Sarolta

Sarolta Anna Takács

Professor of History

Editor, Roman Studies: Interdisciplinary Approaches
             Lexington Books (Rowman and Littlefield Inc.)

General Editor, The Ancient World, 5 vols., M.E. Sharpe, Inc. (2007)

                          The Modern World, 5 vols., M.E. Sharpe, Inc. (2008)

Dean, School of Arts and Sciences Honors Program

SAS Honors Program
Dean's Office
Rutgers University

35 College Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1164

stakacs[at]rci.rutgers.edu

 


contents:

BOOKS
BOOKS EDITED
FELLOWSHIPS
HONORS, AWARDS, GRANTS
CHAPTERS IN BOOKS
ARTICLES
ENCYCLOPEDIA ENTRIES
BOOK REVIEWS
SELECTED LECTURES

I received my B.A. in Classics from the University of California, Irvine, my M.A. and Ph.D. in History from UCLA (I also attended the University of Heidelberg and the Free University in Berlin). Before I came to Rutgers, I taught at the University of Oregon, at UCLA, and at Harvard where I also held the position of academic dean. One of my newest books, Vestal Virgins, Sibyls, and Matrons: Women in Roman Religion (University of Texas Press), looks at Roman women and the role they played maintaining Rome's socio-political structure as well as the understanding of the Roman self by means of religious rituals. Another one, The Construction of Authority in Ancient Rome and Byzantium. The Power of Rhetoric (University of Cambridge Press) investigates how political rhetoric shaped the ancients’ reality and shows how the traditional virtues (the mos maiorum) are not simply repeated or adapted cultural patterns, but become tools for the legitimization of political power, authority, and even one nation's domination of another.

 


PUBLICATIONS

Books

The Construction of Authority in Ancient Rome and Byzantium. The Power of Rhetoric (Cambridge University Press, 2009)

Vestal Virgins, Sibyls, and Matrons: Roman Women in Religion (University of Texas Press, 2008)

Isis and Sarapis in the Roman World (Religions in the Graeco-Roman World, vol. 124, Brill, 1995)


Edited Books

Understanding Byzantium. Studies in Byzantine Historical Sources. Translations of articles by Paul Speck, Variorum Collected Studies Series (Ashgate: London, 2003)

Novum Millennium. Studies on Byzantine History and Culture (Ashgate: London, 2001), ed., with Claudia Sode

The Senatus Consultum de Cn. Pisone Patre (American Journal of Philology vol. 120.1, 1999), ed., with Cynthia Damon

Presence of Byzantium. Festschrift in Honor of Milton V. Anastos (Hakkert: Byzantinische Forschungen 20, Amsterdam, 1994), ed., with Andrew R. Dyck

 

Fellowships

2007-2008

Rutgers Center for Historical Analysis
Associate, 2006-2007

2000-2001

Center for Hellenic Studies, Harvard University, Washington, D.C.

1996-1997

Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany

1990-1992

German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), 3 semesters

 

Honors, Awards, and Grants
 
 

2004 Cook College Student Leadership Award for Outstanding Contribution to Teaching and Advising

2000 Petra T. Shattuck Excellence in Teaching Award, Harvard Extension School

2003-2004 Loeb Classical Library Foundation Grant

1996-2001 Ford Foundation Grant

1994, 1995, 1997-2000 Loeb Faculty Research Grant, Harvard University

1997 Fondation Hardt, Switzerland

1997, 2000-2001 Cooke Fund, Harvard University

1993, 1994, 1995, 1997 Junior Faculty Grant, Harvard University

1993-1994, 2000-2001 Clark Fund, Harvard University

1986-1987 UCLA Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies Research Assistantship

1986 UCLA Travel Grant

1984 UCLA Graduate Award in Classics

 

Book Chapters

"Divine and Human Feet: Records of Pilgrims Honouring Isis," in: J. Elsner and I. Rutherford, Pilgrimage in Graeco-Roman and Early Christian Antiquity. Seeing the Gods (Oxford, 2005), 353-369

"Cult, Dedicators and Dedications of Isis and Sarapis in Lydia and Mysia," Byzas 1 (Deutsches Archäologisches Institut: Istanbul, 2005), 155-168

"Confusión en la tierra, paz en los cielos: Galieno y los cristianos," in: Del Coliseo al Vaticano. Claves del Cristianismo primitivo, eds. Elena Muñiz Grijalvo and Rafael Urías Martinez (Fundación José María Lara: Seville, 2005), 153-173

