Home › Colleges & Schools▻College of Arts, Social Sciences, & Celtic Studies▻School of Languages, Literatures & Cultures▻Disciplines and Subjects▻Classics▻People & Projects

People & Projects

Prof. Michael Clarke

B.A., D. Phil.

Contact Details

Professor
Department of Classics
NUI, Galway

T: Ext. 5230
E: michael.clarke@nuigalway.ie
 
researcher

Biography

Born Dun Laoghaire, 1966; education TCD (BA 1990), Oxford (D. Phil. 1995)

Research Interests

From an early fascination with mythology and ancient languages, I became a specialist in ancient Greek epic poetry, from which I moved to a new focus of interest in the renewal and transformation of the Classical tradition in medieval languages and literatures, especially in Irish between c. 900 and 1200 AD. With my colleagues in Galway Classics I have worked to give our programme a particular focus on continuity and reception, with special reference to the Christian Middle Ages in general and the Insular world of Britain and Ireland in particular. My specialist publications are in two complementary areas, historical semantics and ancient and medieval heroic literature. 

In the general area of historical semantics I have published a series of articles and book chapters applying prototoype theory to the ancient Greek language. The latest of these is my own chapter in a forthcoming 24-chapter book on Greek lexicography, Liddell and Scott: Perspectives on a Lexicon, which I am editing with Christopher Stray and Joshua Katz.

In the field of heroic literature I have a special interest in Middle Irish recreations of Greek mythology and pseudo-history, focussing on the unpublished late Middle Irish recension of Togail Troí­, the Irish rendering of the Trojan War. Among a series of article-length publications on this work, I have contributed an edition of the previously unpublished Prologue of the work, which appeared in Eriu  64 (2014). 

I am drawing this literary and linguistic work into conjunction with an overriding interest in manuscripts as artefacts and as objects of study in their own right. With Dr Maire Ni Mhaonaigh I am joint co-ordinator of the Manuscripts Between Languages research network, which has held a series of research workshops in Galway and Cambridge and is working towards future publications and research ventures.

Research Projects

  Project Start Date End Date
THE USE AND REPRESENTATION OF CLASSICAL THEMES AND IMAGERY M CLARKE 01-OCT-14 30-SEP-17
CLASSICAL & MEDIEVAL LANGUAGES MICHAEL CLARKE 107056 01-MAY-11 31-DEC-13
IRCHSS POST DOC MICHAEL CLARKE PADRAIC MORAN 01-OCT-09 30-SEP-13

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2014) 'The extended Prologue of Togail Troi: from Adam to the wars of Troy'
Clarke, Michael (2014) 'The extended Prologue of Togail Troi: from Adam to the wars of Troy'. Eriu, 64 :23-106 [Details]
(2005) 'An ox-fronted river-god sophocles, Trachiniae 12-13'
Clarke, M (2005) 'An ox-fronted river-god sophocles, Trachiniae 12-13'. Harvard Studies In Classical Philology, Vol 102, 102 :97-112 [Details]
(2001) ''Heart-cutting talk': Homeric kertomeo and related words'
Clarke, M (2001) ''Heart-cutting talk': Homeric kertomeo and related words'. Classical Quarterly, 51 :329-338 [Details]
(2012) 'The Lore of the Monstrous Races in the Developing Text of the Irish Sex Aetates Mundi'
Michael Clarke (2012) 'The Lore of the Monstrous Races in the Developing Text of the Irish Sex Aetates Mundi'. Cambrian Medieval Celtic Studies, 63 (2):15-49 [DOI] [Details]
(2001) 'Thrice-ploughed woe: Sophocles, Antigone 859'
Clarke, M. (2001) 'Thrice-ploughed woe: Sophocles, Antigone 859'. Classical Quarterly, 51 :368-374 [Details]
(1998) 'Pinusko and its cognates: a problem in Simonides, fr. 508 PMG'
Clarke, M. (1998) 'Pinusko and its cognates: a problem in Simonides, fr. 508 PMG'. GLOTTA, 74 :135-142 [Details]
(1995) 'The wisdom of Thales and the problem of the word hieros'
Clarke, M. (1995) 'The wisdom of Thales and the problem of the word hieros'. Classical Quarterly, 45 :296-317 [Details]
(1995) 'Between lions and men: an image in the Iliad'
Clarke, M. (1995) 'Between lions and men: an image in the Iliad'. Greek, Roman And Byzantine Studies, 36 :137-159 [Details]

