The Byzness, 14th February 2024
Oxford University Byzantine Society
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THE OXFORD UNIVERSITY BYZANTINE SOCIETY
The Byzness, 14th February 2024
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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
Byzantine Greek: The Weight of the Past, the Challenges of the Present (Lecture)
The Byzantine Studies Lectures of the Institute of Historical Research (National Hellenic Research Foundation) continue on Monday February 19 with a hybrid lecture on:
Byzantine Greek: The weight of the past, the challenges of the present [in Greek]
Martin Hinterberger University of Cyprus
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_1LqgwuM6RCCQSajR3s2ijg
Political Rituals and Urban Communities in Cilician Armenia (Lecture)
The Mary Jaharis Center for Byzantine Art and Culture and the Mashtots Professor of Armenian Studies at Harvard University are pleased to announce the next lecture in the 2023–2024 East of Byzantium lecture series.
Tuesday, February 27, 2024 | 12:00 PM (EST, UTC -5) | Zoom
Political Rituals and Urban Communities in Cilician Armenia
Gohar Grigoryan, University of Fribourg
Outdoor rituals were among those rare occasions when medieval rulers and ruling aristocracies could be seen in person and inspected publicly. As in many medieval societies, so also in the Armenian kingdom of Cilicia (1198–1375), these public ceremonies were almost always performed in front of urban communities. While the political and propagandistic concerns of these aesthetic enactments come as little surprise, the present lecture will address the question from the point of view of those city inhabitants who were to contemplate—and in some cases, to partake in—the carefully organized and well-pondered rituals of the men of power.
Gohar Grigoryan is a senior researcher at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, Department of Art History and Archaeology. She received her PhD from the same university in 2017 for her dissertation on royal images in Cilician Armenia. She is the author of many essays on medieval Armenian art and history and co-editor of three books, including, most recently, Staging the Ruler’s Body in Medieval Cultures, published by Brepols/Harvey Miller (2023).
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.
Written to Last: Medieval and Post-Medieval Inscriptions in Mount Athos (10th-16th cc.)
16 and 17 February 2024
Zoom link
Time schedule is Athens, GR (UTC/GMT + 2 hours)
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: Paschalis ANDROUDIS, Associate Professor of Byzantine and Islamic Art andArchaeology, Department of History and Archaeology, Aristotle Universityof Thessaloniki, pandr...@hist.auth.gr; Dimitrios LIAKOS, Dr of Byzantine Archaeology, Ephorate of the Antiquities of Halkidiki and Mount Athos, liakos...@yahoo.gr
DAY 1 Friday, 16 February 2024
17.00- 17.10 The Organizing Committee
Welcoming remarks
17.10- 17.50 KEYNOTE LECTURE
Nektarios ZARRAS
Middle Byzantine Dedicatory Inscriptions: Text, Identity,
Ideology
1st SESSION – Middle Byzantine Inscriptions
Chair: Nektarios ZARRAS
17.50- 18.10 Alexandra-Kyriaki WASSILIOU-SEIBT Imaging political ambitions and expressing social power on seals: The case of Theodoros Branas
18.10- 18.30 Georgios PALLIS, Manos TSIKOURAKIS Middle Byzantine Athos through Epigraphy: the role of inscriptions in shaping athonite monasticism
18.30- 18.50 Brad HOSTETLER Naming Relics: The Inscriptions of Mount Athos
18.50- 19.10 Dimitris LIAKOS Two 11 th century dedicatory inscriptions from the monasteries of Vatopedi and Iviron; a comparative study
19.10- 19.30 Cyril PAVLIKIANOV Οἱ ἀρχαιότερες σλαβικὲς ἐπιγραφὲς τοῦ Ἁγίου Ὄρους
19.30- 20.00 Questions- Discussion
DAY 2 Saturday, 17 February 2024
2nd SESSION – Inscriptions in Athonite Art and architecture Chair: Georgios PALLIS
10.30- 11.00 Dubravka PRERADOVIĆ The Contribution of Gabriel Millet and the role of the School at Athens in the Study of Athonite inscriptions.
