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John Tristan Barnes

John Tristan Barnes

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ADDRESS
Department of Classics 1116B McClung Tower University of Tennessee Knoxville, TN 37996-0413
Phone
(865) 974-5383

John Tristan Barnes

Teaching Associate Professor

Research Interests

Ancient Astronomy; Late Bronze and Early Iron Age Aegean Archaeology; Social Structures and Collective Identities in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean

Education

  • Ph.D. in Classical archaeology (University of Missouri Columbia, 2016)
  • M.A. in Classics (University of Missouri Columbia, 2010)
  • M.A. in Classical Archaeology (University of Missouri Columbia, 2008)
  • B.A. in Classics and Anthropology (Centre College, 2005)

Selected Publications

  • forthcoming. (co-authored with F. Hildebrandt, R. Morais, and D. Wallace-Hare). “On the Theme of Katasterismoi — An Attic white-ground lekythos with the figure of Krotos.” in Myths, Gods and Heroes: Greek Vases in Portugal, edited by R. Morais, R. Manuel, S. Centeno, and D. Ferreira. University of Coimbra.
  • under review. “The Disparity and Perception of Power: Thoughts on Hittite Political Perceptions of Ahhiyawa.”
  • in progress. “The LM I Metal Workshop (Block Em),” to appear as chapter in Gournia site publication.
  • in progress. “The Bow of Odysseus and Penelope Polutropos.” (co-author with R. Habib)
  • 2019. (co-authored with D. Eveley, S. Gallimore, and M. Jansen). “Metals and Metallurgy in Neopalatial Gournia.” Kentro 22: 5-9. [invited submission]
  • 2014. “Asteras Eipein: An Archaic View of the Constellations from Halai,” Hesperia 83: 257-276. covered by National Geographic, June, 2016
  • 2013. “Gift-Exchange and Seaborne Contact in Eighteenth Dynasty Egypt: The Case of Keftiu Artists at Tell el-Dab‘a (Avaris),” Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections 5.1: 1-13. [invited submission]
  • 2010. Introduction to The Odyssey, translated by S. Butler, 7-21. Columbia: Mizzou Media, The University Bookstore.
  • 2008. “Uncovering a Roman Artemis,” MVSE 36-8: 35-43.

Presentations

  • 2025. “The Sky’s the Limit: Teaching Ancient Astronomy in a Modern Planetarium.” Invited paper for the panel “Teaching in the Wild: Beyond the Traditional Classroom.” Paper read at the 121st Annual Meeting of the Classical Society of the Middle West and South (CAMWS), 20 March, Champaign-Urbana.
  • 2022. “Written in the Stars: Practical Astronomy in Ancient Greece.” Public lecture for the East Tennessee Society chapter of the Archaeological Institute of America, April 26, Knoxville.
  • 2020. “Back to Basics: Ancient Technologies and Invisible Histories.” Invited paper for the panel “Going beyond the text: Incorporating experiential learning in Classics courses.” Paper read at the 116th Annual Meeting of the Classical Society of the Middle West and South (CAMWS), 30 May, online (formerly Birmingham).
  • 2020. “Practical Astronomy in Ancient Greece.” Paper read for the Smokey Mountain Astronomical Society, 10 January, Knoxville. [invited  community lecture]
  • 2019. “Penelope Polutropos and the Bow of Odysseus.” Paper read at the 115th Annual Meeting of the Classical Society of the Middle West and South (CAMWS), 6 April, Lincoln.
  • 2018. “An LM IA Metal Workshop at Gournia.” Paper read at the 119th Annual Meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America / Society for Classical Studies (AIA/SCS), 7 January, Boston.
  • 2017. “Early Constellations and Astronomical Knowledge in Ancient Greece.” Invited paper read for the Art History Association at Old  Dominion University, 28 November, Norfolk.
  • 2017. “Thoughts on the Appearance of Carian Social Groups in the Early Iron Age Bodrum Peninsula.” Paper read at the 118th Annual Meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America / Society for Classical Studies (AIA/SCS), 8 January, Toronto.
  • 2014. “Ancestors and Territory in the Funerary Landscape of the Late Bronze Age Southeast Aegean.” Paper read at the 115th Annual Meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America / American Philological Association (AIA/APA), 4 January, Chicago.
  • 2013. “Greece in the Ancient World and Today,” Invited guest lecture for ARH 3130: Survey of Greek Art and Archaeology at Florida State   University, 30 August, Tallahassee.
  • 2012. “An Early Astronomical Painting: Constellations on an Archaic Drinking Vessel,” Paper read at the 5th International Conference on  Mediterranean Studies, Athens Institute for Education and Research (ATINER), 4 April, Athens.
  • 2012. “Asteras Eipein: An Archaic View of the Constellations from Halai,” Paper read at the annual Tea Talk series, American School of Classical Studies at Athens, 19 January, Athens.
  • 2011. “‘Greece’ and Its Historical Context,” Invited guest lecture for ARH 3130: Survey of Greek Art and Archaeology at Florida State  University, 2 September, Tallahassee.
  • 2009. “The Best-Laid Plans of Men: Utopian Grids and Dystopian Rings,” Paper read at the Eugene Lane Occasional Papers in Ancient Studies, University of Missouri, 25 February, Columbia.
  • 2008. “The Aegean Kingship: Views from the Bronze Age East,” Paper read at the 17th Art History and Archaeology Graduate Student Symposium, University of Missouri, 1 March, Columbia.
  • 2008. “The Validity of Kingship: Perceptions of the Aegean in the Ancient Near East and Egypt,” Paper read at the Eugene Lane Occasional  Papers in Ancient Studies, University of Missouri, 14 February, Columbia.

Teaching

  • CLAS 111 (Beginning Latin I)
  • CLAS 150: Latin Transition
  • CLAS 201 (Introduction to Classical Civilization)
  • CLAS 253 (Greek and Roman Literature in Translation)
  • CLAS 254 (Greek and Roman Epic in English Translation)
  • CLAS 273 (Medical Terminology)
  • CLAS 299 (Research Practicum in Classics)
  • CLAS 340 (Greek and Roman Athletics)
  • CLAS 345 (Greek and Roman Religion)
  • CLAS 381 (Greek Civilization)
  • CLAS 389: Ancient Astronomy
  • CLAS 386: Inventing Barbarians
  • CLAS 436 (Cities and Sanctuaries in the Greek and Roman World)
  • CLAS 461: Greek and Roman Warfare
  • CLAS 593: Archaeoastronomy Methods and Practices / Ancient Mediterranean Astronomy and Archaeoastronomy

Employment

  • Teaching Associate Professor, Department of Classics, University of Tennessee Knoxville, 2020-present
  • Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of World Languages and Cultures, Old Dominion University, 2017-2018

Service

  • President, East Tennessee Society chapter of the Archaeological Institute of America (2021-2022)
  • Vice-President, East Tennessee Society chapter of the Archaeological Institute of America (2020-2021)