IIHSA Events
Eva Andronikidou: The archaeological site in its natural context: natural and cultural diachronic processes
You are invited to an IIHSA Lecture (in person) on Thursday December 19, 2024 at 5.00 pm (Irish time) / 7.00 pm (Greek time)/12.00 (EST) by Eva Andronikidou (National Technical University of Athens), The archaeological site in its natural context: natural and cultural diachronic processes
Abstract
This work seeks to research the way the archaeological site relates with its natural context and how this relation has evolved through time, from a designer’s point of view.
The relation of man with nature has changed radically in the last years. This relation is clearly expressed in the way man creates space. Architect and urbanist Dimitris Pikionis describes civilization as the creation that was built when man was called to respond to nature: the difficulties, the needs, the opportunities. Every civilization was dictated by nature (Pikionis, 2014: 55-57). The human constructions on earth, are transitional objects between man and nature.
An archaeological site is a fragment of a past reality in the modern world. A contemporary visitor without a relevant background can hardly understand its function or perceive how it originally looked,
especially in places where the environment has changed dramatically, either because it has converted into a modern metropolis, or because of changes in the natural landscape. The design of historical landscapes, when it results from the collaboration of Archaeology with other scientific fields, depending on the case, can lead to a deeper understanding, through the spatial experience of visiting and touring. That said, the purpose of this interdisciplinary research is to investigate methodologies and production of material that can be used as a basis for a design proposal of an architectural synthesis of an archaeological site.
Cultural Heritage Management Seminar Series 6: Ros Ó Maoldúin, The Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland: Representation, Collaboration and Advocacy
This seminar is the sixth in our series of theoretical seminars on the topic of ‘Cultural Heritage Management: Laws, regulations, innovative management practices, participation of local communities, the impact of climate change on archaeological sites and European initiatives’. It is directed at graduate students who are interested in the topic.
Abstract: The Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland (IAI) is the representative all-island organisation for professional archaeologists working in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Through the representation of our members, our aim is to advance and strengthen the profession of archaeology in Ireland. Our vision is that we will have a vibrant and sustainable archaeological profession that actively contributes to the protection of our archaeological resource, which in turn contributes to the social and economic wellbeing of the entire community. This seminar will begin with a short history of our Institute and then provide a brief overview of our current initiatives, future strategy and plans.
Dr Ros Ó Maoldúin is Chair of the Institute of of Archaeologists of Ireland
Date: December 12th 2024 at 17.00 (Ireland)/19.00 (Greece)/12.00 pm (standard eastern time). The seminar will take place online.
In order to participate, please register by contacting us at irishinstitutegr@gmail.com
Symposium: Decoding Representations of Status in the Bronze Age Aegean Patterns, definitions and interpretations
INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM (November 28-29, 2024)
Decoding Representations of Status in the Bronze Age Aegean:
Patterns, definitions and interpretations
PROGRAMME
The symposium will be hosted online by Dokuz Eylül University Archaeology and Archeometry Application and Research Center in Türkiye and the Irish Institute of Hellenic Studies at Athens
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH 2024
09.00-09.10 am: Welcoming introduction by the executive board of the workshop.
1. MORNING SESSION: Manifestations of status on pottery
Session moderators: Bariș Gür and Andreas Vlachopoulos
09.10-09.30 am: Chiara De Gregorio, ‘Reassessing Social Distinctions: Ceramic Motifs and Elite Symbolism in Southern Crete’s Tholos Tombs during the Prepalatial to Protopalatial Transition’ (Department of World History, Fudan University, Shanghai).
09.30-09.50 am: Ioanna Kostopoulou, ‘Signs of Status? Imported Pottery and Social Structure at
Pyla-Kokkinokremos’ (University of Gent and University of Tübingen).
09.50-10.10 am: Spanos Stefanos, ‘Koukounaries. The pictorial vase painting and the manifestation of
status’ (Greek archaeological service).
10.10-10.30 am: Lila Balogianni, ‘Approaching aspects of status through pottery analysis: the case of
the Zakros palace’ (PhD candidate, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens).
10.30-11.00 am: Coffee break
11.00-11.20 am: Discussion on the morning session.
2. AFTERNOON SESSION (Part A): The semantics of symbols in Bronze Age society
Session moderators: Chrysanthi Gallou and Konstantinos Paschalidis
11.20 am-11.40 am: Eleni Gerontakou* & Maria Kyritsi**, ‘Religious or/and political? Display of
status through emblematic symbols from the Minoan palace of Zakros’ (*École française d’Athènes and **Greek Ministry of Culture).
