Dr. Jeanne Reames
Dr. Jeanne Reames

  Director, Ancient Mediterranean Studies Program
Martin Professor of European History, 2023-25
Graduate Program Chair, History, 2015-19
 Missouri Valley History Conference Coordinator, 2011-13
Martin Professor of European History, 2009-11

287-K ASH, Department of History
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Omaha, NE 68182; email Dr. Reames


Educational History

Ph.D The Pennsylvania State University, 1998  (History)
     Dissertation: "Hephaistion Amyntoros: Éminence Grise at the Court of Alexander the Great"
M.Div Candler School of Theology, Emory University, 1989  (Early Church History/Counseling)
B.A. The University of Florida, 1985  (English/Creative Writing)

 

Macedon and Its InfluencesBooks

-- Macedon and its Influences: Narratives of Politics and War in Honor of Edward M. Anson, Jeanne Reames and Graham Wrightson, eds. Colloquia Antiqua 44, Peeters, 2024
-- Dancing with the Lion 1: Becoming (NC: Riptide Publishers, 2019) 
-- Dancing with the Lion 2: Rise (NC: Riptide Publishers, 2019) 
-- Macedonian Legacies: Studies on Ancient Macedonian History and Culture in honor of Eugene N. Borza, ed. with Timothy Howe (Claremont, CA: Regina Books, 2008)   BMCR REVIEW

Refereed Academic Publications

-- “Appropriating Narratives of Empire: Alexander and the destruction of the Branchidai,” in Macedon and Its Influences: Narratives of Politics and War in Honor of Edward M Anson. Jeanne Reames and Graham Wrightson, eds. Colloquia Antiqua 44, 2024, 105-42.
--  "Philip's and Alexander's Use of Religious Cult in Our Extant Sources," in Brill's Companion to the Campaigns of Philip II and Alexander the Great. Edward M. Anson, ed. Leiden: Brill, 2024, 429-76.
-- "Court and Companions," in Cambridge Companion to Alexander the Great. Daniel Ogden, ed. Malden and Oxford: Cambridge, 2024, 179-91.
-- "Changes and Challenges at Alexander's Court," in Cambridge Companion to Alexander the Great. Daniel Ogden, ed. Malden and Oxford: Cambridge, 2024, 192-212.
-- "Alexander the Great and Hephaistion in Fiction after Stonewall," in Routledge Companion to the Reception of Ancient Greek and Roman Gender and Sexuality. Kenneth Moore, ed. New York: Routledge, 2022, 229-52.
-- with Ann Haverkost. "Warfare and Agriculture," in Wiley Companion to Greek Warfare, Waldemar Heckel, F. S. Naiden, John Vanderspoel, and E. E. Garvin, eds. London: Wiley-Blackwell, 2021, 286-98.
 -- "Becoming Macedonian: Name Mapping and Ethnic Identity. The Case of Hephaistion." (with Jason Heppler & Cory Starman, digital) Karanos. Bulletin of Ancient Macedonian Studies. vol 3 (2020): 11-37.
-- "The Cult of Hephaistion," Responses to Oliver Stone's 'Alexander,' Paul Cartledge and Fiona Greenland, eds., (Madison: Univ. of Wisconsin Press, 2010) 183-217.
-- "Crisis and Opportunity: The Philoas Affair ... Again," Macedonian Legacies, Jeanne Reames and Timothy Howe, eds. (Claremont, CA: Regina Books, 2009) 165-81.
-- "Alexander as Icon: Some Socio-Political Contexts of Alexander the Great in Twentieth-Century Fiction," Alexander's Empire: From Formulation to Decay, Waldemar Heckel and P. V. Wheatley, eds (Claremont, CA: Regina Books, 2006) 233-44.
**Published as Reames-Zimmerman:
-- "The Mourning of Alexander the Great," Syllecta Classica 12 (2001) 98-145.
-- "An Atypical Affair? Alexander the Great, Hephaistion, and the Nature of Their Relationship," The Ancient History Bulletin 13.3 (1999) 81-96.
-- (with Eugene N. Borza) "Some New Thoughts on the Death of Alexander the Great," The Ancient World 31.1 (2000) 1-9.

