Bio


I have taught for 19 years at Stanford; previously, I taught 18 years at Princeton. I am working on several books, concerning Homeric religion; Aristophanes; and comparative epic poetry.

Academic Appointments


  • Professor, Classics

Administrative Appointments


  • Antony and Isabelle Raubitschek Professor in Classics, Stanford (2000 - Present)
  • Professor of Classics, Princeton University (1994 - 1999)
  • Visiting Associate Professor, University of California, Berkeley (1991 - 1991)
  • Associate Professor of Classics, Princeton University (1989 - 1994)
  • Assistant Professor of Classics, Princeton University (1981 - 1988)
  • Teaching Fellow, Harvard Department of Classics (1978 - 1981)
  • General assignment reporter, The Boston Globe (1974 - 1978)
  • Donald A. Whittier Fellow, Stanford Humanities Center (2011 - 2012)
  • Bellagio residential fellowship, Rockefeller Foundation (1999 - 1999)
  • Behrman Senior Fellow, Humanities Council, Princeton (1996 - 2000)
  • Senior Fellow, Center for Hellenic Studies, Washington, DC (2007 - 2022)

Honors & Awards


  • Class of 1936 Bicentennial Preceptor, Princeton (1985-1987)
  • Bowdoin Prize, Greek prose composition, Harvard (1979)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations


  • President, Board of Directors, CHS in Greece, Center for Hellenic Studies (2019 - Present)
  • Chair, Libraries and Archives Committee, American School of Classical Studies, Athens (2019 - 2021)
  • Co-Chair, Senior Fellows, Center for Hellenic Studies, Washington DC (2018 - Present)
  • President, California Classical Association-Northern section (2015 - 2017)
  • Member, Search committee for director of Stanford Humanities Center (2013 - 2013)
  • Member, advisory board, Stanford Precollegiate Programs (2012 - 2014)
  • Member, International Advisory Board, Center for Hellenic Studies, King's College, London (2011 - Present)
  • Member, Nominating committee, American Philological Association (2010 - 2013)
  • Chair, Stanford Department of Classics (2010 - 2011)
  • Member, Governing Board, Stanford Introduction to the Humanities program (2007 - 2008)
  • Chair, Stanford Department of Classics (2005 - 2008)
  • Member, Goodwin Award Committee, American Philological Association (2005 - 2007)
  • Member, Admissions and Fellowships, American School of Classical Studies at Athens (2004 - 2008)
  • Chair, Stanford Department of Classics (2002 - 2004)
  • Member, Governing Board, Stanford Introduction to the Humanities program (2002 - 2004)
  • Chair, Gennadius Library Committee, American School of Classical Studies at Athens (2000 - 2002)
  • Consultant on Hellenic Studies projects, J.P.Morgan Philanthropic Division (1998 - 1999)
  • Board member, Princeton University Press (1996 - 1997)
  • Chair, Princeton Department of Classics (1996 - 1997)
  • Managing Committee member, American School of Classical Studies at Athens: (1995 - Present)
  • Member of executive committee, Princeton Program in Hellenic Studies (1995 - 1999)
  • Chair, Princeton committee of Consortium for Language Learning (1992 - 1998)
  • Director, Princeton Department of Classics Magie Publications Fund (1992 - 1996)
  • Panelist, NEI-l institutional grants program (1991 - 1993)
  • Member, Monographs editorial board, American Philological Association (1990 - 1992)
  • Panelist, NEI-l institutional grants program (1989 - 1989)

Professional Education


  • A.B., Harvard University, Classics and Celtic Languages (1976)
  • A.M., Harvard University, Classical Philology (1978)
  • Ph.D., Harvard University, Classical Philology (1981)

