Charles Howley

Charles Howley is a first year PhD student in Iranian Studies. He completed his BA in Literae Humaniores at the University of Oxford, where he first gained an interest in Achaemenid Persia, writing an Optional Thesis on the Elephantine Papyri, and learning both Old Persian and Imperial Aramaic over Zoom alongside his studies. He then completed an MSt in Oriental Studies, also at Oxford, co-supervised by Professors Peter Thonemann and Yuhan Vevaina, where he continued with Aramaic and learned both Young and Old Avestan. His interests centre on Gender, Sexuality and Religion at the Achaemenid court, links between Mesopotamian and Achaemenid religious and courtly traditions, and the religious and social roles of eunuchs in Achaemenid courtly culture. He is eager to develop his knowledge of the broader pre-Islamic Iranian world at UCLA, and improve his knowledge of Middle Iranian languages, along with his understanding of Mesopotamia and the Ancient Near East.