Reviews, Essays, Fiction and Other Public History Publications

-- Complete list of public history blog post "asks" from Tumblr, arranged alphabetically, with dates and links
-- "Book Review: The Courts of Philip II and Alexander the Great," Frances Pownall, Sulochana R. Asirvatham, and Sabine Müller, eds. DeGruyter, 2022, in Bryn Mawr Classical Review, Feb. 2023.
-- "In Memorium: Eugene N. Borza, 1935-2021," on Mathetria: a Woman Scholar. Sept. 5, 2021.
-- "Ancient Greek Sexuality for Dummies," on Mathetria: a Woman Scholar. Feb. 28, 2021.
-- "Indeterminate Creatures," in Voices from the Plains 2018 (Grand Island, NE: Nebraska Writer's Guild, 2018).
-- "New Thoughts on an Old Debate: Homosexualiy Today, Homoeroticism Then," a letter to mainstream protestant churches regarding homosexuality.  (Originally composed in 1998, the most recent revision is 2015.)  Free distribution allowed, even encouraged, as long as my name stays attached.
-- "I Choose to Fall Later," Red Ink, no. 16.2-17.1, spring 2013.
-- "Why Did Alexander the Great's Empire Collapse So Soon after His Death?" invited essay by ABC-CLIO/Praeger Publishing's "Idea Exchange" Database in Academic Solutions Database for World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, 2013.
-- "Book Review: Alexander the Great, A New History," Waldemar Heckel and Lawrence A. Tritle, eds., Blackwell, 2009, in The Canadian Journal of History 45.1 (2010).
-- "Indeterminate Creatures," Native American Literatures: Generations, no. 2, summer 2010.
-- "Book Review: Empire of Ashes by Nicholas Nicastro," Amphora, American Philological Association, 6.1 (2007).
-- "A History of Alexander on the Big Screen," Amphora, American Philological Association, 3.2 (2004).
-- "Alexander the Great," "Macedonian Ruler Cult," "Theseus," and "Astrology," Holy People of the World: an Encyclopedia, 3 vols., Phyllis Jestice, ed., Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2004.
-- Book Review. "Introducing the Bible. Volume 1: the Old Testament and Intertestamental Literature," The Review of Biblical Literature Online for the Society of Biblical Literature
-- "Was Alexander the Great Gay?" Greek American Review 52.626 (Nov. 1999) 19-21.

