Our department is excited to welcome Julia Horn (University of Pennsylvania, PhD’23), who joined our department in fall 2024 as an Assistant Professor. Learn more about her in the Q&A below.
1. What is your main area of research, and how did you get into that area of focus?
Broadly speaking, my research addresses the quality of life of those living in the ancient world, particularly through the lens of medicine, disease, and disability. My main area of research is ancient Greek and Roman medicine and I’m fascinated by questions concerning for example, medical ethics, contagion, palliative care, public health, and identity based on health status and disability – important issues not only in the history of medicine but in cultural history.
My interest in ancient medicine began when I read Apollonius’ Argonautica and was exposed to the medicalized descriptions of Medea’s lovesickness. Fascinated by this text, in my Master’s Thesis, I contextualized the realistic depiction of Medea’s lovesickness in light of contemporaneous philosophical, psychological and medical advancements, focusing on the incorporation of the newly discovered nervous system and arguments over the function and location of the ‘mind’. I fell in love with ancient medicine and eager to expand my understanding of the physical reality of health and disease in individuals, I went on to study bioarcheology and paleopathology (ancient human skeletons) at the University of Pisa, in Romania (specializing in children’s remains), and at the University of Pennsylvania where I completed my PhD in Classics. This training has allowed me to integrate science-based components of bioarcheology and medical history into my research and teaching. I’m currently writing a book on the cultural history of tuberculosis in Greece and Rome that examines how this disease affected society on a personal and collective level.
2. What is your favorite thing about the CANES department, UW, and/or Madison so far?
My experience of Madison so far has been incredibly positive. Everybody in CANES and ILS has been welcoming and enthusiastic, and I’m excited to join the team. Mine is a joint position in CANES and ILS and I love that UW encourages interdisciplinary study as my own work expands beyond the traditional Classicist’s scope. I’m thrilled to be able to work in such a vibrant and multifaceted community and I’m looking forward to establishing connections across the university in the hopes of better understanding the history of medicine. Through my joint position, I’m also delighted to be able to offer courses that appeal to a broad range of students, both within and outside of Classics. This fall, I’ll be offering an ILS course called Medical Ethics: Ancient Origins, Modern Dilemmas which explores the medical ethics of ancient Greece and Rome and challenges students to consider how modern societies have engaged or are engaging with similar ethical issues, and how the ancient legacy of medical ethics has influenced modernity. I’m also teaching a CANES Intermediate Greek class this Fall where we’ll be looking at how forensic oratory deals with the characterization of marginalized persons.
3. What are your passions, hobbies, and interests outside of academia?
I’m a huge nature lover and I’m so excited to explore all the outdoor activities that Madison has to offer. I’m moving to Madison with my husband and dog and we’re looking forward to hiking, biking, kayaking, camping and more. In addition to the outdoors, I enjoy going to concerts, and I like to sew, crochet, and cook healthy food. One of my goals is to plant a medicinal herb garden.