2024-25 Courses


Stanford Advisees


All Publications


  • The Homeric Epics and the Chinese Book of Songs. (Book Review) JOURNAL OF HELLENIC STUDIES Book Review Authored by: Martin, R. 2020; 140: 240
  • Experiencing Hektor: Character in the Iliad (Book Review) AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHILOLOGY Book Review Authored by: Martin, R. P. 2018; 139 (2): 343–46
  • THE EPIC RHAPSODE AND HIS CRAFT: HOMERIC PERFORMANCE IN A DIACHRONIC PERSPECTIVE (Book Review) PHOENIX-THE JOURNAL OF THE CLASSICAL ASSOCIATION OF CANADA Book Review Authored by: Martin, R. P. 2017; 71 (1-2): 174–77
  • Against Ornament O. M. Freidenberg's Concept of Meta phor in Ancient and Modern Contexts PERSISTENT FORMS: EXPLORATIONS IN HISTORICAL POETICS Martin, R. P., Kliger, Maslov, B. 2016: 274–313
  • THE EPIC CYCLE: A COMMENTARY ON THE LOST TROY EPICS. (Book Review) PHOENIX-THE JOURNAL OF THE CLASSICAL ASSOCIATION OF CANADA Book Review Authored by: Martin, R. P. 2013; 67 (3-4): 394–96
  • Writing Homer. A Study Based on Results from Modern Fieldwork. (Scientia Danica. Series H, Humanistica 8, vol. 4.) (Book Review) CLASSICAL REVIEW Book Review Authored by: Martin, R. P. 2013; 63 (1): 10-12
  • THE RHETORIC OF RHAPSODY IN PLATO'S LAWS PERFORMANCE AND CULTURE IN PLATO'S LAWS Martin, R., Peponi, A. E. 2013: 313–38
  • Tradition, Translation, Trauma: The Classic and the Modern. (Book Review) TRANSLATION AND LITERATURE Book Review Authored by: Martin, R. P. 2012; 21: 218-224
  • Cut These Words into My Stone: Ancient Greek Epitaphs Martin, R. P., Translated by Wolfe, M. Johns Hopkins Univ Press. 2012
  • Hippota Nestor (Book Review) AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHILOLOGY Book Review Authored by: Martin, R. P. 2012; 133 (4): 687-692
  • Telegony The Homer Encyclopedia Martin, R. P. edited by Finkleberg, M. Blackwell. 2011
  • Review: The Cambridge Companion to Greek Mythology Journal of Folklore Research. Martin, R. P. 2011
  • Composition-in-performance The Homer Encyclopedia Martin, R. P. edited by Finkelberg, M. Blackwell. 2011
  • Selfreferentiality The Homer Encyclopedia Martin, R. P. edited by Finkelberg, M. Blackwell. 2011
  • Dance The Homer Encyclopedia Martin, R. P. edited by Finkelberg, M. Blackwell. 2011
  • Finding Persephone: Women's Rituals in the Ancient Mediterranean Journal of Folklore Research Martin, R. P. 2011
  • Introduction and notes The Iliad Martin, R. P., Translated by Lattimore, R. Chicago. 2011: 180 pages
  • Performance The Homer Encyclopedia Martin, R. P. edited by Finkelberg, M. Blackwell. 2011
  • Gnomic Literature and Wisdom The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece and Rome Martin, R. P. 2010
  • Gift The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece and Rome Martin, R. P. 2010
  • Apolo ejecutante Mito y performance Martin, R. P. edited by Gonzalez de Tobia, A. M. La Plata, Argentina. 2010
  • Classics in Post-Colonial Worlds (Book Review) TRANSLATION AND LITERATURE Book Review Authored by: Martin, R. P. 2009; 18: 93-99
  • Read on Arrival The Wandering Poets of Ancient Greece Martin, R. P. edited by Hunter, R., Rutherford, I. Cambridge. 2009
  • Gnomes in Poems: Wisdom Performance on the Athenian Stage Antiphilesis: Studies on Classical, Byzantine and Modern Greek Literature and Culture. In Honour of Professor JohnTheophanes A. Papademetriou Martin, R. P. edited by Karamalengou, E., Makrygianni, E. D. Stuttgart: Steiner. 2009: 116–127
  • Keens from the Absent Chorus: Troy to Ulster Lament:Studies in the Ancient Mediterranean and Beyond Martin, R. P. edited by Suter, A. Oxford UP. 2008
  • Myth, Performance, Poetics: the Gaze from Classics Ethnographica Moralia: Experiments in Interpretive Anthropology Martin, R. P. edited by Panourgia, N., Marcus, G. New York: Fordham UP.. 2008
  • Words Alone are Certain Good TAPA Martin, R. P. 2008; 138 (2): 313-349
