Dr Ruben Post
Director of Impact
Lecturer in Ancient History
- Phone
- +44 (0)1334 46 2604
- rmp26@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Office
- S5
- Location
- Swallowgate
Biography
I grew up in Canada and attended the University of Victoria for my undergraduate degree before receiving an MA in Ancient History from McGill University. I then moved to the US and earned my PhD from the University of Pennsylvania (2013-2020) with my dissertation, "The Achaian Koinon: An Economic History." During the course of my doctoral studies, I spent two years (2016-2018) in Athens conducting research at the American School of Classical Studies.
I first came to ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø as Leventis Senior Research Fellow (2020-2022) working on my project on climate change in the ancient Greek world. I then transitioned in 2022 to a temporary Lecturer position before becoming a permanent Lecturer in 2023.
Research areas
I am an ancient historian of the Greek world especially interested in environmental, economic, and social developments in the Hellenistic period. The primary focus of my work is on the interplay between the myriad ecological and economic forces that impacted ancient people’s lives, from climate and disease to money and law. To illuminate such interactions, I integrate highly varied evidence types, including environmental proxies, human and animal remains, archaeological survey, coinage, and ethnographic research, with the more traditional sources of ancient history, namely literary texts, inscriptions, and excavation archaeology.
My primary project is a book-length examination of the impact of climate change on Aegean societies from the end of the Bronze Age until the advent of the Roman Empire. By examining the most up-to-date environmental proxy evidence, research on the relationship between climate and agriculture, and written and archaeological evidence testifying to the perception of and responses to climate change, this project will outline the prospects and problems of studying the impact of climate change on ancient Greek societies.
PhD supervision
- Kenneth Arthur
- Michael Alexander Dyer
Selected publications
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Open access
Post, R., 9 Aug 2025, Ancient Greek law: vectors of unity and local idiosyncrasy. Harter-Uibopuu, K. & Beck, H. (eds.). Cologne: Bohlau Verlag, p. 133-150 (Einheit & Vielfalt im Recht; vol. 4).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Open access
Paparella, C., Bernard, S., Bini, M., Columbu, A., Isola, I., Harper, K., Post, R., Zonneveld, K. & Zanchetta, G., 1 Apr 2025, In: The Holocene. 35, 4, p. 397-408 12 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Post, R., 26 Aug 2025, In: Journal of Hellenic Studies. p. 1-21 21 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
-
Open access
Post, R., 3 Mar 2023, In: Journal of Hellenic Studies. 142, p. 317 - 333 17 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
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Post, R., 1 Jun 2022, In: Historia: Zeitschrift für Alte Geschichte. 71, 2, p. 188-224 37 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Post, R., 1 Oct 2020, In: Revue numismatique. 177, p. 21-57 37 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Post, R., 5 Oct 2020, (E-pub ahead of print) In: The Classical Review. 71, 1
Research output: Contribution to journal › Book/Film/Article review
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Open access
Post, R., 2019, Ethnos and Koinon: Studies in Ancient Greek Ethnicity and Federalism . Beck, H., Buraselis, K. & McAuley, A. (eds.). Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag, p. 99-111 (Heidelberger Althistorische Beiträge und epigraphische Studien; vol. 61).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
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Open access
Post, R., 2017, In: Bryn Mawr Classical Review. 2017.10.43.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Book/Film/Article review
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Post, R., Oct 2017, In: History Compass. 15, 10, 12 p., e12392.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review