# Hellenic Studies at CHS: Reflections from Mateu Portells Watson, Pre-doctoral Fellow in Hellenic Studies 2025–2026 May 08, 2026 The Center for Hellenic Studies is pleased to highlight the work of [Mateu Portells Watson, Pre-Doctoral Fellow in Hellenic Studies 2025–2026](https://greece.chs.harvard.edu/fellows/mateu-portells-watson). During his fellowship, which started on July 1, 2025, and will conclude on June 30, 2026, Mateu examined the role of free and enslaved migrants in the spread of Greek language and literature in late Republican Rome, challenging long-standing assumptions about social mobility, patronage, and political influence. In the guest post below, he reflects on his research and his experience as a CHS fellow, including formative visits to Ancient Olympia, Nafplio, and Washington, DC. ![Portrait of Mateu Portells Watson](/sites/g/files/omnuum7151/files/styles/hwp_3_4__480x640/public/2026-05/IMG_0604_0.jpeg?itok=3Gba46rf) For me, the biggest takeaway from the fellowship is the people. Every meeting, every talk, and every interaction at the CHS has become a memory that I will always cherish. ## Guest post by Mateu Portells Watson During the late Roman Republic, Greek language and literary forms became widespread in Rome. Both free individuals and people who were enslaved in conflict were involved in the process of cultural transfer from the Eastern Mediterranean towards the city of Rome. During my time as a pre-doctoral fellow at the CHS, I analysed how the experiences of these free migrants compared with those of literate enslaved people who were taken to Rome against their will. Based on a variety of sources, I have concluded that the experiences of both enslaved and free migrants had a fair amount in common but also exhibited important differences. Both groups participated in the Roman patronage system. They were expected to perform similar tasks for their patrons, which included teaching children, composing works of praise, and providing help with writing texts. On the other hand, formerly enslaved migrants tended to be associated with certain occupations and literary genres. For instance, they were often employed as grammarians but were hardly ever employed as rhetoricians. A noteworthy shift occurred in their political influence, which increased towards the end of the Republic. Importantly, I question the long-standing assumption that, thanks to their integration in aristocratic families, enslaved migrants had a networking advantage over freeborn migrants. On the one hand, there is evidence for several freeborn migrants who occupied privileged positions in the households of Roman aristocrats. On the other hand, cases like that of Tyrannio of Amisus, an important intellectual who was enslaved and released during the Mithridatic Wars, show that even a very short period of enslavement could alter the way an individual was perceived by the Roman elite. My experience at the CHS provided the perfect balance between individual research and group activities. During the research process, it was a pleasure to count on the continued support of my academic advisor, Prof. Efimia Karakantza, and to have access to the wonderful resources of the CHS Library. I am immensely grateful for the chance to attend three events organized by the CHS: the Sport and Education Program at Ancient Olympia, the Annual Research Workshop in Nafplio, and the Fellows’ visit to the CHS in Washington, DC. All these were fantastic opportunities to interact with a community of excellent scholars. I am also grateful to the CHS staff, who have been extremely helpful and very welcoming at all times. The whole fellowship was incredible, but there are a few moments worth singling out. Being guided around the archaeological site of Ancient Olympia and the museums there by experts on sport in antiquity was priceless. And, of course, the trip to Washington, DC was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I really enjoyed meeting the other fellows and am very grateful for their feedback—I will try my best to apply their insight to my future research! I will also never forget the beautiful places we visited, like Georgetown University, the U.S. Library of Congress, and the Dumbarton Oaks museum and gardens. Last but not least, the trip to DC was made even more special by the company of the other pre-doctoral fellows, so a big thank you to them too! For me, the biggest takeaway from the fellowship is the people. Every meeting, every talk, and every interaction at the CHS has become a memory that I will always cherish. I wish to thank everyone who has been a part of this experience. I am looking forward to being a part of the CHS community for years to come and to continue expanding our horizons together! ![Four people standing by a riverside railing at sunset in winter](/sites/g/files/omnuum7151/files/2026-05/IMG_1494.jpeg) Pre‑doctoral Fellows in Hellenic Studies 2025–2026 Mateu Portells Watson, Giorgos Athanasiadis, Panagiota Bantavanou, and Fellow in AI Ethics 2025–2026 Giannis Perperidis, by the Potomac River at winter sunset in Washington, DC. [ Learn about the Pre-doctoral Fellowships in Hellenic Studies arrow\_circle\_right ](https://greece.chs.harvard.edu/research-fellowships/hellenic-studies-predoc) See also:- [ Research Opportunities ](/activities-type/research-opportunities) - [ Ancient Greece ](/activities-field/ancient-greece) - [ Ancient Rome ](/activities-field/ancient-rome) - [ Humanities ](/activities-field/Humanities) Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#)