Mark Knowles

A love of Ray Harryhausen films, especially 'Jason and The Argonauts' and 'Clash of The Titans', alongside Hollywood swords-and-sandals epics ignited Mark Knowles' early passion for ancient history. As a result, his parents were treated to driving many miles up and down the country - and beyond - looking for ruins. Their patience was rewarded when he secured a place at Downing College, Cambridge, where he read degrees in Classics and Management Studies. After a decade working as a front-line officer and supervisor within the Metropolitan Police Service, he became Head of Classics at a school in Harrogate. He is a big fan of experimental archaeology and rowed on the reconstructed Ancient Athenian trireme ‘Olympias’ during her last sea trials in Greece in 1994.