Books

  Year Publication
(1999) Flesh and Spirit in the Songs of Homer: a Study of Words and Myths.
Clarke, M. (1999) Flesh and Spirit in the Songs of Homer: a Study of Words and Myths. : Oxford University Press. [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2017) 'Psalm 21 and the beasts of the Ardagh Chalice'
Michael Clarke (2017) 'Psalm 21 and the beasts of the Ardagh Chalice' In: Islands in a Global Context: Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Insular Art. Dublin: Four Courts Press. [Details]
(2016) 'International influences on the later medieval development of Togail Troi'
Michael Clarke (2016) 'International influences on the later medieval development of Togail Troi' In: Adapting Texts and Styles in a Celtic Context. Munster: Nodus. [Details]
(2015) 'The Leabhar Gabhala and Carolingian Origin Legends'
Michael Clarke (2015) 'The Leabhar Gabhala and Carolingian Origin Legends' In: Early Medieval Ireland and Europe: Chronology, Contacts, Scholarship. A Festschrift for Daibhi O Croinin. Turnhout: Brepols. [Details]
(2014) 'Demonology, allegory and translation: the Furies and the Morrígan'
Michael Clarke (2014) 'Demonology, allegory and translation: the Furies and the Morrígan' In: R. O’Connor (ed.), Classical Literature and Learning in Medieval Irish Narrative. Cambridge: D.S. Brewer. [Details]
(2014) 'Reconstructing the medieval Irish bookshelf: a case study of Fingal Ronain and the horse-eared kings'
Michael Clarke (2014) 'Reconstructing the medieval Irish bookshelf: a case study of Fingal Ronain and the horse-eared kings' In: Classical Literature and Learning in Medieval Irish Narrative. Cambridge: D.S. Brewer. [Details]
(2013) 'Semantic field theory'
Michael Clarke (2013) 'Semantic field theory' In: Brill's Encyclopedia of the Ancient Greek Language and Linguistics. Leiden: E.J. Brill. [Details]
(2011) 'Introduction'
Clarke, M. (2011) 'Introduction' In: Translating Emotion. Peter Lang - International Academic Publishers. [Details]
(2011) 'The semantics of colour in the early Greek word-hoard'
Clarke, M. (2011) 'The semantics of colour in the early Greek word-hoard' In: Colours in the Ancient Mediterranean World. British Archaeological Reports. [Details]
(2011) 'Translation and transformation: a case study from medieval Irish and English'
Clarke, M. (2011) 'Translation and transformation: a case study from medieval Irish and English' In: Translating Emotion. [Details]
(2010) 'Semantics and vocabulary'
Clarke, M. (2010) 'Semantics and vocabulary' In: Blackwell's Companion to the Ancient Greek Language. Oxford University Press. [Details]
(2009) 'An Irish Achilles and a Greek Cú Chulainn'
Clarke, M. (2009) 'An Irish Achilles and a Greek Cú Chulainn' In: Ulidia II: Proceedings of the Second International Conference on the Ulster Cycle. Maynooth: An Sagart. [Details]
(2007) 'Snowy Helen and bull-faced wine: Ion and the language of poetry'
Clarke, M. (2007) 'Snowy Helen and bull-faced wine: Ion and the language of poetry' In: The World of Ion of Chios. Leiden, E.J. Brill. [Details]
(2006) 'Achilles, Cu Chulainn, Byrhtnoth: from Homer to the medieval North'
Clarke, M. (2006) 'Achilles, Cu Chulainn, Byrhtnoth: from Homer to the medieval North' In: Epic Interactions: Perspectives on Homer, Virgil and the Epic Tradition. Oxford University Press. [Details]
(2005) 'On the semantics of early Greek smiles'
Clarke, M. (2005) 'On the semantics of early Greek smiles' In: Body Language in the Greek and Roman Worlds. Duckworth. [Details]
(2004) 'Manhood and heroism'
Clarke, M. (2004) 'Manhood and heroism' In: The Cambridge Companion to Homer. Cambridge University Press. [Details]
(2004) 'An focal fileata: O Hoimear go dti­ an Winding Stair Café'
Clarke, M. (2004) 'An focal fileata: O Hoimear go dti­ an Winding Stair Café' In: i mBliainiris 2003. Cló Carbad, Baile Átha Cliath. [Details]
(2002) 'Spartan ate at Thermopylae? Semantics and ideology at Herodotus, Histories 7.223.4'
Clarke, M. (2002) 'Spartan ate at Thermopylae? Semantics and ideology at Herodotus, Histories 7.223.4' In: Sparta Beyond the Mirage. Duckworth. [Details]
(1997) 'Gods and mountains in Greek myth and poetry'
Clarke, M. (1997) 'Gods and mountains in Greek myth and poetry' In: What is a God?. Duckworth. [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
(2017) The Book of Ui Mhaine
Michael Clarke (2017) The poems on world-kingship in the Book of Ui Mhaine The Book of Ui Mhaine Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, [Details]
(2016) Anthologising Poetry in the Western Middle Ages
Michael Clarke (2016) Searching for unity in MS Bern, Burgerbibliothek 363 Anthologising Poetry in the Western Middle Ages [Details]
(2016) Tionol of the School of Celtic Studies, DIAS
Michael Clarke (2016) A possible new source for Merugud Ulilix, the medieval Irish narrative of Ulysses Tionol of the School of Celtic Studies, DIAS [Details]
(2016) The Pre-modern Book in a Global Context
Michael Clarke (2016) A bilingual anthology of sacred verse: the Irish Liber Hymnorum The Pre-modern Book in a Global Context [Details]

