The Byzness, 9th October 2023
Oxford University Byzantine Society
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THE OXFORD UNIVERSITY BYZANTINE SOCIETY
The Byzness, 9th October 2023
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1. NEWS AND EVENTS
2. CALLS FOR PAPERS
3.
JOBS AND SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
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1. NEWS AND EVENTS
Dumbarton Oaks Papers Virtual Open House
The editors of Dumbarton Oaks Papers are pleased to announce a Virtual Open House on Wednesday, October 18, from 12:00–1:00pm EDT.
Join Colin Whiting and Nikos Kontogiannis for a conversation about Dumbarton Oaks Papers. We will cover the scope and current direction of DOP, the submission and review process, and tips for submitters. Following our discussion, there will be an open Q&A in which audience members are welcome to ask the editors any questions about the journal.`
The event will take place on Zoom; registration is required at the link below:
First Lecture in the 2023-2024 East of Byzantium Lecture Series
The Mary Jaharis Center for Byzantine Art and Culture and the Mashtots Professor of Armenian Studies at Harvard University are pleased to announce the first lecture in the 2023–2024 East of Byzantium lecture series.
Tuesday, October 17, 2023 | 12:00 PM EDT | Zoom
Daughter, Healer, Soldier, Spy: Finding Communities in the Medieval Middle Eastern Countryside
Reyhan Durmaz, University of Pennsylvania
The medieval Middle Eastern countryside was a dynamic space populated by groups uniting around powerful patrons, distinct religious practices, and a variety of languages. These groups, contrary to our expectations of a “community”, were often destabilized, negotiated, dismantled, and reconfigured. As a way to capture this dynamism, in light of literature and epigraphy, this talk explores a group of demographic categories that are often sidelined in our conventional taxonomies of medieval Middle Eastern society – such as rulers and subjects, clergy and lay people, elite and non-elite.
Reyhan Durmaz is an assistant professor of religious studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research focuses on the history of religion, especially Christianity, in the late antique and medieval Middle East.
Advance registration required. Register: https://eastofbyzantium.org/upcoming-events/
Contact Brandie Ratliff (mjc...@hchc.edu), Director, Mary Jaharis Center for Byzantine Art and Culture with any questions.
Byzantine Studies Lectures of the Institute of Historical Research (National Hellenic Research Foundation)
These lectures continue on October 16 with a hybrid lecture on:
The “Byzantine literary system”: Possibilities and limitations of an analytical tool (in Greek)
Panagiotis Agapitos, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
18:00 EET, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48, V. Constantinou Av. 11635, Athens.
To join via Zoom please follow the link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ne5jSwtOTwauB9El0_Sa6Q
The rest of the series program for the fall of 2023 is as follows:
20 November:
The renaissance of gold coinage in the late medieval Mediterranean and the Byzantine model
Cécile Morrisson, Centre national de la recherche
scientifique
18 December:
Survey ceramic assemblages as Byzantine household archaeology
Athanasios Vionis, University of Cyprus
A New Journal of Interest to Byzantinists
The Centre for Medieval Arts & Rituals of the University of Cyprus is in the very happy position to announce the online publication of its brand-new diamond open access journal Eventum: A Journal of Medieval Arts & Rituals. You can access its contents by following the journal’s link: https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/eventum.
Eventum is an interdisciplinary peer-reviewed, non-profit, and open access scholarly journal that is dedicated to the ritual dimensions of medieval arts, and to the overlaps between visual, literary, and performing works within the framework of various medieval rituals: religious, semireligious or profane. For Eventum’s purposes, the term ‘medieval’ is used in its broader sense, covering Byzantine, Western European, Coptic, Syriac, Hebrew, Arabic, Armenian, Georgian, and Slavic cultures from the 4th to the 15th centuries.
Warsaw Late Antique Seminar Series
Below is the programme of the Warsaw Late Antique Seminar Series for the forthcoming semester. Join either in person (Room 203 at the Faculty of Law, University of Warsaw) or online. The programme can also be found at the Seminar's website. Every week, an abstract of and a Zoom link to the forthcoming paper will be sent out.
