LAOP MEMBERS

Professor of Ancient History at the University of São Paulo since 2008. He holds a PhD in Ancient History (Assyriology) from Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, under the supervision of Dominique Charpin.

Marcelo Rede earned his undergraduate degree in History from the University of São Paulo (1988), an MA in History from the Fluminense Federal University, under the supervision of Emanuel Bouzon (1994), and a Master 2 in Ancient History from Université Paris 1 (2000). Between 1999 and 2002, he undertook training in cuneiform epigraphy at the Louvre Museum under the supervision of Béatrice André-Salvini, publishing previously unpublished documents from the site of Tell Senkereh (Larsa). He also pursued studies in Sumerian, Akkadian, Near Eastern archaeology, and cuneiform law at the École du Louvre and the École Pratique des Hautes Études (Paris). From 1992 to 2008, he was Professor of Ancient History at Fluminense Federal University. Since 2011, he has been the founder and coordinator of LAOP-USP (Laboratory of the Ancient Near East). He was a Foreign Member of the HASAÉ Laboratory (Histoire et Archéologie du Sud-Ouest Asiatique et de l’Égypte, Nanterre) and is currently an Associate Member of the ANHIMA Laboratory (Anthropologie et Histoire des Mondes Antiques, Paris) and of RIIPOA (Red Iberoamericana de Investigadores en Próximo Oriente Antiguo).

He has served as Visiting Professor at Paris-Sorbonne University (2019) and Bordeaux-Montaigne University (2023), as Resident Researcher at the École Française de Rome (2022–2023), and as Invited Researcher at the Civilisation Mésopotamienne Chair of the Collège de France (2026). Since 2007, he has been a CNPq Productivity Research Fellow, Category B.

Thais Rocha da Silva is Professor of Ancient History at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Research Fellow at Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford, Associate Researcher at the Laboratoire ArScAn, UMR 7041, HASAÉ/CNRS team, and Visiting Professor in the Social History Graduate Program at the University of São Paulo (USP). She holds a PhD in Egyptology from the University of Oxford (2020) and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of São Paulo with the support of FAPESP (2020–2024). Her research focuses on domestic space and social practices in Egyptian settlements. She has been a visiting researcher at the universities of Cambridge, Leiden, and Vienna, the University of Chicago, and University College London. She coordinates the Being Egyptian project, in collaboration with Linda Hulin (Oxford) and the Egypt Exploration Society, as well as the Mudraya project. She is coordinator of the Brazilian Egyptology Group (NEB/UFMG) and the Laboratory of the Ancient Near East (LAOP/UFMG), and collaborates with several national and international research networks. Her publications focus on material culture, domestic space, gender, and the history of Egyptology.

Currently a Post-Doc Researcher at the Department of History of the University of São Paulo (USP) with a grant from the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, process no. 2024/19654-5). Is an associate member ("Chercheur associé") in the équipe Mondes sémitiques of the UMR 8167 Orient et Méditerranée at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS, France) since may 2024. Holds a Bachelor's degree (Laurea Triennale) in Archaeology (Scienze Archeologiche) from the Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza (2018), a Master's degree (Master 2) in History and Philology (Civilisations, cultures et sociétés) from the École Pratique des Hautes Études (Paris, 2020), and a PhD in Assyriology and Hittitology from the Università degli Studi di Napoli "L'Orientale" in co-tutorship with Sorbonne Université (Naples-Paris, 2024). Has experience in the field of Assyriology and Hittitology, with an emphasis on the History of the Ancient Near East and Cuneiform Epigraphy, mainly focusing on the following topics: Correspondence and Epistolography, Diplomacy in Antiquity and Communication in Antiquity.