  • Review: Morand, A-F. Études sur les hymnes orphiques Classical Review Martin, R. P. 2007; 57 (1): 80-82
  • Homer among the Irish: Synge, Yeats, George Thompson, and Parry Homer in the Twentieth Century: Between World Literature and the Western Canon Martin, R. P. edited by Graziosi, B., Greenwood, E. Oxford. 2007: 75–91
  • Review: Buchan, M. The Limits of Heroism: Homer and the Ethics of Reading Journal of Hellenic Studies Martin, R. P. 2007; 127
  • Ancient Theatre and Performance Culture The Cambridge Companion to Greek and Roman Theatre Martin, R. P. edited by McDonald, M., Walton, M. Cambridge.. 2007: 36–54
  • Review: Calame, C. Pratiques poétiques de Ia me mémoire. Représentations de I 'espacetemps en Gréce ancienne Classical Review Martin, R. P. 2007; 57 (2)
  • Stesichorus and the Voice of Jocasta Proceedings of the lith International Meeting on Ancient Greek Drama (2002: The Theban Cycle). Martin, R. P. 2007
  • Outer Limits, Choral Space Visualizing the Tragic: Drama, Myth, and Ritual in Greek Art and Literature Martin, R. P. edited by Kraus, C., Goldhill, S., Foley, H. P., Elsner, J. Oxford.. 2007: 35–62
  • Solon in No Man's Land Solon of Athens: New Historical and Philological Approaches Martin, R. P. edited by Blok, J. H., Lardinois, A. Leiden. 2006: 157–172
  • Pulp Epic: The Catalogue and the Shield The Hesiodic Catalogue of Women: Constructions and Reconstructions Martin, R. P. edited by Hunter, P. Cambridge UP. 2005: 153–175
  • Epic as Genre A Companion to Ancient Epic Martin, R. P. edited by Foley, J. Blackwell. 2005: 9–19
  • Home is the hero: Deixis and semantics in Pindar 'Pythian 8' ARETHUSA Martin, R. P. 2004; 37 (3): 343-363
  • The modern construction of myth (Book Review) MODERN LANGUAGE QUARTERLY Book Review Authored by: Martin, R. P. 2004; 65 (2): 297-301
  • Notes and introduction Homer's Odyssey Martin, R. P., Translated by Mc Crorie, E. Johns Hopkins. 2004
  • Home is the Hero: Deixis and Semantics in Pythian 8 The Poetics of Deixis in Aleman, Pindar, and other Lyric Martin, R. P. edited by Felson, N. 2004: 343–363
  • Hesiod And The Didactic Double Synthesis Martin, R. P. 2004; 11: 31-53
  • Keens from the absent chorus - Troy to Ulster WESTERN FOLKLORE Martin, R. P. 2003; 62 (1-2): 119-142
  • Ariadne's thread. A guide to international tales found in classical literature (Book Review) CLASSICAL REVIEW Book Review Authored by: Martin, R. P. 2003; 53 (1): 116-117
  • Myths of the Early Greeks Martin, R. P. New York: Penguin/New American Library. 2003
  • The Pipes are Brawling: Conceptualizing Musical Performance in Classical Athens The Cultures within Greek Culture Martin, R. P. edited by Kurke, L., Dougherty, C. Cambridge UP. 2003: 153–180
  • Horace in Real Time: Odes 1.27 and its Congeners Horace and Greek Lyric Poetry Martin, R. P. edited by Paschalis, M. Rethymno.. 2002
  • A Good Place to Talk: Discourse and Topos in Achilles Tatius and Philostratus Ancient Narrative Martin, R. P. 2002; 1: 142-160
  • Just Like a Woman Making silence speak: women's voices in Greek literature and society. Martin, R. P. edited by Lardinois, A., McClure, L. Princeton. 2001: 55–74
  • Encountering Homer's Odyssey Martin, R. P. 2001
  • Rhapsodizing Orpheus Kernos Martin, R. P. 2001; 14: 23-33
  • Synchronic Aspects of Homeric Performance: The Evidence of The Hymn to Apollo Una nueva vision de Ia cultura griega antigua hacia elfin del milenio Martin, R. P. edited by de Tobia, M. G. La Plata, Argentina. 2000: 403–432
  • Wrapping Homer Up: Cohesion, Discourse, and Deviation in the Iliad Intratextuality: Greek and Roman textual relations Martin, R. P. edited by Sharrock, A., Morales, H. New York.. 2000
  • The Birds. Aristophanes Muldoon, P., Martin, R. Philadelphia: Univ. of Pennsylvania. 1999
  • Homer's Iliad and Odyssey Teaching Oral Traditions Martin, R. P. edited by Foley, J. M. New York: MLA. 1998: 339–350
