We are deeply saddened to announce that Prof. Julian Bennett, faculty member at the Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Humanities and Letters since 1995, passed away on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. We wish to extend our condolences to the Bennett family and the entire Bilkent community.
Prof. Bennett was a distinguished archaeologist, scholar and educator who made lasting contributions to the study of Roman and Byzantine archaeology. He was a dedicated teacher and mentor, inspiring countless students with his passion and expertise.
Details of the commemoration ceremony will be announced soon. Please share condolences at taziye.bilkent.edu.tr.
Please read the obituary by the Department of Archaeology below:
Bilkent, 30/01/2025
In Memoriam Professor Julian Bennett (June 9, 1949 – January 29, 2025)
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Professor Julian Bennett, a dear friend, esteemed colleague and distinguished archaeologist, scholar and educator.
Having earned his PhD in Archaeology from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1991, Professor Bennett devoted his career to the study of Roman provincial and military archaeology as well as the archaeology and architecture of Late Roman and Byzantine Anatolia. Since joining Bilkent University in 1995, he played an integral role in shaping the understanding of ancient civilizations through both his teaching and extensive research. Over nearly three decades, he taught generations of students, inspiring many with his deep knowledge, charisma and unwavering passion for the ancient world. More than a teacher, he was a mentor to both undergraduate and graduate students, guiding many into successful careers in the study of the Roman and Late Antiquity periods. His impact on their intellectual development and professional paths is a testament to his remarkable ability to ignite curiosity and nurture scholarship.
A prolific writer, Professor Bennett authored monographs and articles on Roman and Medieval Britain and the Roman army. His highly regarded book, Trajan, Optimus Princeps (Routledge/Indiana University Press, 1997), remains a seminal work on the Roman emperor, with a second revised edition published in 2001 and translations into Romanian, Polish and most recently Italian.
Professor Bennett was also a dedicated field archaeologist, contributing to excavations in Britain, Germany, Romania and Türkiye. His expertise and passion for uncovering the past left a lasting impact on the field. His contributions were recognized when he was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 2002 and promoted to Full Professor at Bilkent University in 2024.
Professor Bennett’s legacy will live on in the many students he mentored, the colleagues he inspired and the invaluable scholarship he leaves behind. He will be deeply missed by his colleagues at the department, the archaeological community and all who had the privilege of knowing him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and children.
The funerary services will be held in the United Kingdom.
May he rest in peace.
The Archaeology Department
