Classical Studies (ASCS) (Professional Organisation): Vice President 2012-15; Member 2000-present
  • Cambridge Commonwealth Society (Community Organisation/NGO): Elected Fellow
  • New Zealand Centre for Human-Animal Studies (NZCHAS) (Teaching/Research Organisation): Member 2013-present
  • New Zealand Musicological Society (NZMS) (Professional Organisation): Member 2018-present
  • PhiloLogie (Community Organisation/NGO): Member (incl. Committee Member) 2003-present
  • Regional Advisory Committee for The Global Council on Anthropological Linguistics, SOAS, University of London, UK. (Community Organisation/NGO): Regional Advisory Committee Member
  • THIASOS - The International Society of Greek Satyr Play (Community Organisation/NGO): Member

Future Research

  • Monograph on Greek aesthetics from Homer to the First Sophistic
  • Ancient Concepts of the Power of Music and Related Media
  • Hercules in Roman Epic
  • Pindar's Poetic and Athletic Ideal: Aretê in the Victory Odes

Key Methodologies

  • Study of ancient views of visual arts with comparative analysis of ancient poetic and rhetorical theories.
  • Study of satyr drama as hybrid genre or 'playful tragedy'; ambivalence of satyrs within cult of Dionysos and in Greek thought.
  • Analysis of transmission of ideas between Greek prose and poetic authors of fifth and fourth centuries BC, e.g. between Sophists and dramatists.
  • Aesthetics and literary criticism from Homer to the First Sophistic and the influence of such views on Plato and Aristotle.
  • Study of the construction of the figure of the poet and nature of poetics, esp. in Pindaric lyric
  • Links between athletics and poetics in lyric poetry
  • Influence of earlier poetic and Sophistic thought on philosophy of Plato and Aristotle
  • Exploration of Greek Tragedy as vehicle for ancient intellectual history
UC Library
Research & Innovation
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch 8140
New Zealand
Research & Innovation Admin
Phone +64 3 369 5858
admin@research.canterbury.ac.nz
Research Profile Administrator
pbrfprofileradmin@canterbury.ac.nz
Back to top
  • GENERAL ENQUIRIES
  • +64 3 369 3999
  • info@canterbury.ac.nz
  • ENROLMENT ENQUIRIES
  • 0800 VARSITY (0800 827 748)
  • enrol@canterbury.ac.nz
  • INTERNATIONAL ENQUIRIES
  • +64 3 364 3443
  • (Aus) 1-800-431595
  • Ask a question
  • CONTACTS & DIRECTORIES
  • University contacts
  • Student contacts
  • Students' Association
  • Find a researcher (Research Profile)
  • Accommodation
  • Maps
  • Donate online
  • UC on Facebook
  • UC on Twitter
  • UC on youTube
  • UC on Instagram
  • UC on Snapchat
  • UC on LinkedIn
  • UC on WeChat
  • DEPARTMENTS
  • All departments
  • Arts
  • Business
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • Health
  • Law
  • Science
  • Service areas
  • LATEST
  • News
  • Events
  • Publications
  • Work at UC
  • Info for media
  • Style Guide
  • TOOLS
  • LEARN
  • UC Policy Library
  • Library
  • myUC
  • IT account
  • Student email
  • OneDrive
  • Timetable
  • Staff email
  • Intranet (Staff)
  • Copyright Feedback Privacy Cookies Declaration Payment Data
  • Emergency Information
  • © University of Canterbury - A Fair Trade University