Catching Up With Arianna Winslow

At SASA, we love celebrating the people who bring our mission to life, and I had the pleasure of speaking to Arianna Winslow, who does just that. From her work with SASA as an archaeogaming volunteer to her current role as a travel journalist, archaeologist and writer, Arianna has continued to show how the passion for the ancient world can inspire new opportunities today.

Arianna’s love for archaeology didn’t begin in a museum or lecture hall – it began in her own garden, digging for hidden treasures. With a mother who worked as a marine biologist and a father in the US Government, Arianna grew up in an environment that valued travel, learning and exploration. A particular trip to Greece at age eleven, wandering through the Minoan ruins in Crete, fostered Arianna’s passion for Classics and the Mediterranean and laid the path for a future archaeologist.

After completing a Masters in Ancient History at the University of Manchester, Arianna now works as a journalist for TheTravel. She describes acting as an “intermediary between the public and the scholarly communities that focus on the ancient world” through making ancient studies accessible to general audiences while also ensuring her work retains its inherit academic nature. Her research focuses on the late Roman Republic and early Imperial period, and she’s currently developing a miniseries on tourism in the Roman world. Her recent work explores how Romans travelled for leisure, healing, and culture—covering topics like ancient souvenirs and visits to sacred healing sites. Through her writing, she not only sheds light on the sophisticated travel culture of ancient Rome but allows her readers to empathise with people of the past whose habits were very similar to ours.

Arianna was an active member of SASA’s archaeogaming team, her main focus being to source primary images for their educational lesson plans. One of her key projects was focused on Ancient Japan—something that resonated deeply with her. Having lived in Japan as a child, many of the images she uncovered felt very familiar. Although she hasn’t been back in some time, working on the Ancient Japan project for SASA brought a strong sense of nostalgia and personal connection to her research. 

When it comes to promoting Classics, Arianna stresses the importance of making it fun and accessible, especially for people outside of academic circles. “We need to meet people where they are” she said, through using language and resources that feel welcoming. That is one of the reasons she loves working with SASA. The archaeogaming team as a teaching tool aligns with her belief in creative, engaging education. She also places particular emphasis on recapturing “the wonder of studying history for an adult audience” and rekindling the novelty of how it felt as a child to immerse yourself in a history book and be fascinated by its findings. Arianna also highlights the importance of representation in the field, especially for women, people of colour, and LGBTQ+ community. She notes that many people still don’t see themselves reflected in the way history is often told.

Looking ahead, she hopes to write more articles about Roman travel and trade with India and Southeast Asia, and intends to pursue a PhD. She is also excited about the idea of writing historical fiction for children, helping young readers connect with the ancient world through storybooks.

And if she could time travel? Arianna would love to witness the mystery of the Bronze Age collapse, study the craftsmanship of Minoan clothing, sit in on a Roman dinner party, and walk the ancient streets of Puteoli. But for now, she continues to bring the ancient world to life through her own research and unwavering curiosity.

Interested in getting involved with SASA? We welcome support of all kinds—whether you're looking to volunteer, be an intern, or contribute in other ways. Visit this link to learn how you can join us in preserving and promoting ancient studies!

By Alice Connor