Assistant Professor of Ancient History and Archaeology - FCSH, Universidade Nova de Lisboa (2025 - present). Researcher (CHAM-NOVA FCSH – 2019 - 2025); Integrated Researcher CHAM (Centro de Humanidades). Post. Doc. (FCT – Museu Nacional de Aqueologia/CHAM FCSH – Universidade Nova de Lisboa 2012 - 2017); CAARI Scholar in Residence Fellow (CAARI-Nicosia – 2021); Onassis Fellow (University of the Aegean, Rhodes – 2018); PhD in Egyptology, Universität Basel (2010). Director of the archaeological project “Akragas: The Quarter of Gate II” - Parco Archeologico e Paesaggistico della Valle dei Templi, Agrigento (2023-present). Interests: Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology (Iron Age); Egyptology; Aegyptiaca; Glyptic; Ancient Egyptian Grammar; Hellenistic World; Phoenician-Punic Epigraphy.

Andréa Vilela is member of the LAOP and fellow researcher at Archéorient – UMR 5133 (CNRS, Lyon – France). She has a PhD in Languages, History and Civilizations of the Ancient Worlds (University Lumière Lyon 2, 2021) and has been qualified to apply to the function of Maître de Conférences in France (CNU Section 21, n 22221372167 [2022-2026]). She has a Graduation in History (University Jean Moulin Lyon 3, 2009), a Master’s Degree in Archeology and History of the Ancient Worlds (University Lumière Lyon 2, 2011), and a Certificate of Akkadian Language (Institut Catholique de Paris, 2013). She attended to classes and seminars from the École du Louvre and the École Pratique des Hautes Études (Paris, 2011-2013). She lectured at University Lumière Lyon 2 (2017-2021), teaching disciplines of “Akkadian Languages”, “Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East” and “Languages of the Ancient Near East”. She was a Postdoctoral fellow at the Department of History of the University of São Paulo (2022-2025), with a funding from the FAPESP (n° 2022/01388-1), where she lectured disciplines of Akkadian. Her research focuses on cuneiform sources in Sumerian and Akkadian, with an emphasis on animal representations and interactions between human populations and their environment through a multidisciplinary approach including archaeozoology and ethology.

Leandro holds a PhD in Sciences (Social History program) from the Faculty of Philosophy, Literature, Languages, and Human Sciences (FFLCH) from the University of São Paulo (USP). He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education at the School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities (EACH) from USP and a Master's Degree in Sciences, Sports Studies, at the School of Physical Education and Sport (EEFE) from USP. He was postdoctoral (2019-2022) and research fellow (2022-2024) at FFLCH-USP. He did a research internship at Sapienza Università di Roma (2016-2017) and was a Visiting Scholar at the University of Cambridge (2020). Topics of interest: Ancient History, History of Mesopotamia, History and historiography of Assyria, History and material and visual culture, History of the body, gestures and bodily senses in Antiquity.Doctoral Scholarship grant #2014/22125-2, São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP); Research Internship Abroad Scholarship (BEPE) grant #2016/02241-2, São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP); Postdoctoral Scholarship grant #2018/13540-7, São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP); Research Internship Scholarship Abroad (BEPE) #grant: 2019/16055-5, São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP).

Professor of Archaeology of Antiquity at the State University of Rio de Janeiro, he holds a PhD in Social History from the School of Philosophy, Letters and Human Sciences at the University of São Paulo (FFLCH-USP), where he received an honorable mention in the Social History Award (2017–2018) of the Graduate Program in Social History. He completed a doctoral research fellowship at the École Française de Rome with a CAPES/PDSE scholarship (2017). He holds a BA and a teaching degree in History from FFLCH-USP, as well as a Bachelor of Laws from the University of São Paulo Law School. He conducted postdoctoral research in the Department of History at FFLCH-USP with funding from FAPESP (Grant No. 2022/07801-8), and was a Visiting Researcher at Sapienza Università di Roma, also with support from FAPESP (Grant No. 2023/01822-6). He is a member of the Middle Persian Studies, Núcleo de Estudos da Antiguidade, Grupo Colaborativo de Estudos do Egito Persa, and Núcleo de Egiptologia Brasileira: Materialidades no Egito Antigo research groups. He currently serves as International Deputy Director of the Mudraya group, affiliated with Achemenet. He coordinates the Parsa Achaemenid Studies Group and serves as an editor of the journals Revista Mundo Antigo em Resenha, Revista Heródoto, and Revista Nearco. His research focuses on the History and Archaeology of Antiquity—particularly Western Asia, Classical Antiquity, Persian Egypt, and the Achaemenid Empire—as well as Law and Heritage, Legal History, Civil Law, Data Protection, Business Law, and Capital Markets.