"Statues with Hearts," in: The Rise and Fall of an Imperial Shrine, Roman Sculpture from the Augusteum at Narona, eds. Emilio Marin and Michael Vickers, The Oxford Exhibition Catalogue, Arheoloski Muzej (Split, 2004), 275-280

"Estàtues amb cor," in: Divo Augusto. La descoberta d'un temple Romà a Croàcia, ed. Emilio Marin, Arheoloski Muzej (Split, 2004), 275-280

"Estatuas con corazón," in: El descubrimento de un templo Romano en Croacia, ed. Emilio Marin, Arheoloski Muzej (Split, 2004), 412-416

Augustus' Res Gestae, translation and notes, and extended bibliography for W. Eck's Augustus and His Time (Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 2003)

"Forging a Past: The Sibylline Books and the Making of Rome," in: Cultures of Forgery. Making Nations, Making Selves, eds. J. Ryan and A. Thomas (Routledge: New York and London, 2003), 15-27

"Hypatia's Murder - The Sacrifice of a Virgin and Its Implications," reprint in ed. G. Nagy, Greek Literature vol. 8 (Routledge: New York and London, 2002), 397-412

"A Bronze Plaque to Apollo Praenos in Boston," (with Annewies van den Hoek) in: eds. C. Mattusch, A. Brauer, S. Knudsen, From the Parts to the Whole, vol. 1, Acta of the Thirteenth Bronze Congress, Journal of Roman Archaeology, Supplement Series 39.1 (Portsmouth RI, 2000), 265-271

"Pagan Cults at Antioch," in: Antioch: The Lost Ancient City, ed. Christine Kondoleon (Princeton University Press, 2000), 198-200

"Isis and Sarapis in Ephesos," in: eds. H. Friesinger and K. Krinzinger, 100 Jahre Österreichische Forschungen in Ephesos, Akten des Symposions 1995, Archäologische Forschungen 1 (1999), 269-274

"Magna Deum Mater Idaea, Cybele, and Catullus' Attis," in: ed. E. Lane, Cybele, Attis, and Related Cults: Studies in the Memory of M.J. Vermaseren (Brill: Religions in the Graeco-Roman World 131, Leiden, 1996), 367-386

"Hypatia's Murder - The Sacrifice of a Virgin and Its Implications," in: ed. K.B. Free, The Formulation of Christianity by Conflict through the Ages, Symposium Series 34 (E. Mellen Press: Lewiston, 1995), 47-62


Articles

“Initiations and Mysteries in Apuleius’ Metamorphoses,” Electronic Antiquity 12.1 (2008), 73-87

 

"Kipovi sa srcem," in: Vjesnik za arheologiju I historiju dalmatinsku (Courier of Archaeology and Dalmatian History) 97 (2005), 273-284

"Amicus ad Aram: A Friend unto Death – Tiberian Versions," American Journal of Ancient History, New Series 1.2 (2002) [2003], 109-123

"Politics and Religion in the Bacchanalian Affair," Harvard Studies in Classical Philology 100 (2000), 301-310

"Alexandria in Rome," Harvard Studies in Classical Philology 97 (1995), 263-276

"Oracles and Science - Anna Comnena's Comments on Astrology," Byzantinische Forschungen 23 (1996), 35-44

"The Travels of Two Men and an Obelisk," Specimina Nova 11 (1995), 175-178

"Die Farbbezeichnung von Völkern in der byzantinischen Literatur oder das Verständnis der Byzantiner von anderen Kulturen. Eine Gedankenskizze," Varia 5 Poikila Byzantina 13 (1994), 513-523

"The Magic of Isis Replaced or Cyril of Alexandria's Attempt to Redirect Religious Devotion," Varia 5 Poikila Byzantina 13 (1994), 491-507

"What about Varna? Two Accounts of the Battle by Paraskondylos Zotikos and Michael Beheim," Presence of Byzantium. Festschrift for Milton V. Anastos, Byzantinische Forschungen 20 (1994), 249-261

"Manuel Philes' Meditation on an Icon of the Virgin Mary," Byzantinsche Forschungen 15 (1990), 277-288


Enclycopedia Entries

"Isis," in: Encyclopedia of Religion, vol. 7, Second Edition (Macmillan Reference USA, Thomson Gale, 2005), 4557-4560