  • Seven Sages Encyclopedia of Classical Philosophy Martin, R. P. edited by Zely, D. Westport: Greenwood Press. 1997
  • Homer Encyclopedia of Classical Philosophy Martin, R. P. edited by Zeyl, D. Westport: Greenwood Press. 1997
  • Comic authors Encyclopedia of Classical Philosophy Martin, R. P. edited by Zely, D. Westport: Greenwood Press. 1997
  • Formulas and Speeches Hommage a Milman Parr Martin, R. P. edited by Letoublon, F. Amsterdam: Gieben. 1997: 263–274
  • The Scythian Accent: Anacharsis and the Cynics The Cynics Martin, R. P. edited by Branham, B., Goulet-Caze, M. Berkeley: Univ of California. 1997: 136–155
  • Similes and Performance Written Voices, Spoken Signs Martin, R. P. edited by Bakker, E., Kahane, A. Cambridge: Harvard UP. 1997: 138–166
  • Greek religion Dictionary of Religion Martin, R. P. edited by Smith, J. Z. American Academy of Religion/HarperCollins. 1995
  • TELEMACHUS AND THE LAST HERO-SONG + HOMER 'ODYSSEY' COLBY QUARTERLY Martin, R. P. 1993; 29 (3): 222-240
  • THE ORIGINS OF RHETORIC IN ANCIENT-GREECE - COLE,T (Book Review) CLASSICAL PHILOLOGY Book Review Authored by: Martin, R. 1993; 88 (1): 77-84
  • HESIOD METANASTIC POETICS RAMUS-CRITICAL STUDIES IN GREEK AND ROMAN LITERATURE Martin, R. P. 1992; 21 (1): 11-33
  • Review: Reucher, Thea Der unbekannte Odysseus: Eine Interpretation der Odyssee CW Martin, R. P. 1992; 86 (2): 150-151
  • Review: "Nagy, G. Pindar's Homer" CW Martin, R. P. 1992; 86 (2): 149
  • The Seven Sages as Performers of Wisdom Cultural Poetics of Archaic Greece Martin, R. P. edited by Dougherty, C., Kurke, L. Cambridge UP. 1992: 108–128
  • Introduction and bibliography Bulfinch's Mythology Martin, R. P. Harper Collins, New York. 1991
  • The Language of Heroes: Speech and Performance in the Iliad Martin, R. P. Cornell University Press. 1989
  • BARBARIANS IN GREEK COMEDY - LONG,T (Book Review) CLASSICAL WORLD Book Review Authored by: Martin, R. P. 1988; 82 (1): 55-55
  • FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN, 'LYSISTRATA' AND THE LEMNIAN WOMEN + MOTIF IN ARISTOPHANES COMEDY CLASSICAL ANTIQUITY Martin, R. P. 1987; 6 (1): 77-105
  • ORAL-FORMULAIC THEORY AND RESEARCH, AN INTRODUCTION AND ANNOTATED-BIBLIOGRAPHY - FOLEY,JM (Book Review) CLASSICAL WORLD Book Review Authored by: Martin, R. P. 1986; 79 (5): 343-344
  • Homer Critical Survey of Poetry Martin, R. P. edited by Magill, F. LaCanada, CA. 1984: 698–708
  • Horace Critical Survey of Poetry Martin, R. P. edited by Magill, F. 1984: 709–719
  • Callimachus Critical Survey of Poetry Martin, R. P. edited by Magill, F. LaCanada, CA. 1984: 251–258
  • ANCIENT AND MODERN IMAGES OF SAPPHO, TRANSLATIONS AND STUDIES IN ARCHAIC GREEK LOVE-LYRIC - DUBAN,JM (Book Review) CLASSICAL WORLD Book Review Authored by: Martin, R. 1984; 78 (2): 133-134
  • The Oral Tradition Critical Survey of Poetry Martin, R. P. edited by Magill, F. LaCanada, CA.. 1984: 1746–1768
  • HESIOD, ODYSSEUS, AND THE INSTRUCTION OF PRINCES + COMMON GENRE AS SOURCE OF PARALLELS IN 'ODYSSEY' AND 'THEOGONY' PASSAGES TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN PHILOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION Martin, R. P. 1984; 114: 29-48
  • Pindar Critical Survey of Poetry Martin, R. P. edited by Magill, F. LaCanada, CA. 1984: 1240–1247
  • Ancient Greek Poetry Critical Survey of Poetry Martin, R. P. edited by Magill, F. LaCanada, CA. 1984: 1938–1946
  • Review of J. Fontenrose, Orion: The Myth of the Hunter and the Huntress CO Martin, R. P. 1983; 61: 24-25
  • Healing, Sacrifice, and Battle: Amechania and Related Concepts in Early Greek Poetry Martin, R. P. Innsbruck: Innsbrucker Beitrage zur Sprachwissenschaft. 1983
  • Review, "P. Friedrich, The Meaning of Aphrodite" Comparative Civilizations Bulletin Martin, R. P. 1981; 9: 11-13
  • Thucydides 2.65.8: eleutheros HSCP Martin, R. P., Edmunds, L. 1977; 81: 183-193