Christopher A. Faraone


Christopher A. Faraone is an American classicist. He is the Edward Olson Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Classics and the College at the University of Chicago. His work largely covers the study of Ancient Greek poetry, religion and magic, from sources such as text, myths, rituals, and hymns, and from objects such as pottery, papyrus, inscriptions on gems, curse tablets, and figurines or effigies. Faraone is considered to be a foremost scholar on ancient Mediterranean magic.

Early life

Christopher A. Faraone received his Ph.D. at Stanford University in 1988, and wrote his dissertation, "Talismans, voodoo dolls and other apotropaic images in ancient Greek myth and ritual", on apotropaic images in Greek myth and ritual under the direction of John J. Winkler.

Professor

Since the 2021-2022 schoolyear, Faraone has been the Edward Olson Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Classics and the College at the University of Chicago. He has previously been the Frank Curtis Springer and Gertrude Melcher Springer Professor in the Humanities and the College, and has taught at the University of Chicago since 1991. His research focuses on Ancient Greek poetry, religion and magic. His work also encompases studying the materials used in Ancient Greek magic and Ancient Greek magic formulas, as well as the effects of different cultures and of gender on the use and applications of Ancient Greek magic. Additionally, Faraone founded the University of Chicago's Center for the Study of Ancient Religions, which he directed for 10 years from 2008-2018. He has lectured at other universities as well, including the University of Toronto, the University of Texas at San Antonio, and Tulane University.

Major awards