"Sabazios," Der Neue Pauly Realencyclopädie der Altertumswissenschaften, vol.10 (2001), 1180-1182
[to be translated into English for Brill's New Pauly]

"Serapis," Der Neue Pauly Realencyclopädie der Altertumswissenschaften, vol. 10 (2001), 446-448
[to be translated into English for Brill's New Pauly]

"Ploiaphesia," Der Neue Pauly Realencyclopädie der Altertumswissenschaften, vol. 9 (2000), 1145
[to be translated into English for Brill's New Pauly]

"Irene of Athens," in A. Commire and D. Klezmer, eds., Women in World History vol. 7 (Waterford, Conn., Yorkin Press, 1999–2000), 690-694, with Robert W. Cape, Jr.

"Mater Magna," Der Neue Pauly Realencyclopädie der Altertumswissenschaften, vol. 7 (1999), 998-1000
"Mater Magna," Brill's New Pauly. Antiquity, vol 8 (2002), 458-459

"Kybele," Der Neue Pauly Realencyclopädie der Altertumswissenschaften, vol. 6 (1999), 950-956
"Cybele," Brill's New Pauly. Antiquity, vol 3 (2002), 1035-1040

"Isis," Der Neue Pauly Realencyclopädie der Altertumswissenschaften, vol. 5 (1998), 1126-1132
"Isis," Brill's New Pauly. Antiquity, vol. 6 (2002), 966-972


Book Reviews

E. Gruen, Diaspora. Jews Amidst Greeks and Romans (Cambridge, MA and London, 2002), The Journal of Interdisciplinary History 34.4 (2004), 620-622

P. Chuvin, A Chronicle of the Last Pagan trans. B.A. Archer (Cambridge, MA and London, 1990), Favonius 3 (1991), 45-47

John E. Stambaugh, The Ancient Roman City (Baltimore and London, 1988), Favonius 2 (1988), 88-89

W. W. Briggs, ed. The Letters of Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve (Baltimore and London, 1988), Favonius 2 (1988), 94-95

R. Joseph Hoffmann, Celsus on the True Doctrine (New York, 1987), Favonius 1 (1987), 71-72


A Selection of Invited Lectures

 

2006

"The Cult of Isis: Interpretatio Romana," History of Medicine Conference, Warburg Institute, University of London, England
 

2004

"Ancient Artifacts–Magical Implements," Getty Museum, Los Angeles

"Earthly Confusions, Heavenly Peace: Gallienus and the Christians (Confusión en la tierra, paz en los cielos)," Del Coliseo al Vaticano. Claves del Cristianismo primitivo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain

"Cult, Dedicators and Dedications," German Archaeological Institute International Symposium, Bergama, Turkey

"Libri Sibyllini, Libri Fatales," Yale University

"Virgin Priestesses of Rome," University of California, Los Angeles

"Sayings Revealed: The Case of the Sibylline Books," Bryn Mawr Classics Colloquium, Bryn Mawr College, PA

2003

"Isis in the Roman World," Mystery Cults in Magna Graeca Conference, the Vergilian Society, Italy

2002

"The Initiations of Lucius the Ass," Intolérance religieuse dans l'antiquité tardive, Hungarian Institute, Paris

"Roman Sites in Croatia and Hungary," Classical Assn. of the Mid-Atlantic States, Cherry Hill, NJ

"The Cult of Isis in the Roman World," Conference on the Mysteries, Emory University, Atlanta, GA

2001

"Diversity of Religious Beliefs: Pagan, Judaic, and Christian," Smithsonian Campus on the Mall, Washington, DC

"Pilgrimage and the Cult of Isis," Seeing the Gods: Patterns of Pilgrimage in Antiquity, University of Reading, United Kingdom

2000

"Amicus usque ad aras: A Friend unto Death - Tiberian Versions," University of Heidelberg, Germany

1999

"The Assimilation of Systems and the Creation of Culture," All Soul's Oxford (Lecture Series "Culture and Language in Greco-Roman Egypt" Oxford University, United Kingdom

1997

"Statues with Hearts," UNESCO sponsored Colloquium on Imperial Worship, Pula, Croatia

"Die Selbstoffenbarung der Isis und die literarische Kunst des Apuleius," Seminar für klassische Philologie, Universität Trier, Germany

 

 

THE MOST EXCITING THING I DID RECENTLY ...

Become the founding dean of the School of Arts and Sciences Honors Program. Check out the Honors Program website at: www.sashonors.rutgers.edu