Proba: The Story of the First Christian Woman Poet

The objective of this project is to complete the monograph "Proba: The Story of the First Christian Woman Poet," which is to be published in Oxford University Press's Women in Antiquity series. Proba was a Roman poet from the fourth century who belonged to a politically influential senatorial family.

Her education in grammar, rhetoric, and biblical scriptures is reflected in her Christian epic, Cento Vergilianus, the earliest known literary work by a Christian woman.

The poem, written as a cento (Latin for patchwork), rearranges verses from Virgil’s "Eclogues", "Georgics", and "Aeneid" to retell biblical events. It is framed by prologues, digressions, and a concluding epilogue where the author reveals herself.

The work has been preserved in over a hundred medieval and early modern manuscripts, and Proba was frequently cited in discussions about women's education. "Proba: The Story of the First Christian Woman Poet" is intended to be a scholarly biography exploring Proba's life, works, socio-cultural context, and literary legacy.

The applicant has previously conducted research on Proba and is now applying for a six-month research period, from January to July 2025.

During this time, two research visits are planned at the Oxford Centre for Late Antiquity and the Classical Centre at Corpus College, Oxford University, for academic exchange and to finalize the manuscript. The manuscript will be edited and proofread during the autumn, with a submission deadline of March 1, 2026.