Sheila Ager

Research Interests

• Greek History, particularly Hellenistic
• Interstate Relations
• Hellenistic Monarchy
• Ptolemaic Egypt

Greek history is Dr. Ager’s chief area of interest, and her research has focused in particular on the Hellenistic age, the years between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and the suicide of Cleopatra in 30 BC. Dr. Ager has a special interest in interstate relations in this period, and much of her research, including her 1996 monograph, Interstate Arbitrations in the Greek World, 337-90 BC, centers on the issue of peaceful dispute resolution. She is also interested in the history of the Ptolemaic dynasty, and its last representative, Cleopatra VII, and is the author of numerous publications on Hellenistic queens. Dr. Ager is currently working on a monograph of Ptolemy I Soter and a collection of essays entitled A Cultural History of Peace in Antiquity.

Teaching

• Greek History
• Hellenistic Monarchies
• Women in the Ancient World
• Greek Epigraphy

Graduate Supervision

Dr. Ager’s graduate supervision is chiefly focused on the Hellenistic period. She has supervised graduate theses and MRPs on the following subjects: the prosopography of Rhodes; property-law and women in the Ptolemaic kingdom; queen-regency in the Seleukid empire; and most recently, a reassessment of the ruler Seleukos IV. Dr. Ager welcomes new graduate students.

Administration & Service

Dr. Ager served as Chair of the Classical Studies Department from 2009 through 2017; in 2000-2001, she was Chair of the combined Anthropology and Classical Studies Department. She has also served as the Undergraduate Associate Chair for Classical Studies, and from 2001 to 2007, Dr. Ager was the Associate Dean of Arts (Undergraduate). She has served on numerous University committees and task forces.

Dr. Ager is also the Director of UW’s Academic Leadership Program.

For more detailed information see my Curriculum Vitae .