12 X Lucy Grig (University of Edinburgh), Representations of the emperor in late antique popular culture
19 X Lieve Van Hoof (Ghent University), Libanius’ Oration for the Prisoners: A plea against social injustice
26 X Jakub Urbanik (UW), On the function of the Petition of Dionysia (P. Oxy. II 237)
9 XI Mateusz Fafiński (University of Erfurt), Monks or citizens: Monasticism and civic unrest in Edessa?
16 XI Marta Szada (Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń), Priesthood, Christian discipline and orthodoxy in the Opus imperfectum in Matthaeum
23 XI Julia Borczyńska (UW) / Karol Kłodziński (University of Gdańsk) / Mohammed Abid (Université de la Manouba, Tunis), Charakterystyka dotychczasowych odkryć epigraficznych z Mustis (Afryka Prokonsularna) ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem późnoantycznego carmen
30 XI Michael Hahn (Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich), Clerics at the hippodrome? Foucault’s heterotopia, spatial semantics, and the construction of norms in late antique church Communities
7 XII Ivan Foletti (Masaryk University, Brno), Experiencing the sacred in one's own skin: images and liturgy in late antique Rome
14 XII Eric Fournier (West Chester University), Anticipating disaster: Honorius, forbearance and the limits of religious coercion in late Roman North Africa
11 I Dobrochna Zielińska (UW), Holy mothers of the Nile Valley. Indigenous traditions in transition during the late antique and early Byzantine period
18 I Jim Walker (University of Zurich): Natural landscape and places of devotion intertwined: Merovingian Gaul under the lens
25 I Yaniv Fox (University of Bar Ilan), The limits of allegory: biblical exegesis and political commentary in Justus of Urgell and Caesarius of Arles
In Memoriam: Aristeides Papadakis
Please note the following obituary, commemorating Dr. Aristeides Papadakis (August 1, 1936-September 16, 2023). The text below is from the website of Devol Funeral Home, where friends and family can leave a message on the digital tribute wall.
"Dr. Aristeides Papadakis fell asleep in the Lord on September 16, 2023. He was born August 1, 1936, to Michael and Stephania Papadakis in Heraklion, Crete, Greece. He moved to New York City with his parents as a young child. He graduated from Holy Cross Orthodox Seminary in Brookline, Massachusetts and continued his studies at Fordham University earning a scholarship to study at Dumbarton Oaks in Washington D.C. After completing his PhD, he became a professor at the University of Maryland.
Professor Papadakis was a scholar of Byzantine, medieval, and religious history. He was the author of several books and many articles on the history and theology of the Eastern Orthodox church, which included being asked to act as editorial consultant and contributor to the Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. He participated and lectured at international conferences at the invitation of several universities and institutions, including the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences of the Vatican, the Harvard University Center for Byzantine Studies at Dumbarton Oaks, the University of London, University of Cyprus, and Fordham.
Aristeides is survived by his sister in law, Georgia, nieces Anna (David) and Xanthe, his nephew Michael (Carmen), great nephew Cole, and great niece Zoe (Niranjan).
He was a devoted member of the community of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Georgetown.
Friends and family will always remember Aristeides for his gracious manners and gentle spirit.
2. CALLS FOR PAPERS
Private Material Religion Across Cultures: ICS Postgraduate and Early Career Colloquium, 6 and 7 June 2024
Dear colleagues,
We are excited to announce a colloquium on private material religion hosted by the Institute of Classical Studies, University of London, on 6 and 7 June 2024. We would like to invite proposals from postgraduate students and early career academics in the field of archaeology. The colloquium will explore the boundaries and intersections between ‘private’ and ‘public’ religion in material culture. We invite submissions from a wide range of time periods and cultures across the ancient Mediterranean (broadly conceived). The colloquium thus aims to facilitate a cross-cultural perspective of ancient religious practice.
Most research on ancient material religion tends to focus on what is publicly displayed, centrally commissioned, and monumentalised. There is, however, a wealth of archaeological material also attesting to private and individualised religious rituals. These rituals could be conducted within the household or among small community groups, independent of the ‘state’. Although private religious practice often reflects the grammar of religious power visible in public religion, the context and social significance of the worship tends to be quite different. Religion could be practised within the household, by minority groups, and what can sometimes even be described as ‘magic’, all of which manifests itself in material culture in a manner distinct from the literary record.
We would like to invite abstracts guided by any of the following questions:
- What constitutes ‘private’ religious practice, and how, if at all, can we neatly separate this from public/state religion?
- How does ‘private’ religious practice, as it manifests itself in the material record, reinforce or challenge traditional structures of religious power?
- How spontaneous or independent were these examples of ‘private’ religion?
- How does ‘magic’ fit into our definitions of ‘private’ religious practice?
We are particularly interested in the elusive boundaries between what is ‘private’ and what is part of a wider communal and state-sponsored experience. The colloquium will offer an opportunity to interrogate these boundaries, intersections, and tensions between private and public religious practice, as they appear in the material record.
The colloquium is designed for in-person participation and discussion. We can, however, accommodate some remote speakers should they be unable to attend in person. Limited funding for travel to the colloquium may be available, especially for graduate students.
Papers will be twenty minutes, with ten minutes for questions. Lunches, refreshments, and dinner for the first night will be provided to speakers.
