Frank Lee Holt
Professor (Europe, Ancient, Greek and Roman)
536 Agnes Arnold Hall
(713) 743-3127
fholt@uh.edu

Dr. Holt (MA, PhD University of Virginia) is one of the world’s leading authorities on Alexander the Great, Hellenistic Asia, and numismatics. He has published five books and nearly fifty articles. His research has been featured on The History Channel and has frequently been cited in such places as National Geographic, Smithsonian, BBC Current Affairs, and The New Republic. He is also a prolific writer for the public, with essays appearing in Newsweek, Archaeology Magazine, History Today, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Saudi Aramco World, and other widely read publications. A popular speaker, Dr. Holt has lectured worldwide for academic and general audiences. He currently serves as the department’s Director of Graduate Studies and sits on the university’s Research Council.

Teaching:
Dr. Holt has twice received the University Teaching Excellence Award, as well as the CLASS Master Teacher Award and numerous other classroom honors. Dr. Holt’s undergraduate and graduate courses include Early Civilizations, Greek History, Roman History, Alexander the Great, Hellenistic History, and Numismatics.

Research
Dr. Holt has devoted much of his career to two great frontiers, one of subject matter and the other of methodology. In subject matter, his work pushes far beyond the familiar centers of classical culture such as Athens and Rome to explore the vigorous edges of ancient civilizations in places like Afghanistan. He has achieved this by developing innovative numismatic methodologies, now called the new frontier of Ancient Studies, to write histories where traditional literary sources do not survive. This research has earned several awards, including the Aristotle Prize from Greece. His most recent study of Alexander’s eastern campaigns has been incorporated into the curriculum of the new National Military Academy of Afghanistan.

Selected Publication:
Into the Land of Bones: Alexander the Great in Afghanistan (University of California Press, 2005).

Alexander the Great and the Mystery of the Elephant Medallions (University of California Press, 2003).

Thundering Zeus: The Making of Hellenistic Bactria (University of California Press, 1999).

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