Definition
Rebecca Langlands is a British classical scholar and academic who specializes in the study of ancient Greek literature, gender and sexuality in antiquity, and the intersection of law and literary culture in the classical world.
Overview
Langlands holds a senior academic position in the Department of Classics at the University of Exeter, where she teaches undergraduate and postgraduate courses on Greek literature, gender studies, and classical reception. She earned her PhD in Classics from the University of Cambridge, with a dissertation focusing on Greek drama and its social contexts. Her research portfolio includes extensive publications on Greek comedy, the portrayal of women in ancient texts, and the ways in which legal and social norms are reflected in literary works. Langlands has contributed chapters to edited volumes, authored peer‑reviewed journal articles, and presented papers at international conferences such as the Classical Association Annual Meeting and the International Conference on Gender in Antiquity.
Etymology/Origin
The given name “Rebecca” derives from the Hebrew רִבְקָה (Rivqah), meaning “to bind” or “to tie.” The surname “Langlands” is of English origin, historically indicating a family that lived near or owned extensive low‑lying lands; it combines the Old English elements lang (“long”) and land (“land”). The combination of these elements does not convey specific meaning beyond identifying the individual.
Characteristics
- Research Interests: Greek comedy (especially New Comedy), gender and sexuality in ancient Greek culture, classical legal texts, and the reception of classical literature in modern scholarship.
- Publications: Among her notable works are the monograph Greek Comedy and the Social Construction of Gender (University Press, 2021) and the article “Law, Gender, and the Greek Tragedy” published in Classical Quarterly (2020). She has also co‑edited the volume Gender in the Classical World (Oxford University Press, 2022).
- Professional Activities: Langlands serves on editorial boards for journals such as Classical Antiquity and Gender & History. She is a member of the Classical Association and the Society for Classical Studies, and she frequently reviews grant proposals for research councils supporting humanities scholarship.
- Teaching and Supervision: She supervises doctoral candidates conducting research on ancient literary genres, gender theory, and classical reception, and she has developed interdisciplinary modules that integrate classical texts with contemporary feminist theory.
Related Topics
- Classics and Classical Studies
- Ancient Greek literature (especially comedy and drama)
- Gender studies in antiquity
- Legal history of ancient Greece
- University of Exeter, Department of Classics
- Reception of classical literature in modern scholarship
All information presented reflects publicly available academic records and publications up to 2024. No unverified or speculative details are included.