Joonas Vanhala
FM, TM / MA, MTh
joonas.vanhala@utu.fi Arcanuminkuja 1 Turku Office: A390 ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7798-8668 |
Roman insults and stereotypes; Pompeian graffiti; Martial; Roman daily life; Roman epigraphy
In 2019 I graduated with a Master of Arts from University of Turku with a major in Latin philology and minors in Greek philology and education. Before that I had graduated with a Master of Theology from Åbo Akademi University in 2015, focusing mainly on the theology and the writings of the early Christian church.
I began my doctoral research in the fall of 2020. During the academic year 2021–2022 I was a fellow at the Finnish Institute in Rome. Since then I've worked on my PhD as a salaried researcher and with grants at the University of Turku. I'm also a member in a research project at the Finnish Institute in Rome.
My PhD research at the University of Turku focuses on ancient Roman insults and stereotypes in the poems of Martial and Pompeian wall inscriptions. The working title of my dissertaition is "From Stereotypes to Insults – Contextualizing Popular Invective in the poems of Martial and Pompeian Graffiti".
Our project led by professor Arja Karivieri at the Finnish Institute in Rome examines the history of Ostia, the harbour town of Rome, in late antiquity and in the early middle ages. My research focuses on the theater of Ostia and how the building was used during this late period.
Between 2023 and 2025 I edited, together with Maria Jokela, a book on Gaius Julius Caesar (Gaius Julius Caesar – Rooman diktaattorin monet kasvot, Gaudeamus, 2025). The book was awarded the prize for the best Finnish non-fiction book on a biographical topic by the magazine Kanava and Otava Literary Foundation.
In the spring term of 2024 I taught a course on the poetry of Martial. I've also given individual lectures on courses on Latin Epigraphy, Linguistic Landscapes, Everyday Life in Antiquity, and the Romes of Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages.
I taught Latin on the secondary, adult education and university levels between 2007 and 2024. I've given guests lectures on my research at various schools and events.
- Asterix-sarjakuvien Caesar (2025) Gaius Julius Caesar — Rooman diktaattorin monet kasvot Ulanto, Mirka; Jokela, Maria; Vanhala, Joonas
(A3 Refereed book chapter or chapter in a compilation book) - Epilogi: Caesarin vaikutus kautta aikojen (2025) Gaius Julius Caesar — Rooman diktaattorin monet kasvot Jokela, Maria; Vanhala, Joonas
(B2 Non-refereed book chapter or chapter in a compilation book) - Gaius Julius Caesar — Rooman diktaattorin monet kasvot2025 Jokela, Maria; Vanhala, Joonas
(C2 Editorial work for a scientific compilation book) - (2025) Gaius Julius Caesar — Rooman diktaattorin monet kasvot Vanhala, Joonas
(A3 Refereed book chapter or chapter in a compilation book) - Johdanto (2025) Gaius Julius Caesar — Rooman diktaattorin monet kasvot Jokela, Maria; Vanhala, Joonas
(B2 Non-refereed book chapter or chapter in a compilation book) - A Scato-sexual Message: The Secundinus Stone with Phallus from Vindolanda (2023)
- Britannia
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Kirja-arvio: Viestejä antiikin Pompejista: Ari Saastamoinen, Räävitöntä! – Pompejilaisia graffiteja. 2020. ISBN 978-952-345-068-4 (2023)
- Historiallinen Aikakauskirja
(B1 Non-refereed article in a scientific journal) - Antiikin herjauksia Roomasta ja Pompejista – stipendiaatin vuosi Villa Lantessa (2022)
- Fenestra Finnorum - Näköaloja Villa Lantesta
(E1 Popularised article) - Book review: Stefano Rocchi – Roberta Marchionni: Oltre Pompei: Graffiti e altre iscrizioni oscene dall’Impero Romano d’Occidente. Introduzione, testo, traduzione e commento filologico. The Seeds of Triptolemus 1. 2021. ISBN 978-88-89951-29-3 (2022)
- Arctos: Acta Philologica Fennica
(B1 Non-refereed article in a scientific journal) - Herjanheittoa vai verisiä loukkauksia? Solvaamisen monet muodot antiikin Roomassa (2021) Pyy Elina, Vanhala Joonas
(Other publication) - Roomalaisaikaiset herjaukset auttavat ymmärtämään vihapuhetta (2021)
- Elävää tiedettä
(E1 Popularised article) - Roomalaisia herjauksia ja stereotypioita (2020)
- Hiiskuttua: Turun yliopiston humanistisen tiedekunnan verkkolehti
(D1 Article in a professional journal)