The Materiality of Divine Agency in the Graeco-Roman World, Postgraduate Workshop Aug. 29th – Sept. 2nd 2016, Max-Weber-Kolleg,University of Erfurt
The workshop aims to investigate archaeological evidence and textual sources in a comparative way to unearth the multiplicity and richness with which divine agency is depicted in narratives, religious practices and ideas, as well as in iconographical evidence. It engages closely with an extensive methodological and thematic agenda that focuses on all aspects of the materiality of divine agency in Classical antiquity. More specifically, this year’s postgraduate workshop sets out to explore processes of embodying, objectifying, portraying physically and, more generally,grounding the divine and its agency in our rather limited sensual perception.Following in the steps of recent scholarly studies on the iconicity,aniconicity and hybridity of the divine in the classical world, the workshop castsits net wider so as to include religious action taking place in the so-calledmargins of urban religious activities, such as magic and healing. Moreover,ritual action focused on statues and material objects (votives, amulets, defixiones)and other processes that ensure a successful communication with the divine will receive extra attention in our discussions.
Speakers : Dr. Emma Aston (Reading), Prof. Nicola Denzey-Lewis(Brown), Dr. Esther Eidinow (Nottingham), Dr. Georgia Petridou (MWK, Erfurt),Dr. Anna-Katharina Rieger (MWK, Erfurt), Prof. Jörg Rüpke (MWK, Erfurt), Prof.Ian Rutherford (Reading), Prof. Amy Smith (Reading), Prof. Greg Woolf (ICS, London).
Participants are encouraged to present their own work too, provided that it is related to the general theme of the workshop.
Target audience: M.A., Ph.D. and post-doctoral students from Classics,Archaeology, Religious Studies, Ancient Judaism, Ancient History, History ofArt, and Theology are invited to participate. We would be able to accommodate up to 20 participants. All lectures and seminars will be conducted in English.Knowledge of ancient languages (Latin, Greek, Hebrew, etc.) is desirable, but not essential.
Applications: All materials will be prec-irculated. Participants are encouraged to present their own work at the workshop, provided that it is related to the general theme. If you decide to do so, please include in your application a brief research statement. There will be a participation fee of 100 Euro covering the costs of the reader, coffee breaks etc. Inexpensive accommodation on campus (ca. 20-30 Euros per night) is available and can be booked by the organisers.
Deadline: Applications should reach Ms Ursula Birtel-Koltes (ursula.birtel-koltes@uni-erfurt.de)by the 31st of May 2016. Please include a brief CV and a list of publications, if applicable.
Venue: Max Weber Kolleg, University of Erfurt.
Organizers: Dr.Georgia Petridou ( georgia.petridou@uni-erfurt.de ) and Dr. Anna-Katharina Rieger ( anna-katharina.rieger@uni-erfurt.de ).
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Dr Georgia Petridou
Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin
Max-Weber-Kolleg für kultur- und sozialwissenschaftliche Studien
Universität Erfurt
Postfach 900221
99105 Erfurt
Besucheradresse:
Nordhäuser Str. 74
99089 Erfurt
Forschungsgebäude 1 (Haus 27 - Gelände Helios Klinikum),
Raum 0208 Tel. +49(0)361/737-2883