Conference Papers

-- "Cyclops vs. Wolverine: Plutarch, Hephaistion, Krateros, and Swords." Ninth International Alexander the Great Symposium, September 5, 2024, Omaha, NE.
-- "From History to Story: Six Authors Share Their Process of Writing Alexander," Roundtable, moderator and participant. Forever Alexander: Commemorative Conference for Alexander's 323 Death, January 23, 2023, Online. Autonomous University of Barcelona.
-- “Abusing the Pythia: Philomelos of Phokis and Alexander the Great.” Symposium Peregrinum 2021, June 21, 2021, Online.
-- "Mapping Identity in Greece and Magna Gracia: the Case of Hephaistion." Twenty-first Batchelder Conference in Religious Studies and Archaeology, Nov. 16, 2019, Omaha, NE.
-- "Alexander and Hephaistion in Fiction after Stonewall." Annual Meeting, Association of Ancient Historians, April 25, 2019, Atlanta, GA: Special Session: Alexander's Afterlives.
-- "The Courts of Philip II & Alexander the Great, May "Mapping Identity in Greece and Magna Gracia: the Case of Hephaistion." Eighth International Alexander the Great symposium, May 3, 2018, Edmonton, CA.
-- "What’s in a Name?  Mapping 'Hephaistion' in Greece and Magna Gracia." Annual Missouri Valley History Conference, March 2, 2017, Omaha, NE.
-- "Appropriating Narratives of Empire: Alexander and the Destruction of the Branchidae." European Studies Conference, October 8, 2016, Omaha, NE.
-- "What's in a Name: 'Amyntor' and 'Hephaistion' in Macedonia." The Age of Alexander the Great Symposium, April 4, 2016, Brookings, SD.
-- "Appropriating Narratives of Empire: Alexander and the Destruction of the Branchidae." Batchelder Conference in Archaeology, November 13, 2015, Omaha, NE.
-- "Appropriating Narratives of Empire: Alexander and the Destruction of the Branchidae." Annual Missouri Valley History Conference, March 5, 2015, Omaha, NE.
-- "Appropriating Narratives of Empire: Alexander and the Destruction of the Branchidae." Sixth International Alexander the Great symposium, October 11, 2014, Salt Lake City, UT; invited paper.
-- "Aristocracy and Aristocratic Terminology in Argead Macedonia." Annual Missouri Valley History Conference, March 5, 2010, Omaha, NE.
-- "The Philoas Affair ... Again." Fourth International Symposium on Alexander the Great, April 3-5, 2008, Clemson, SC.
-- "Fire Bringer: Oliver Stone's Alexander." Annual Missouri Valley History Conference, March 5-7, 2005, Omaha, NE.
-- "Alexander as Icon: Some Socio-Political Contexts of Alexander the Great in Twentieth-Century Fiction." Second International Alexander the Great Symposium, January 20-22, 2005, Calgary, Alberta.
-- "Alexander as Icon: Some Socio-Political Contexts of Alexander the Great in Twentieth-Century Fiction." Classical Association of Atlantic States, October 9, 2004.
-- "Alexander as Icon: Some Socio-Political Contexts of Alexander the Great in Twentieth-Century Fiction." Annual Missouri Valley History Conference, March 4, 2004.
-- "Hephaistion, Alexander's Diplomatic-Logistical Wizard?" First International Alexander the Great symposium, January 18-19, 2002, Calgary, Alberta.
-- "Hephaistion, Alexander's Diplomatic-Logistical Wizard?" Annual Meeting, Association of Ancient Historians, May 2001, Lubbock, TX; Session 2: Makedonika panel.
-- "'What's your name again?' A Mystery at Alexander's Court." October 12, 2000, University of Nebraska at Omaha, history colloquium
-- "An Atypical Affair? Alexander the Great, Hephaistion Amyntoros, and the nature of their relationship" Annual Meeting, American Philological Association, December 1999, Dallas, TX.
-- "An Atypical Affair? Alexander the Great, Hephaistion Amyntoros, and the nature of their relationship" Spring Meeting of the Classical Association of Atlantic States, spring 2000. (accepted, but never presented for reasons of scheduling conflicts)
-- "Some New Thoughts on the Death of Alexander the Great" (with Eugene N. Borza). Annual Meeting, American Philological Association, December, 1998, Washington, DC.
 -- The Age of Alexander the Great Symposium, April 4, 2016, Brookings, SD; Session chaired: Medical Views on Alexander the Great
-- Annual Missouri Valley History Conference, March 3-5, 2016, Omaha, NE; Sessions chaired: Rome Ascendant, and Holy Sites and Battlefields in the Ancient Near East
-- Annual Missouri Valley History Conference, March 7, 2014, Omaha, NE; Session: Conquests in the Ancient Mediterranean World: Commentary on papers
-- Annual Missouri Valley History Conference, March 5, 2009, Omaha, NE; Session: Gender in the Ancient World, Myth and Practice: Commentary on papers
-- Annual Missouri Valley History Conference, March 6, 2003, invited commentator on: "Alexander the Great: Generalship at Gaugamela and Hydaspes" by C. J. Donewald

Jeanne Reames & ATGAcademic Areas for Publishing

(1) Argead Macedonia/Alexander the Great
(2) Greek & Macedonian religion
(3) Greek gender studies

