E. Mary Smallwood

Edith Mary Smallwood (8 December 1919 – 4 September 2023) was a British historian and a professor of Romano-Jewish History at the Queen's University, Belfast.

Early life

Smallwood was born in Wandsworth, Surrey (now London) in December 1919. She received her education[1] at the Mary Datchelor Girls’ School, Camberwell, and at Girton College, University of Cambridge, to which she won a scholarship. She graduated with First Class Honours in Classics (1942),[2] and was later a Research Fellow at Girton, gaining her PhD in 1951 under the supervision of Prof. Jocelyn Toynbee.

Career

Mary Smallwood was appointed lecturer[3] in classics (in the Latin dept) at the Queen's University, Belfast, in 1951. She became senior lecturer in 1963, reader in 1967, and was awarded a personal chair as professor of Romano-Jewish History in 1978. [4] For the 1971–72 academic year she was a member of the School of Historical Studies at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton.  She was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1972. She retired to Edinburgh in 1983.[5]

Death

Smallwood died at Cluny Lodge, Edinburgh on 4 September 2023, at the age of 103.[6][5]

Bibliography

• Philonis Alexandrini Legatio ad Gaium (edition with translation and commentary), Brill, 1961.
• Documents Illustrating the Principates of Nerva, Trajan and Hadrian, Cambridge University Press, 1966.
• Documents Illustrating the Principates of Gaius, Claudius and Nero, Cambridge University Press, 1967.
• The Jews under Roman Rule from Pompey to Diocletian: A Study in Political Relations, Brill, 1976.
• From Pagan Protection to Christian Oppression (inaugural lecture), Queen's University, Belfast, 1979.
• Josephus, The Jewish War (first edition by G. A. Williamson revised with new Introduction, notes and appendices), Penguin, 1981.
• Rome: The Augustan Age, Units 15 and 16, Studies II Judaea, Open University, 1982

References

1. [1] Josephus, The Jewish War, front matter; From Pagan Protection to Christian Oppression, p. 3.
2. "Scotsman Obituaries: Professor E Mary Smallwood, classical historian and author". scotsman.com.
3. [1] The Annual Review of the Queen’s University Association 1983, p. 86 (with photo); A Community of Scholars: The Institute for Advanced Study Faculty and Members 1930–1980, p. 349; The Antiquaries Journal 52.2 (1972) 438.
4. "Classics professor known for work on Romano-Jewish history". The Herald. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
5. "E. Mary Smallwood". The Times. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
6. "Weekly Notices, 10 September 2023". Christ Church Morningside. Retrieved 11 September 2023.