Dr. Gonda Van Steen

Biography

Gonda Van Steen earned a BA and MA degree in Classics from Belgium and a PhD in Classics and Hellenic Studies from Princeton University. Her research and teaching interests include Greek language and literature, Byzantine studies, Modern Greek influences, Western travelers in Greece during the Ottoman Empire, and nineteenth and twentieth-century receptions of classics, particularly ancient theatre. She holds the Koraes Chair in Modern Greek and Byzantine History, Language, and Literature at King’s College London, where she also directs the Centre for Hellenic Studies and is affiliated with the Department of Classics. Previously, she held the Cassas Chair of Greek Studies at the University of Florida. Van Steen is actively involved in transnational collaborations and study abroad programs, as well as public engagement. She has authored several articles and six books, including 'Venom Verse: Aristophanes in Modern Greece' and 'Theatre Condemned: Classical Tragedy in Greek Prison Islands'. Her most recent work focuses on the narratives of Greek adoption during the Cold War era, emphasizing the intersection of adoption, memory, and politics. In addition to her research, she has engaged in media appearances addressing these themes.

Research Interests