Jonathan Tao

I am a third year PhD student in Classics, with a passion for studying Macedonian imperialism and the formation of the Seleucid Empire in the ancient Middle East. In particular, I am interested in exploring the cultural interactions between Greeks, Macedonians, Persians and Babylonians during the late 4th and 3rd centuries BCE as well as the wider cultural legacy and reception of Alexander the Great throughout history.

I first discovered my love for Hellenistic history at Emory University. I graduated from Emory with a B.A. in History and Ancient Mediterranean Studies in 2020 and from the University of Chicago with an M.A. in the Social Sciences in 2021.

In my free time, I also enjoy reading J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, exploring Skyrim, running, and offering almonds as tribute to the squirrels garrisoned outside the Classics department building. I also draw and produce digital art. A portfolio of some artwork can be found here.

• M.A. Social Sciences (History), University of Chicago, 8/2021
• BA History, Emory University, 5/2020