Please send abstracts of no more than 300 words to both nico...@postgrad.sas.ac.uk and timoth...@classics.ox.ac.uk by Friday 8 December.
Nicole Iu and Timothy Smith
Contributions Invited for STARINAR: Scientific Journal of the Institute of Archaeology in Belgrade
The journal Starinar is dedicated to topics in the areas of archaeology, history, history of arts, architecture and similar scholarly disciplines.
The journal Starinar started to be published in 1884 as a periodical publication issued by the Serbian Archaeological Society, and in 1950 it became the periodical of the Institute of Archaeology in Belgrade.
The journal Starinar publishes original papers that have not been published previously: original scientific articles, excavation reports, scientific reviews, book reviews, critical reviews, bibliographies, necrologies. Some issues of Starinar can be dedicated to emeritus researchers in the field of archaeology.
Starinar is an Open Access journal.
Articles can be submitted in English, German or French. If the paper is written in English, summary can be in Serbian (for authors from Serbia) or English (for international authors), while articles submitted in German or French need to have a summary in English.
Papers for Starinar have to be submitted to the editorial secretary and must be formatted in accordance with the Guidelines/Submission instructions for authors.
The Journal is issued once a year.
Online First option is applied in Starinar: an electronic version of an accepted manuscript is made available online after the Editorial Board accepts the manuscript for publishing and after the editing and proofreading procedure.
Journal Starinar publishes articles from the fields of archaeology, history, architecture, history of arts, classical philology, physical anthropology, etc.
If you require any additional information or have any questions about the journal, please visit the official website at: http://viminacium.org.rs/en/e-biblioteka/starinar/
3. JOBS AND SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
The Department of History and the Seeger Center for Hellenic Studies at Princeton University jointly invite applications for the position of Assistant Professor (tenure-track), Associate Professor (with tenure), or Professor (with tenure) in Byzantine history. We are especially interested in candidates whose work connects Byzantium to other areas, either geographically, through connections to the Islamic world, the Silk Road (i.e., Caucasus and Central Asia), or Slavic societies; or methodologically, including (but not limited to) environmental history, the study of material culture, or the history of science. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the teaching and research mission of the Department and the Seeger Center and participate in the intellectual life of the Hellenic Studies academic community at Princeton. The candidate should be prepared to offer undergraduate lecture courses, as well as upper-level undergraduate courses and graduate seminars. Review of files will begin on October 15, 2023 and continue until the position is filled. Applicants should provide a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and a brief statement (maximum 2 pages) of research interests. At least three names of referees should be entered into the online system. Reference letters and samples of written work will be solicited by the search committee for candidates of interest. For candidates who do not yet have a Ph.D., the recommendation of the principal advisor must include precise information on the present status of the dissertation and the likelihood of completion by summer 2024. We seek faculty members who will create a climate that embraces excellence and diversity, with a strong commitment to teaching and mentoring that will enhance the work of the Department and the Seeger Center, participate in Hellenic Studies activities on campus and at the Princeton Athens Center, and attract and retain a diverse student body. Applicants are welcome to include a brief description of how they would contribute to this goal in their cover letter. This position is subject to the University's background check policy. Apply online at https://www.princeton.edu/acad-positions/position/31761.Deadline: January 15, 2024
Eligibility: Ph.D. students and those who have earned the Ph.D. within the last 5 years with research projects focusing on the historical, political, and sociological dimensions of Eastern Orthodox religion from Late Antiquity to the present are eligible. The fields of study may include, but are not limited to religious studies, anthropology, history, philosophy, politics, law, and sociology. Open to all nationalities.
Terms: A stipend of $11,500 plus room and board in Loring Hall, and waiver of School fees. Meals, Monday through Friday, are provided at Loring Hall for the fellow. Fellows are expected to be engaged full-time in the supported research from early September 2024 to late May 2025, and are expected to participate in the academic life of the School. Any concurrent employment requires permission of the Director of the School. A final report is due at the end of the award period, and the ASCSA expects that copies of all publications that result from research conducted as a Fellow of the ASCSA acknowledge the support of the ASCSA and be contributed to the Gennadius Library.
Application: Submit an online application. An application consists of a curriculum vitae, description of the proposed project (up to 750 words), and two letters of reference to be submitted online. Applications should specifically reference the Gennadius Library or its holdings, as well as the proposed project’s relation to the history of the Orthodox Church. Student applicants must submit transcripts. Scans of official transcripts are acceptable.
Link to online application: https://ascsa.submittable.com/submit/271839/macricostas-fellowship
For more information: https://www.ascsa.edu.gr/research/gennadius-library/educational-programs/fellowships
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Alexander Sherborne
DPhil Candidate, Faculty of History
President, Oxford University Byzantine Society
http://oxfordbyzantinesociety.wordpress.com