11.00- 11.20 Elena KOSTIĆ Palaeographical examination of the accompanying inscriptions of the Palaeologan decoration in the Katholikon of the Vatopedi
monastery
11.20- 11.40 Petros KAPSOUDAS An eleventh c. inscription from the belfry of the katholikon of Megisti Lavra, Mount Athos
11.40- 12.00 Oleg ULYANOV Panagiars from Athos with dedicatory inscriptions (to the historyof the study)
12.00- 12.20 Oleg ULYANOV A Greek Christian Text of Prophecies of the Hellenic Wise MenonAthos frescoes
12.20- 12.50 Questions- Discussion
12.50- 13.00 Coffee Break
3rd SESSION – Byzantine and Post-byzantine inscriptions. Case studies Chair: Dimitris LIAKOS
13.00- 13.20 Paschalis ANDROUDIS
Inscriptions with Psalms from the byzantine church of Prophet
Eliah at Thessaloniki
13.20- 13.40 Miljana MATIĆ
“The stronghold of the Faithful”- Inscriptions and Cryptograms of the Elder Nestor’s Cross at the Serbian Monastery of Dečani: A
Reflection of Postbyzantine Monastic Practices
13.40- 14.00 Darina BOYKINA
The Silver Bowl from Samokov and Its Inscriptions
14.00- 14.30 Questions- Discussion
14.30- 17.00 Lunch Break
4th SESSION – Inscriptions in Athonite art
Chair: Brad HOSTETLER
17.00- 17.20 Paschalis ANDROUDIS Unknown and little-known minor inscriptions on Mount Athos
17.20- 17.40 Arianna D’OTTONE RAMBACH Lā raʾà li-makdhūb – Non est consilium mendacii arguto: Mamluk wisdom on a speaking tray from Mount Athos
17.40- 18.00 Frédéric TIXIER
À propos d'une plaque émaillée des Rois Mages du Mont Athos : iconographie et inscriptions
18.00- 18.20 Ioannis LIAKOS, Savvas PRASTITIS Notes from Cypriot musical manuscripts
on Mount Athos. A first approach.
18.20- 18.40 Eka TCHKOIDZE Georgian ktetor’s inscriptions from Philotheou Monastery 18.40-
19.10 Questions- Discussion
19.10 END OF THE CONFERENCE
Cambridge Intensive Hebrew Programme
The Cambridge Centre for Modern Hebrew Studies invites applications for this year’s Modern Hebrew Ulpan (intensive immersion course) in-person programme from Monday, 1 July – Friday, 12 July 2024.
Tuition will involve two weeks of four-hour immersion-style in-person lessons accompanied by optional afternoon activities (films, trips, lectures). Multiple levels will be offered. NO PREVIOUS HEBREW KNOWLEDGE IS REQUIRED FOR THE BEGINNER’S LEVEL.
Special note for students of (or others interested in) classical/ancient/Biblical Hebrew: Modern Hebrew differs in important ways from ancient Hebrew. However, there is a great deal of overlap, e.g., alphabet and writing system, word formation, phrase and sentence structure, and vocabulary. For this reason, and because Modern Hebrew is a living vehicle of communication that can be internalised and actively used, its study is very beneficial for people interested in ancient forms of the language, whether as an entry point, as a means for moving from mere deciphering and parsing to fluent reading and understanding, or to access Hebrew sources and Israeli scholarship.
For course details and the downloadable application form, please visit https://www.ames.cam.ac.uk/whats-on/events-archive/summer-modern-hebrew-ulpan-2024
Queries may be sent to ul...@ames.cam.ac.uk.
Exploring the Apocrypha: Discovering Hidden Christian Texts (Online Workshop)
The Orthodox Academy of Crete, Medievalists.net, and After Constantine Journal are inviting you to join the online international workshop “Exploring the Apocrypha: Discovering Hidden Christian Texts.”, which will take place on Zoom on February 18, 2024, at 11:00 (Eastern US time).
What texts look like the Bible but aren’t? Which books were excluded from the scriptural canon and why? In this one-day course we will explore the Christian texts you have never heard of – an imaginative body of literature known as ‘the apocrypha’ (from Greek ‘hidden things’). The apocrypha include books that almost made it into the Bible but didn’t, and those that were once included and rejected at a later stage. In this course we will discover biblically adjacent texts that present themselves as scriptural revelation by named biblical authors but which are not accepted as such (the pseudepigrapha ‘spuriously attributed writings’), books accepted by some traditions but not others (deuterocanonical books), and works that provide supplementary background information, alternative versions of events, or which expand on biblical narratives, episodes, and figures (apocrypha in the broadest sense). Through a series of mini-lectures, activities, and group discussions, this one-day programme will grapple with the historical, theological, and cultural significances of a wide body of Jewish and Christian writings that fall outside the Bible.
In this course you will learn:
What was excluded from the Bible.
Why the apocrypha was controversial.
Who wrote the apocrypha and to what ends.
Why the Early Church accepted the authority of some books but not others.
What made an authoritative biblical text and who got to choose.
Why Protestant reformers disagreed with some narratives long after they had been accepted.
How the apocrypha is used today.
What the apocrypha can tell us about the Bible.
How the Bible was retold in apocryphal writings.
How Christians reused Jewish apocrypha and why.
The value of the apocryphal tradition to religious history and historical theology.