PhD student in Social History in a dual-degree program between the Faculty of Philosophy, Letters and Human Sciences at the University of São Paulo (FFLCH-USP), supervised by Professor Marcelo Rede, and Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, supervised by Professor Philippe Clancier. Funded by a FAPESP scholarship (no. 2024/03481-4). Holds a Masters in Social History from FFLCH-USP, supervised by Professor Marcelo Rede and Professor Fábio Augusto Morales — dissertation awarded honorable mention. Support from a FAPESP scholarship (no. 2020/04735-9) and a Research Internship Abroad (BEPE, FAPESP no. 2021/09825-9). Earned a Bachelors degree and a teaching license (licentia docendi) in History from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC). Member of the Ancient Near East Research Group (LAOP) at USP, the center of Anthropologie et Histoire des Mondes Antiques (ANHIMA), and the Global Ancient History Group (MITHRA) at UFSC.

PhD candidate in Social History at the Faculty of Philosophy, Languages and Literature, and Human Sciences of the University of São Paulo (FFLCH-USP), supervised by Professor Marcelo Rede, PhD (USP) and Professor Thais Rocha da Silva, PhD (UFMG), with the research project "Those who cross the territory: Medjay and Egyptians during the Middle Kingdom and their identity constructions (1985 - 1650 BCE)" (CAPES 88887.967737/2024-00). Master's in Social History from the Faculty of Philosophy, Languages and Literature, and Human Sciences of the University of São Paulo (FFLCH-USP), supervised by Professor Marcelo Rede, PhD, with the research project "Negotiating identities: Egyptian expansion and Nubia under the 18th Dynasty (1550-1425 BCE)" (FAPESP 2019/1541-0). Bachelor's degree in History from the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (2018). Member of the research group LAOP - Ancient Near East Laboratory at the University of São Paulo. Has experience in History, emphasizing Ancient History.

PhD candidate in Social History at the Faculty of Philosophy, Letters and Social Sciences of the University of São Paulo (FFLCH), under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Marcelo Rede, with the research project "Famine, Food Management and Production in the Paleo-Babylonian Period". Bachelor's degree in History (2019) and Master's degree in Social History (2024) from the Faculty of Philosophy, Letters and Social Sciences of the University of São Paulo (FFLCH), under the supervision of Professor Dr. Marcelo Cândido da Silva. CAPES doctoral scholarship holder.

PhD candidate in Social History at the University of São Paulo (FFLCH-USP), specializing in Ancient History. His research examines the textually mediated transformation from Yahwism to Judaism within the Achaemenid-Hellenistic transition (5th–1st century BCE), investigating Judean historiography under the Ptolemaic and Seleucid empires. He holds an MA in Metaphysics and a BA (with a Teaching Degree) in History from the University of Brasília (UnB). A member of the Ancient Near East Laboratory (LAOP-USP), his research interests include the history of Yahwism, Second Temple Judaism, Hellenistic historiography, and Biblical studies.

Master's student in Social History at the Faculty of Philosophy, Languages and Human Sciences of the University of São Paulo (FFLCH), under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Marcelo Rede, conducting the research "The Image of the Goddess Inanna-Ishtar in the Second Half of the Third Millennium BCE." Bachelor's degree in History from the University of São Paulo (FFLCH-USP). CAPES master's scholarship holder.