Edited Books

  Year Publication
(2011) Translating Emotion: Studies in Transformation and Renewal Between Languages.
Michael Clarke and Kathleen Shields (Ed.). (2011) Translating Emotion: Studies in Transformation and Renewal Between Languages Translating Emotion: Studies in Transformation and Renewal Between Languages. Bern: Peter Lang. [Details]
(2006) Epic Interactions: Essays on Homer, Virgil and the Epic Tradition.
Michael Clarke, Bruno Currie and R.O.A.M. Lyne (Ed.). (2006) Epic Interactions: Essays on Homer, Virgil and the Epic Tradition Epic Interactions: Essays on Homer, Virgil and the Epic Tradition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. [Details]

Other Journals

  Year Publication
(2013) 'Linguistic education and literary creativity in medieval Ireland'
Michael Clarke (2013) 'Linguistic education and literary creativity in medieval Ireland' Cahiers de l' Institut de Linguistique et des Sciences des Langues (Lausanne), 38 (1) :39-71. [DOI] [Details]

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
(2016) The pre-modern book in a global context,
M. Clarke, J. Whitman, I. Galambos (2016) Binghamton Medieval Conference. [Organising Chair], The pre-modern book in a global context, Binghamton, New York , 18-NOV-16 - 19-NOV-16. [Details]
(2015) Codeswitching in the medieval classroom,
Michael Clarke (2015) Mergers and contrasts between Latin and Irish. [Invited Lecture], Codeswitching in the medieval classroom, University of Utrecht , 29-MAY-15 - 29-MAY-15. [Details]
(2015) Myth, Language and Literature from Ireland to Constantinople,
Michael Clarke (2015) Interdisciplinary conference in medieval studies. [Invited Lecture], Myth, Language and Literature from Ireland to Constantinople, University of Oslo , 15-NOV-15 - 17-NOV-15. [Details]
(2015) Irish Conference of Medievalists,
Michael Clarke (2015) The generic affinities of the Irish Liber Hymnorum. [National Refereed Conference Paper], Irish Conference of Medievalists, University College Dublin , 28-JUN-15. [Details]
(2015) Manuscripts Between Languages: east and west,
Michael Clarke (2015) Research workshop by international network. [Program co-chair], Manuscripts Between Languages: east and west, St Johns College, Cambridge , 07-MAY-15 - 08-MAY-15. [Details]
(2014) Tionol, School of Celtic Studies, DIAS,
Michael Clarke (2014) International influences on Togail Troi in the later Middle Ages. [Plenary Lecture], Tionol, School of Celtic Studies, DIAS, DIAS , 15-NOV-14 - 15-NOV-14. [Details]
(2014) Adapting texts and styles in a Celtic context,
Michael Clarke (2014) Reassessing the international context of the Irish Troy saga. [Invited Lecture], Adapting texts and styles in a Celtic context, University of Marburg , 25-JUL-14 - 25-JUL-15. [Details]
(2014) What is a Classic?,
Michael Clarke (2014) Translation and canonisation: the Trojan War in text and tapestry. [Plenary Lecture], What is a Classic?, Dartmouth College, New Hampshire , 26-SEP-14 - 26-SEP-14. [Details]
(2013) International workshop on vernacular literacy in medieval Europe and east Asia,
Michael Clarke (2013) Workshop on cross-disciplinary themes and funding opportunities with participants from Galway, Cambridge and Tokyo. [Program co-chair], International workshop on vernacular literacy in medieval Europe and east Asia, Classics/ CAMPS, NUI Galway , 29-NOV-13 - 29-NOV-13. [Details]
(2013) Fingal Ronain and the horse-eared kings,
Michael Clarke (2013) seminar presentation. [Invited Lecture], Fingal Ronain and the horse-eared kings, Van Hamel Insititute, Utrecht, Netherlands , 01-JUN-13 - 01-JUN-13. [Details]
(2013) Liddell and Scott's Greek-English Lexicon,
Michael Clarke (2013) Seminar on the history of lexicology. [Invited Lecture], Liddell and Scott's Greek-English Lexicon, Corpus Christi College, Oxford , 16-NOV-13 - 16-NOV-13. [Details]
(2013) O Cleirigh Institute Seminar,
Michael Clarke (2013) Reconstructing the medieval Irish bookshelf. [Invited Lecture], O Cleirigh Institute Seminar, UCD , 08-MAR-13 - 08-MAR-13. [Details]
(2013) Bilingualism and text transmission in the middle ages,
Michael Clarke (2013) Interdisciplinsary seminar on code-switching and glossing. [Chaired Session], Bilingualism and text transmission in the middle ages, Dept of Celtic Studies, University of Utrecht , 31-MAY-13 - 31-MAY-13. [Details]
(2012) Educational Encounters and Educational Practice in Medieval Europe,
Michael Clarke (2012) Interdisciplinary seminar on medieval manuscript culture. [Program co-chair], Educational Encounters and Educational Practice in Medieval Europe, St John's College/ Dept of Anglo-Saxon Norse and Celtic, Cambridge , 29-NOV-12 - 30-NOV-12. [Details]
(2012) Linguistic Encounters and Educational Practice in Medieval Europe,
Michael Clarke (2012) Interdisciplinary seminar on manuscript culture. [Conference Paper], Linguistic Encounters and Educational Practice in Medieval Europe, St John's College/Dept of Anglo-Saxon Norse and Celtic, Cambridge , 29-NOV-12 - 30-NOV-12. [Details]

