Peter John Rhodes, (10 August 1940 – 27 October 2021), usually cited as P. J. Rhodes, was a British academic and ancient historian. He was Professor of Ancient History at the University of Durham. He specialized in Ancient Greek politics and political institutions.

Early life and education

Rhodes was born on 10 August 1940 to George Thomas Rhodes and Elsie Leonora Rhodes (née Pugh). He was educated at Queen Elizabeth's School, an all-boys grammar school in Barnet, London. He then studied classics at Wadham College, Oxford, and graduated with a double first Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree and a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) degree. His doctoral supervisors were David Malcolm Lewis and G. E. M. de Ste. Croix.

Academic career

In 1965, Rhodes became a lecturer in Classics and Ancient History at the University of Durham, in England. He was promoted to senior lecturer in 1977, and appointed Professor of Ancient History in 1983. He retired in 2005, becoming professor emeritus. Rhodes held a number of visiting fellowships; Wolfson College, Oxford (1984), University of New England, Australia (1988), Corpus Christi College, Oxford (1993), and All Souls College, Oxford (1998). He served as president of the Classical Association from 2014 to 2015. His major works include the definitive modern treatment of the Athenian Council (or Boule), the now standard commentary on the constitutional treatise on Athens produced by Aristotle or under his supervision (the Athenaion Politeia), and a general book on Athens’ overseas empire. Rhodes was an active member of the University College Durham Senior Common Room, and its Chapel, singing in the Choir for over forty years.

Personal life

In 1971, Rhodes married Jan Teresa Adamson; they divorced in 2001. He died suddenly on 27 October 2021, in Durham, at the age of 81. A memorial service was to be held for him at Durham Cathedral on 23 November 2021.

Honours

In 1987, Rhodes was elected a Fellow of the British Academy (FBA), the UK's national academy for the humanities and the social sciences. In 2005, he was made a Foreign Member of the Royal Danish Academy. On 18 May 2015, he was awarded the Chancellor's Medal of Durham University in recognition of his "outstanding and continuing contribution to the discipline and the University".

Selected works

Translated and edited ancient authors Edited