Dr. Elena Duce Pastor, postdoctoral researcher Margarita Salas Autonoma University of Madrid/ University of Zaragoza (Spain), is a Sterling Dow Fellow at the Center, working on her project, Do Not call me by my name. Women's (in)visibility in Classical Athens. This project aims to analyze the invisibility of women’s onomastic in Classical Athens in literary sources, linked to connection with the evidence of women’s onomastic in epigraphs. It highlights how women were taken apart in public life and were referred by family names, such as the patronymic or the husband’s name. From this point of view, it can be noticed that dishonorable women were mentioned in public. This fact, already studied by Schapps in 1977, presented a deep sense of invisibility related to social status. Interestingly enough, epigraphic evidence broke this rule, which must be related to family areas of power in public space.

Nevertheless, women were mentioned in gravestones very linked to their male relatives. The aim of this project is to select relationships between female mentions by patronymic references and connections between public life and gravestones. With this comparative study, it will be possible to know more about how women were named in public life, how did respectful silence worked, and why it was broken in gravestones.

Please help us welcome Elena to Ohio State!