Book Review

  Year Publication
(2000) The tyrant's writ: myths and images of writing in ancient Greece.
Clarke, M (2000) The tyrant's writ: myths and images of writing in ancient Greece. Book Review [Details]
(1999) Homeric questions.
Clarke, M (1999) Homeric questions. Book Review [Details]

Conference Paper

  Year Publication
(2011) Sex Aetates Mundi materials in later Irish texts. Authorities and Audiences Workshop, ASNAC.
Clarke, M. (2011) Sex Aetates Mundi materials in later Irish texts. Authorities and Audiences Workshop, ASNAC. Cambridge University: Conference Paper [Details]
(2011) Birds of Valour. Classical Influences in Medieval Irish Literature.
Clarke, M. (2011) Birds of Valour. Classical Influences in Medieval Irish Literature. University of Aberdeen, School of Irish Scottish Studies: Conference Paper [Details]
(2010) Inventing a European Identity for medieval Ireland.
Clarke, M. (2010) Inventing a European Identity for medieval Ireland. University of Lausanne, Switzerland: Conference Paper [Details]
(2009) The pseudohistorical preface to Togail Troi 3. Tionol, DIAS.
Clarke, M. (2009) The pseudohistorical preface to Togail Troi 3. Tionol, DIAS. Conference Paper [Details]
(2009) The Classical inheritance in medieval Irish literature. Uppsala Festival of Irish Studies.
Clarke, M. (2009) The Classical inheritance in medieval Irish literature. Uppsala Festival of Irish Studies. University of Uppsala, Sweden: Conference Paper [Details]
(2008) Bravery, madness and big-heartedness: ancient and modern myths. RIA Colloquium on Classical Literature.
Clarke, M. (2008) Bravery, madness and big-heartedness: ancient and modern myths. RIA Colloquium on Classical Literature. Royal Irish Academy, Dublin: Conference Paper [Details]
(2006) Bad liver, broken heart, swollen lungs: the problem of metaphor. Translating Emotion.
Clarke, M. (2006) Bad liver, broken heart, swollen lungs: the problem of metaphor. Translating Emotion. National University Ireland, Maynooth: Conference Paper [Details]
(2005) An Irish Achilles and an Anglo-Saxon Satan. International Conference on the Ulster Cycle.
Clarke, M. (2005) An Irish Achilles and an Anglo-Saxon Satan. International Conference on the Ulster Cycle. National University Ireland, Maynooth: Conference Paper [Details]
(2004) Achilles, Byrhtnoth, Cú Chulainn: from Homer to the medieval North. The Interactions of Epic.
Clarke, M. (2004) Achilles, Byrhtnoth, Cú Chulainn: from Homer to the medieval North. The Interactions of Epic. Balliol College, Oxford: Conference Paper [Details]
(2003) The early Greek lexicon as the atlas of a world-picture. Laurence Seminar.
Clarke, M. (2003) The early Greek lexicon as the atlas of a world-picture. Laurence Seminar. Faculty of Classics Cambridge University: Conference Paper [Details]
(2002) Grins, smiles and laughter in early Greek. Celtic Conference in Classics.
Clarke, M. (2002) Grins, smiles and laughter in early Greek. Celtic Conference in Classics. Glasgow University: Conference Paper [Details]
(2002) Polysemy and prototype semantics: plotting lexical unities. Greek Lexicography.
Clarke, M. (2002) Polysemy and prototype semantics: plotting lexical unities. Greek Lexicography. Cambridge University: Conference Paper [Details]
(2001) Purple thoughts and bull-faced wine: early Greek colour adjectives. Colours in Antiquity.
Clarke, M. (2001) Purple thoughts and bull-faced wine: early Greek colour adjectives. Colours in Antiquity. Edinburgh: Conference Paper [Details]
(2000) Go tell the Spartans…what exactly?. Celtic Conference in Classics.
Clarke, M. (2000) Go tell the Spartans…what exactly?. Celtic Conference in Classics. National University Ireland, Maynooth: Conference Paper [Details]
(2000) Roots and word-meanings: the case of the Homeric figura etymologica. Conference on Ancient Etymology.
Clarke, M. (2000) Roots and word-meanings: the case of the Homeric figura etymologica. Conference on Ancient Etymology. Cambridge University: Conference Paper [Details]

