Matthew Finnie, Ph.D.

Matthew Thomas Finnie is a historian of the ancient Mediterranean who joined the Trinity community in 2022. He is currently researching how the geospatial relationships of religious sites within Athens influenced localized manifestations of Athenian hero cult with an emphasis on the role of the hero Erechtheus in Athenian identity. Having attended a summer seminar in ancient Greek religion in situ at The American School of Classical Studies at Athens, he wishes to understand the experience of Greek paganism from the vantage point of the believer at the macro- (Panhellenic), meso- (local), and micro- (individual) levels. Moreover, as a scholar of world history pedagogy and theory, he strives to reorient the study of the ancient world toward an appreciation for Global Classics. His approach to historical methodology is multidisciplinary and seeks to find transcontinental and global trends that transcended the traditional borders of temporal and geographical periodization, particularly through the greater integration of Africa into Mediterranean studies. As someone who finds fulfillment in assisting new students with the general transition from high school to a college setting, he also thoroughly enjoys teaching the First-Year Experience.