11.40-12.00 pm: Laetitia Phialon*, Vassilis Aravantinos** & Evi Tsota***, ‘Some observations onthe depiction of “horns of consecration” on larnakes from Tanagra in Boeotia’ (*Université Fribourg,
ArScAn UMR 7041, ** Emeritus Ephor of Antiquities of Boeotia, *** Ephorate of Antiquities of Boeotia).
12.00-12.10 pm: Short break.
12.10-12.30 pm: Vassiliki Pliatsika, ‘Earth to earth. Clay figurines from the Atreus tholos tomb at
Mycenae’ (Curator of Antiquities-Hellenic National Archaeological Museum).
12.30-12.50 pm: Bernice R. Jones, ‘Decoding the Status of the Ivory Triad from Mycenae: A Re-
evaluation of its Hairstyles, Garments, and Poses’ (Independent researcher).
12.50-13.10 pm: Nicoletta Antognelli Michel, ‘Status of divinity for an interpretation of the ivory head from the cult centre at Mycenae as a goddess statuette’ (Technische Universität Darmstadt).
13.10-13.30 pm: Discussion on the afternoon session (Part A).
13.30-14.30 pm: Lunch break
3. AFTERNOON SESSION (Part B): Display of status in graves
Session moderators: Vasiliki Pliatsika and Anastasia Vergaki
14.30-14.50 pm: Nihal Akıllı, ‘Status symbol objects in the Early Bronze Age graves of Western Anatolia and the Aegean region’ (Research assistant- Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of
Humanities and Social Sciences, Department of Archaeology).
14.50-15.10 pm: Metaxia Tsipopoulou, “ ‘Διαχωρίζοντας την ήρα από το σταρι’. Τwo attempts at status differentiation in the Early and late Prepalatial phases of the elite necropolis at Petras, Siteia” (Director emerita, Hellenic Ministry of Culture).
15.10-15.20 pm: Short break
15.20-15.40 pm: Grigoris Grigorakakis,* Eleni Papafloratou** & Efrossini Vika***, ‘Beyond warriors: a burial with weapons in LBA Kefalonia’ (*Director, Ephorate of Antiquities Kefalonia and Ithaca, ** Head of Prehistoric Antiquities, Ephorate of Antiquities Kefalonia and Ithaca, *** Senior Research Fellow, Wiener Laboratory, American School of Classical Studies at Athens).
15.40-16.00 pm: Claire Zikidi, ‘Silent Echoes: Status and the Politicisation of Death during the Late Helladic period in Messenia (Greece)’ (Malcolm H. Wiener Laboratory for Archaeological Science, American School of Classical Studies at Athens).
16.00-16.30 pm: Coffee break
16.30-16.50 pm: Kostas Paschalidis, ‘Cups of blessing. Decoding the pattern of men with weapons and drinking vessels in the LBA Aegean’ (Hellenic National Archaeological Museum).
16.50-17.10 pm: David M. Wheeler, ‘Archive and Repertoire in the Mycenaean Funeral’ (Postdoctoral Fellow, Nemea Center for Classical Archaeology).
17.10-17.30 pm: Samantha Mills, ‘Power and status in the Argolid in the Late Helladic III period’ (Macquarie University).
17.30-17.50 pm: Discussion on the afternoon session (Part B).
17.50-18.20 pm: Coffee break
4. EVENING SESSION: Storage strategies and their relation to status
Session moderators: Joanne M.A. Murphy and Hakan Öniz
18.20-18.40 pm: Özgen Çelik & Zafer Derin, ‘Indicators of the Existence of Organizational Management at the Beginning of the 3rd Millennium BCE: The Case of Yassıtepe Höyüğü’ (Ege University)
18.40-19.00 pm: Jacqueline Meier, ‘Status and Surplus from Suids at Petsas House, Mycenae’ (University of North Florida).
19.00-19.10 pm: Closing remarks of first day.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH 2024
5. MORNING SESSION (Part A): Defining status through architecture
Session moderators: Anastasia Vergaki and Bariș Gür
09.00-09.20 am: Lefteris Platon* & Alexandra Salichou**, ‘Status in structure: a view from the palatial and domestic architecture of Minoan Zakros’ (*Professor of Prehistoric Archaeology- University of Athens, ** Ministry of Culture Ephorate of Antiquities of the City of Athens).