Master’s student in Social History at the University of São Paulo (FFLCH – USP), under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Marcelo Rede, conducting research entitled “Memory and Political Change: Constructing the Past in Babylonian Temples (7th–2nd Centuries BCE),” funded by Fapesp.

Mestrando em História Social (FFLCH-USP) sob orientação do Prof. Dr. Marcelo Rede, com a pesquisa de tema "A Assíria no Centro do Mundo: A transformação da ideologia imperial no reinado de Senaqueribe (705-681 AEC)". Bacharel e Licenciado em História (FFLCH-USP), tendo realizado pesquisa de iniciação científica com bolsa FAPESP. Tem o período Neoassírio como interesse de pesquisa principal.

Master’s student in Social History at the Faculty of Philosophy, Languages, and Literature, and Human Sciences of the University of São Paulo (FFLCH - USP), under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Marcelo Rede and co-supervision of Prof. Thais Rocha da Silva (UFMG), with the research project “Material Culture, Kinship, and Social Transformation: Social Groups, Production, and Circulation of the Stelae of the Serapeum of Memphis during the Reign of Darius I (522–486 BCE).” Fapesp Master’s Scholarship Recipient (Fapesp Application No. 2025/02177-2). Member of the Ancient Near East Laboratory (LAOP - USP). Holds a Bachelor’s and Teaching Degree in History from FFLCH - USP. He was a CNPq Undergraduate Research Fellow under the supervision of Prof. Thais Rocha da Silva, with the research entitled: “Stelae and the registers of Kinship Memory in Deir el-Medina during the 19th dinasty”.

M.A. in Social History and B.A. in History from the University of São Paulo (FFLCH-USP). In 2026, his master's thesis, “Daily Life and Sociabilities in Rural Mesopotamia: Deportees under Neo-Babylonian and Persian Empires (6th–5th Centuries BCE),” received first place in the Prêmio de História Social awarded by USP’s Graduate Program in Social History (PPGHS-USP). He is currently a teacher in Basic Education.

M.A. in Social History from the Graduate Program in Social History at the University of São Paulo (USP), with research focused on the historiography of Ancient Israel and Judah and on biblical studies. B.A. in History from the School of Philosophy, Letters and Human Sciences at the University of São Paulo (FFLCH-USP) and Teaching Degree in History from the School of Education at the University of São Paulo (FE-USP). B.A. in Theology from the Center for Education, Philosophy and Theology at Mackenzie Presbyterian University. Completed a Research Internship Abroad funded by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. Member of the Ancient Near East Laboratory at the University of São Paulo. Editor of History textbooks at the Mackenzie Presbyterian Institute. Research interests include Ancient Israel and Judah, Second Temple Judaism, Old Testament Theology, and Memory Studies. Professional experience in History, with an emphasis on Ancient History and Biblical Studies.

Master's degree in Social History from the Faculty of Philosophy, Letters and Human Sciences at the University of São Paulo, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Marcelo Rede and co-supervision of Prof. Dr. Carlos Gonçalves. Master's thesis: "That is the procedure: the formation of procedure texts and the transition between Mesopotamian mathematical cultures from the Early Dynastic to the Old Babylonian". Holds a Licentiate degree in Mathematics and a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from the Institute of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of São Paulo.

Graduanda em História na Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas da Universidade de São Paulo (FFLCH-USP) e membro do Laboratório do Antigo Oriente-Próximo (LAOP-USP). Como bolsista PIBIC-CNPq, realiza a pesquisa de Iniciação Científica “Os crimes em Antígona: expectativas e rupturas sociais na tragédia de Sófocles” sob a orientação do Professor Marcelo Rede.

Undergraduate student in History at the Faculty of Philosophy, Languages and Human Sciences of the University of São Paulo (FFLCH-USP) and member of the Ancient Near East Laboratory (LAOP-USP). Is conducting the research project "Minoan identity and social transformations in Sissi, Crete: Analysis of burials as expressions of identity from early to middle bronze age" as a fellow PIBIC-CNPq, under the supervision of professor Marcelo Rede.