
Dr Frances Pickworth
BA, MPhil, PhD
Expertise
I work on early Greek epic (Homer, Hesiod) and I'm also interested in how truth, knowledge, power, and identity were constructed during the Archaic period. I'm currently writing a monograph about Crete in the early epic tradition.
Current positions
Project Coordinator
Science and Engineering Faculty OfficeLecturer in Digital Classics
Department of Classics & Ancient History
Contact
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Biography
Research interests
I currently hold two roles at the University of Bristol: Lecturer in Digital Classics, and Project Co-ordinator for the Research Institute for Sociotechnical Cyber Security (RISCS). Having completed my PhD in 2025, I'm now developing my thesis into a monograph on the role of Crete in early Greek epic. I'm particularly interested in how Homeric and Hesiodic epic creates identity, authority, and truth, and how space works to shape plot in ancient and modern narrative. Before returning to academia, I worked across various roles in the private, public, and third sectors.
Projects and supervisions
Research projects
“On a Quest to Learn”: Creating an AI-powered Quest System for Museums to Deliver Increased Visitor Engagement
Principal Investigator
Role
Researcher
Description
This is a collaborative pilot project led jointly by the University of Bristol and Meaning Machine, working in partnership with Bristol Museums, and funded by Digital Catapult Creative Connect. The…Managing organisational unit
Department of Classics & Ancient HistoryDates
01/04/2025 to 31/07/2025
Publications
Recent publications
16/07/2025“A marvel for mortals”
From mētis to biē
Cape Malea and Crete as narrative nodes in the Odyssey
TAPA
Cape Malea as narrative node
Cretan alterity and panhellenic identity in early Greek epic
Thesis
Crete in the Odyssey and early Greek epic
Supervisors
Award date
13/05/2025
Teaching
Approaches to Greek HistoryAncient Historical WritersLiteratureEpic
Exploring RomeLatin (intermediate and advanced level)Greek (intermediate and advanced level)