In this course you will be introduced to a variety of quasi-biblical texts produced from the third century BCE (BC) to the sixth century CE (AD) and which continued to be read throughout Late Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and beyond. These Bible-like tales concern characters such as Adam and Eve, Moses, the Virgin Mary, Judas, and Mary Magdalene and provide valuable insights into how the Bible was consumed and appropriated across the ancient Near East and Mediterranean cultural zones.
This course is open to people of all backgrounds with an interest in biblical and apocryphal literature. No academic qualifications are required to participate in this course – our focus is scholarly but accessible. All texts will be provided and read in English translation. Some light preparation will be required in advance of the programme.
Instructors: Dr. John Joseph Gallagher and Zoe Tsiami
Register here.
2. CALLS FOR PAPERS
Byzantium in its Margins: Centres, Peripheries and Outlines (15th AEMB Conference)
The Association des étudiants du monde byzantin (AEMB) is happy to announce the 15th edition of the AEMB international post-graduate conference, on 4-5 October 2023. We hope that the theme of this edition, "Byzantium in its margins: Centres, Peripheries and Outlines", will capture your attention. The call for papers is available on our website: http://www.aembyzantin.com/xve-edition-4-5-octobre-2024/
3. JOBS AND SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Fresco-Hunting Photo Research Expedition to Medieval Balkan Churches
The field school is designed for students and young specialists in heritage, archaeology and conservation as well as artists, but we also welcome anyone interested in:
- medieval civilization in Southeastern Europe (especially Byzantine and Christian Orthodox architecture, arts and iconography during the late medieval period: 13th to 17th centuries)
- digital photography
- documentation of ecclesiastic architecture and frescos
- cultural heritage preservation
- travel to significant heritage sites in western Bulgaria.
Palestinian Exploration Fund Annual Research Grants
The PEF Annual Research Grants for 2024 are now open.
The Committee welcomes application for grants to support research into the archaeology and history, ethnography, anthropology and culture, topography, geology, and natural sciences of Palestine and the Levant. Research projects involving the PEF’s own collections and archives are welcome. We accept applications from researchers of all nationalities. Membership of the PEF is a prerequisite for application.
Grants, normally between £450 and £2,000, are available to support field work (including museum, and archival work).
Applicants must be current members of the Palestine Exploration Fund (see https://www.pef.org.uk/join-us/membership/ for more details). Projects must avoid political, religious, or ideological bias, and must respect International laws relating to antiquities and archaeological activity in the Occupied Territories. Projects incorporating interviews with living subjects must ensure that proper procedural and safeguarding protocols are followed. Applications are welcomed from mid December to late February the following year, and awards will be announced in mid-March. Please email exe...@pef.org.uk if you have any questions or require further information.are
Two PhD Positions in Classics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Two PhD positions in Classics, with a focus on Ancient Medicine or Greco-Arabica at the Hebrew University, advertised in the context of the MSCA Doctoral Network 'MECANO: Mechanics of Canon Formation and the Transmission of Knowledge from Greco-Roman Antiquity’ (https://www.kuleuven.be/lectio/research/mecano-msca-doctoral-network) funded by the European Union.
MECANO brings together five universities and an array of academic and non-academic institutions interested in the topic of canonicity. MECANO's twofold goal is to develop a new model for the study of canonicity and to train ten PhD researchers to become versatile intellectuals ready to tackle the challenges of modern engagement with the topics of canonicity, diversity, and cultural heritage, including also the use of digital technologies.
For the full call with requirements and application documents, see the attached file or the following links:
PhD 4: Pulse and Physiology in Hellenistic Science: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/190367
PhD-7: Syntax, Formulaic Structures, and Canon-Marking in Greek and Arabic: Documentary Texts and Galen
https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/190367
The deadline for application is March 1st, 2024.
Eligibility: The vacancy is open to applicants of all nationalities who comply with the MSCA mobility requirement: not having resided in Israel for more than 12 months in the 36 months preceding appointment.
Start of Fellowship: September 2024 (for 3 years)
For questions about these positions, please write us at meca...@mail.huji.ac.il
Hellenisms Past and Present, Local and Global (Postdoctoral Fellowship)
2025 ASCSA Summer Session Director(s): Extended Deadline for Applications
GERTRUDE SMITH PROFESSOR(S)
The Summer Session has been a centerpiece of ASCSA programming since 1925, and it remains a vital part of how the School reaches out to students and teachers wishing to acquire or expand on their firsthand knowledge of Greece. The staff in Athens and many past Summer Session leaders stand ready and willing to provide all manner of assistance. Individual leaders or co-leaders are welcome to apply.
Term: Summer 2025. The specific dates for the 6-week program will fall between June 1 and August 15 each year. The program cannot begin before June 1 or end after August 15.
The appointments will be announced by March 29.
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Alexander Sherborne
DPhil Candidate, Faculty of History
President, Oxford University Byzantine Society
http://oxfordbyzantinesociety.wordpress.com