Additional Areas of Teaching Interest

(1) Greek Military
(2) Ancient Near East (esp. Neo-Assyria) and pre-Islamic Persia
(3) Minoans and Bronze Age Cyclades
(4) Etruscans
(5) Early Christianity in the Greek and Roman World

Teaching Experience

Associate Professor, History, The University of Nebraska, Omaha (tenured) - 2000 to present
Affiliated Faculty, UNO Native American Studies Program - 2005 to present
Affiliated Faculty, Religious Studies - 2016 to present
Affilianted Faculty, UNO Goldstein Center for Human Rights - 2024 to present

World Civilization 1
 Greek History
 Alexander the Great and the Macedonian Origin
Greek Myth, Religion & Magic
 Mesopotamia and Pre-Islamic Persia
 Rome & the Early Church
Greek I (language)
 Historical Methodology (pre-printing press) Greek Battle Experience (senior seminar)
Race, Gender & Sex in Ancient Greece (grad seminar) Argead Macedonia (grad seminar) Neo-Assyria, Neo-Babylon & Achaemenid Persia (grad seminar)

Lecturer, The Pennsylvania State University - fall 1995 to summer 2000

Greek Civilization
 Roman Civilization
 Classical Mythology
Jewish and Christian Foundations
 Hebrew Bible
 World Religions

Instructor, Continuing Education, The Pennsylvania State University - 1995 to 2000
     -- Jewish and Christian Foundations

University Service & Honor Societies

At the University of Nebraska, Omaha:
--Chair, Undergraduate Committee, History (2021-2022)
--Director, Ancient Mediterranean Studies Program (2014-ongoing)
--Graduate Program Chair, History (2015-2020)
--Member, Education and Policy Committee (2018-2020)
--Member, Selection Committee for Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award (2017-2019)
--Member, Philosophy, 7-Year Review (2017)
--Missouri Valley History Conference Coordinator (2012-13)
--Book Exibit Coordinator, Missouri Valley History Conference (2010-11)
--Faculty Senate (2006-09)
--Faculty Senate: Academic and Curricular Affairs standing subcommittee, chair, spring 2009
-- Martin Fund, Newsletter & Recruitment Committees (history)
-- Member, Native American Studies faculty
--Coordinator, Richard Dean Winchell Lecture Series, History Department (2001-04)
-- Department of History website designer and maintainer (2004-present)
--Ad hoc committee on ancient foreign language acquisition

Honor Societies:
-- Eta Sigma Phi, Phi Alpha Theta, Phi Kappa Phi

Service to the Community and Profession

--"World Building in Historical Fiction," January 2025, National League of American Pen Women, Omaha branch
--"Jesus' World: Conversations with a Professor of the Ancient Mediterranean," Hanscom Park United Methodist Church, 4 week series, Wednesdays in October, 2020.
--"The Glory of Mycenaean Greece," August 2017, National League of American Pen Women, Omaha branch
--History Lecture series for Aksarben Senior Living Community (History of the Early Church, Alexander the Great, and Narratives of Empire in the Ancient Near East vs. the Greco-Roman West), June and July of 2016
--“Writing Historical Fiction,” May, 2014, National League of American Pen Women, Omaha branch
--“300: Rise of Empire – The History, Myths, and Context,” March 30, 2014, The Bookworm, free lecture for the public
--Occasional visiting lecturer for Omaha Public Schools.
--Reviewer or consultant for reviews on Oliver Stone's Alexander.
 * Consulted by Degen Pener and quoted in Out magazine, September 2004, 128-35
* Consulted by The History Channel as part of their preparation for their Hollywood vs. History episode on Alexander
* Consulted by Bob Fischbach for The Omaha World Herald in preparation for his film review
* Consulted by KLIN Radio, Lincoln for a brief interview on the film
* Consulted by KFAB Radio, a Clear Channel station, for a brief interview on the film
--Assistant to the Hebrew Bible Book Review Editor: Journal of Biblical Literature (7/97 - 12/99)
-- "Hephaistion - Philalexadros" - educational website