Ana Patricia Estácio

e-mail | a-patricia@campus.ul.pt

Ana Patrícia Dinis Estácio holds a Bachelor’s degree in History from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Lisbon (2019) and a Master’s degree in History, specialising in Medieval History, from the same institution (2022), with a dissertation entitled “The Faces of Merlin in British Culture and Literature (12th–15th centuries)”, graded 18 out of 20. Her Master’s dissertation, focused on the matière de Bretagne and medieval themes of the féerie and mirabilia, is, to date, her most significant written work. She is currently awaiting the publication of an article dedicated to the same marvellous world of the Middle Ages in a specialised scientific journal (Medievalista On-line), exploring the supernatural between the 11th and 16th centuries from the perspective of popular culture, based on archaeological records from Eastern and Southern Europe. A key milestone in her early research career is her inclusion in the BODY&SOUL project (Representations of the Body and Soul in Portugal in the Middle Ages: The Imaginary of a Western Civilisation in Formation). Being invited to join the research team for this project, hosted and funded by the History Centre of the University of Lisbon, stands as a testament to the recognition of both her research skills and academic potential, further validated by reference letters from faculty members she worked closely with during her studies. Her participation in a collaborative research project of BODY&SOUL‘s nature has greatly contributed to her immersion in a specialised academic environment, fostering connections with both fellow early-career researchers and established scholars—an experience that will undoubtedly enrich her doctoral thesis and refine her historiographical methodologies. Within the project, she actively works on the theme of eternal youth, with results being presented at various academic conferences, several of which are already scheduled. Her academic background also highlights her fluency in English and the portion of her studies dedicated to English studies, skills that have led her to prioritise English-language texts as primary sources in her academic and scientific work—both in her recently completed Master’s dissertation and in her newly initiated doctoral thesis. Furthermore, her participation in extracurricular activities demonstrates the consistency of her cultural and historiographical interests, particularly in medieval studies from the perspective of cultural history and the history of representations. She is especially keen on deepening the connections between history, literature, and imagination.