OxByzList: Hilary Week 2 Oxford Listings, 25-31 January
Oxford University Byzantine Society
Dearl all,
Welcome to week 2! I hope everyone had a good start to the term.
Reminder that we are hosting an informal feedback session on Monday (26/01) at St Peter's. Then, we are heading to the pub after the LABS seminar on Wednesday (28/01) so please do join us!
Monday
26/01/2026, 16:30 - Robert Beddard Room, Oriel, OX1 4EW
Patristics Research Seminar - Matt Crawford (ACU): Towards a new edition of Julian the Apostate's Contra Galilares
26/01/2026, 17:00 - Wharton Room, All Souls College, OX1 4AL; for Teams access join group “Medieval History Research Seminar” (team code rmppucs)
Medieval History Seminar - Rob Portass (Robinson College, Cambridge): ‘Estate Management and the Beginnings of Specialised Production in Early Medieval Iberia’
Tuesday
27/01/2026, 14:00 - New Seminar Room, St John’s College, St Giles, OX1 3JP
Europe in the Middle Ages - Annabel Hancock (Trinity College Dublin): ‘Negotiating Uncertain Waters: Trust in trade and diplomacy in the Mediterranean’
27/01/2026, 16:30 - Online via Microsoft Teams. The link can be obtained by emailing Ugo Mondini (ugo.m...@mod-langs.ox.ac.uk) by the day before each session
JFF Project Euripides Byzantinus: Euripides and the Middle Ages - Guido Avezzù (University of Verona): ‘Erratic readings and emendatory method in Euripides’ ‘alphabetical’ play’
27/01/2026, 17:00 - Memorial Room, The Queen’s College, High Street, OX1 4AW
Maghrib History Seminar - Amira Bennison (University of Cambridge): Power and Peace: Re-viewing the Dynastic History of the Western Maghrib through an Urban Lens
Wednesday
28/01/2026, 12:15 - Lecture Room, Campion Hall, OX1 1QS
Syriac Lunch Seminar - Katherine Painter: ‘The Making of a Syriac Study Bible: New Frontiers in Digital and Public Humanities’
Participation is open to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers from all academic fields and is by invitation. Those interested in attending are kindly asked to contact Katherine Painter (katherin...@theology.ox.ac.uk) by the Sunday prior to the date(s) they wish to attend so that complementary lunch can be provided.
28/01/2026, 17:00 - Lecture Theatre, Ioannou Centre for Classical and Byzantine Studies, 66 St Giles’, OX1 3LU
Late Antique and Byzantine Seminar - Julian Baker (Oxford): ‘Medieval Epiros and Albania: Geopolitical and Economic Reflections in the Light of Coinage’
Thursday
29/01/2026, 13:15 - Online, for registration please contact maren....@student.uni-tuebingen.de
Tübingen Byzantine and Near Eastern Seminar - Rocio Daga Portillo (Munich): ‘Canons beyond Confessional Borders: Byzantine and Islamic Law Merging into Coptic Canon Law’
29/01/2026, 14:00 - Catherine Lewis Lecture Theatre, Clarendon Institute, Walton Street, OX1 2HG
Reading Group: Jewish Magical Texts from Antiquity and the Cairo Geniza - Magical Papyri
This reading group offers an encounter with key types of Jewish magical texts preserved on papyri, metal, clay, parchment, and paper, from Antiquity through medieval Cairo. Together, we will read and analyze these texts, identifying their distinctive features-biblical references, adjurations, magical formulae, angelic and demonic names, magical words and signs, and more. We will also consider the aims these texts were meant to serve, draw comparisons with parallel traditions, and discuss the significance of their similarities and differences. We will present new materials that were not presented in the Michaelmas term.
All are welcome-no prior language knowledge required.
If any queries you have, please contact Professor Piotrkowski at meron.pi...@ames.ox.ac.uk
29/01/2026, 16:00 - Seminar Room, Corpus Christi College, OX1 AJF
Late Roman Seminar - Alison John (All Souls): ‘πολυcantica τέκνα: Ausonius Ep. 6, Horace, and Greek-Latin Code-switching’
29/01/2026, 17:15 - KRC Lecture Room, Khalili Research Centre, 3 St John St, OX1 2LJ
Khalili Research Seminar - Joumana Medlej (Independent Scholar): ‘The hidden life of Kufi scripts: practice-based insights and theories’
Friday
30/01/2026, 09:30 - Ioannou Centre for Classical and Byzantine Studies, 66 St Giles, OX1 3LU
Byzantine Text Seminar - Dr Bazzani: The seminar sessions will focus on the text of the Miracles of St Artemios.
To sign up and receive the work materials, email marina....@classics.ox.ac.uk
30/01/2026, 12:00 - Visiting Scholars Centre, Weston Library, Broad Street, OX1 3BG
Lectures on the History of the Bible: From Manuscripts to Print - The Septuagint and its Transmission
This course offers an illustrated introduction to the transmission and history of one of the world’s most influential texts: the Bible. Beginning with the Hebrew Bible and the earliest biblical papyri and manuscripts, it traces the development of biblical texts over more than two millennia, from the premodern Mediterranean world to the first printed editions of the Late Middle Ages. Drawing on some of the Bodleian Library’s most remarkable biblical treasures, the lectures provide direct insight into how the copying, translation, and circulation of the Bible shaped the history of the book and, more broadly, human culture. Particular emphasis is placed on first-hand engagement with manuscripts in different languages, scripts, layouts, and visual traditions.
No prior knowledge of biblical languages is required. By the end of the course, participants will have gained a basic familiarity with biblical manuscripts across multiple traditions and will be able to identify key scripts, layouts, and illustrative features, as well as appreciate their cultural and historical significance.
Places are limited. To register interest and secure a place, please contact the lecturer at peter...@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
If there are any events you would like to share with the OUBS, please get into contact with us.
Kind regards,
Nidanu
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Nidanu O'Shea
DPhil in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Secretary, Oxford University Byzantine Society
http://oxfordbyzantinesociety.wordpress.com