Other Item

  Year Publication
(2005) Etymology in the semantic reconstruction of early Greek words. Hermathena.
Clarke, M. (2005) Etymology in the semantic reconstruction of early Greek words. Hermathena. Other Item [Details]
(1995) Aeschylus on mud and dust. Hermathena.
Clarke, M. (1995) Aeschylus on mud and dust. Hermathena. Other Item [Details]
(1989) Latin sapphic and elegiac verses. Hermathena.
Clarke, M. (1989) Latin sapphic and elegiac verses. Hermathena. Other Item [Details]

Workshops

  Year Publication
(2010) The men of Troy and the Sons of Noah. Dublin Classics Seminar.
Clarke, M. (2010) The men of Troy and the Sons of Noah. Dublin Classics Seminar. University College Dublin: Workshops [Details]
(2010) The flesh and bones of primary epic. Corbett Lecture.
Clarke, M. (2010) The flesh and bones of primary epic. Corbett Lecture. Cambridge University, Faculty of Classics: Workshops [Details]
(2005) Togail Troí and the invention of heroic narrative in medieval Ireland.
Clarke, M. (2005) Togail Troí and the invention of heroic narrative in medieval Ireland. Ó Cléirigh Institute, UCD: Workshops [Details]
(2005) The Bodb at Troy and the slaughter-wolves of Abraham.
Clarke, M. (2005) The Bodb at Troy and the slaughter-wolves of Abraham. Cambridge University, Dept of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic: Workshops [Details]
(2003) System and decay in lexical semantics.
Clarke, M (2003) System and decay in lexical semantics. University College Dublin, Humanities Institute of Ireland: Workshops [Details]
(2002) The bitter difficulty of translation.
Clarke, M. (2002) The bitter difficulty of translation. London University, Institute of Classical Studies: Workshops [Details]
(2002) Overcoming the tyranny of nouns: a perspective on historical semantics.
Clarke, M. (2002) Overcoming the tyranny of nouns: a perspective on historical semantics. University of Manchester, Classical Dept: Workshops [Details]

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
Consultative Committee for Scriptores Celtigenae series (CCSL) advisory committee member for publication series /
Consultative Committee for the Dictionary of Medieval Latin from Celtic Sources Committee member 01-APR-16 /
Consultative Committee for the journal Studia Hibernica Member /

Consultancy

  Client Description
Boydell and Brewer publishers, Cambridge, England
Occasional expert reader for draft books submitted to the Press in Celtic Studies
Cambridge University Press
Occasional expert reader for book drafts submitted to CUP