Dr. Peter Kelly

Biography

Peter Kelly is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Classics at Princeton University. Originally from Galway, West Ireland, he received his PhD in Classics from the University of Galway, where he later became a lecturer. He joined the Princeton Classics department in September 2022, having previously held positions in the Classics department at the University of Oregon and at the Honors College at Oregon State University. His research primarily explores the impact of Greek philosophy on Latin literature. Among his works is the monograph titled 'Ovid’s Platonic Forms', currently under review by Cambridge University Press, which examines the influence of Plato’s philosophy on Latin poetry, particularly the works of Ovid. He has published several articles and chapters on this topic, including in the Classical Quarterly in 2021. His current research interests involve concepts of selfhood in the ancient world, particularly at the intersection of various discourses, as well as the literary description of works of art, known as ekphrasis. He is actively working on a collected volume relating to ekphrasis, fostering discussions among academic experts and contemporary poets. In addition to his research, Kelly teaches courses on Greek and Latin literature and the history of visual art within the context of 20th-century European theatre and the history of science. He is committed to questioning the relationship between the ancient and modern worlds in his teaching and enjoys incorporating game-based pedagogies such as 'Reacting to the Past'.

Research Interests