Professor Dr. Emilie Van Opstall

Biography

Emilie van Opstall is an Assistant Professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, specializing in Ancient Greek and Medieval literature. With a strong academic background, she obtained her DEA from Sorbonne University and a PhD in Byzantine Studies from the University of Amsterdam. Her teaching experience spans over a decade, including secondary education in Greek and Latin. Van Opstall focuses on the interdisciplinary study of texts and their cultural contexts, particularly in exploring themes of cross-cultural interaction. Her current research project, 'Travelling Tales', investigates the Medieval story of Sindbad the Philosopher and the Seven Sages of Rome, analyzing the transmission of this narrative across various cultures and languages. She is committed to sharing her research with broader audiences through public lectures and documentaries. Her academic interests include literary transmission, cultural reception, and the intersection of Christian and Islamic contexts in the Middle Ages.

Research Interests

Courses