Dr Sam Newington
MA (King's College, University of London), PhD (St John's College, University of Durham).
Senior Lecturer (Scholarship)
- About
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School of Divinity, History and Philosophy, KCG17 King's College, University of Aberdeen, Old Aberdeen, AB24 3FX.
Biography
This is my 11th fantastic year here in the Divinity department at the University of Aberdeen. I am delighted to announce too that I have recently been promoted to Senior Lecturer which will take effect in August 2021.
I studied Classics at King's College (University London) where I read for my MA. In 2006, I graduated from Durham University, St John's College, with a PhD. My PhD research involved exploring creation myths from ancient Greece and the ancient Near East.
Memberships and Affiliations
- Internal Memberships
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I have a number of administration roles:
Programme Co-ordinator for Christian and Religious Studies Programme (2011-2019)
Undergraduate Programme Co-ordinator (Student Experience) (2019-date)
Admissions (Divinity) (2021-date)
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer (DHPA) (2021-date)
- External Memberships
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Outside of my role here at Aberdeen, I am a member of the CAS committee and Director of Greek and Latin Summer School. Further details concerning a forthcoming event, Ancient Voices, are located here: https://cas.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/ancient-voices/
- Research
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Research Overview
Although my teaching centres on Greek and Roman language, culture and history, my research area includes Near Eastern Studies. I am currently researching cross-cultural influences between the Near East and Greece.
I am able to supervise undergraduate and postgraduate students looking to research within the following areas:
- Greek literature (in particular epic, lyric and drama)
- Ancient Greek religion, in particular, mystery religion
Research Areas
Research Specialisms
- Ancient History
- Classical Studies
- Theology and Religious Studies
- Classical Greek Studies
- Latin Language
Our research specialisms are based on the Higher Education Classification of Subjects (HECoS) which is HESA open data, published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
Current Research
- Currently working on a commissioned volume: Stuckenbruck, L.T., Lewis, S. & Newington, S. (eds), Animals and Monsters in Ancient Greek Religion and Culture (London: Taylor and Francis Group, forthcoming).
- Currently working on an academic journal article for publication on the following topic: Monstrous Metamorphosis in Creation Narratives.
Currently collaborating on an International conference scheduled for Summer 2022 on the following topic: Theology, Ecology and Climate past and present.
Knowledge Exchange
Throughout the year, I offer a range of outreach event in collaboration with CAS. More recently, providing online International Workshops on ancient languages and providing talks on a range of ancient history and classical studies topics. Further details are also located on the CAS webpage: https://cas.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/2020/10/29/euge-latin-for-absolute-beginners/
I am currently the Director for the CAS: Ancient Voices Summer Workshop, which is an annual event. Further details area located here: https://cas.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/
Collaborations
I have collaborated with Dr Sian Lewis (St Andrews University) on two workshops: Sacred Animals and Monsters in Greek and the Near Eastern Religions (22nd-23rd January 2014) and Animals, Monsters and Demons: a Comparative Approach (22nd-23rd January 2015). We are now working towards an edited volume publication drawn from both events.
Supervision
My current supervision areas are: Divinity, Religious Studies.
I am currently a PhD supervisor for the following topic areas:
- Ancient Magic
- Orpheus
- Goddesses in the Ancient World
- Attitudes towards death in Ancient Greece
Funding and Grants
In 2013, I secured a grant from the Carnegie Trust.
- Teaching
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Teaching Responsibilities
I am the course co-ordinator for a number of undergraduate and postgraduate modules (unless otherwise stated below):
Level 1 and Level 2
- DR1039/DR1078: New Testament Greek I
- DR101Z/DR101Y/DR201Z/DR201Y: Atheism and Atheisms (contributor)
- DR101E/DR101F/DR201E/DR201F: What it Means to be Dead
- DR101C/DR101B/DR201C/DR201B: Religions of Ancient Greece and Beyond
- DR151A/DR151B/DR250A/DR250B: Ancient Empires: Religion, Power and Politics
- DR151W/DR251W: God, Sexualities and Identity (contributor)
- DR1538/DR1578: New Testament Greek II
- DR1596/DR2596: Mysticism (contributor)
- HC1501/HC1502: Key Works for European Civilisation
- LT1009/LT1010: Latin
- LT1507/LT1508: Latin
Level 3 and Level 4
- DR301P / DR351P / DR355C: Special Subject
- DR4046/DR4543: Senior Honours - Special Subject
- DR351Y/DR351Z/DR451Z/DR451Y: Cosmos and Creation in the Ancient World
- DR352X/DR352Y/DR452Y/DR452X: Animals and Monsters in the Ancient Greek World and Beyond
- DR4544: Dissertation
Level 5 and Postgraduate:
- Dissertation and Research supervision
PhD Supervision
Current lead supervisor for the following PhD topics:
- Orpheus and immortality
- Goddesses in Ancient Greek performance texts
- Ancient Greek attitudes towards death
- Ancient Magic