09.20-09.40 am: Nasser Bovoleti Ayash, ‘Insights of the Archaeological Implementation of the so- called Sanctuary of Koumasa’ (PhD candidate-University of Heidelberg).
09.40-10.00 am: Aggeliki Pefani, ‘Wall-paintings in their architectural environment: unraveling socio- political strategies through sensorial impact at the palace of pylos (Post-graduate student-National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
10.00-10.20: Discussion on the morning session (Part A).
10.20-10.50 am: Coffee break
6. MORNING SESSION (Part B): Possession of metals and status
Session moderators: Naoise Mac Sweeney and Remzi Yağcı
10.50-11.10 am: Hakan Oniz, ‘Kumluca Bronze Age Shipwreck excavation – Antalya/Türkiye’ (Assoc.Prof. Akdeniz Unversity).
11.10-11.30 am: Sofia Dimaki,* Maria-Chrysoula Staikou** & Eleni Filippaki***, ‘Metal objects from Late Helladic burials in Kalapodi, Phtiotis, Central Greece: symbols of status and wealth’ (*Ephorate of Antiquities of Grevena, Western Macedonia, Greece, ** University of Thessaly, Department of History, Archaeology and Social Anthropology, *** Laboratory of Archaeometry, Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, National Center for Scientific Research, N.C.S.R. “Demokritos”).
11.30-11.50 am: Stephanie Aulsebrook, ‘Metals = Status: The Fundamental Law of the Mycenaean World?’ (University of Warsaw).
11.50-12.10 am: Discussion on the morning session (Part B).
12.10-12.30 pm: Break
7. AFTERNOON SESSION (Part A): Rituals, Crafts, Technology and status connections
Session moderators: Joanne M.A. Murphy and Konstantinos Paschalidis
12.30-12.50 pm: Anastasia M. Vergaki, ‘Feasts as Rituals of Status: The case of Trypiti and Koumasa on the Southern Cretan Mountains’ (Assistant Director of the Irish Institute of Hellenic Studies at Athens).
12.50-13.10 pm: Tatiana Stamatia Andreovits, ‘Shaping gender and status performances in Minoan seal imagery’ (PhD Candidate-University of Heidelberg).
13.10-13.30 pm: I. G. Worrall, Interpreting Colour: The use of White in Late Bronze Age Aegean Wall Art (University of Nottingham).
13.30-14.30 pm: Lunch break
14.30-14.50 pm: Katerina Voutsa, ‘More than a bead: adding symbolic character to a small, semi- precious stone’ (Curator of Antiquities-National Archaeological Museum. Department for Prehistoric, Egyptian , Cypriot and Near Eastern Antiquities).
14.50-15.10 pm: Kalliopi Nikita, ‘The power of technology, aesthetics and possession: the combination of glass with gold for the Early Mycenaean elites’ (Ephorate of Antiquities of East Attica).
15.10-15.30 pm: Christos Kekes, ‘Nonverbal expression of status in the Bronze Age Aegean’ (Postdoctoral researcher, University of Crete).
15.30-15.50 pm: Discussion on the afternoon session (Part A)
15.50-16.20 pm: Coffee break
8. AFTERNOON SESSION (Part B): Theoretical approaches on Status. Evidence from scripts and more.
Session moderators: Recep Meriç and Engin Akdeniz
16.20-16.40 pm: Ulrich Thaler, ‘Competitive conformity. Prestige, self-limiting ambition and the fragility of power’ (Independent researcher).
16.40-17.00 pm: Vassilis Petrakis, ‘Exploring nuances of status in the Third Palace Period Aegean: palatial agents in context’ (Assistant Professor of Archaeology, University of Athens).
17.00-17.20 pm: Dimitris Papadimitriou, ‘Absent Elites’ (PhD candidate-University of Thessaly).
17.20-17.50 pm: Coffee Break.
17.50-18.10 pm: Hamdi Kan, ‘Kings and Great Kings of the Mediterranean’ (Akdeniz University Serik G.S.S. M.Y.O., Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, Architectural Restoration Programme).
18.10-18.30 pm: Jorrit Kelder, ‘Empire Lost. On the status of the Ahhiyawan “LUGAL.GAL” and the state of academic debate’ (Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures, Universität Hamburg, Wolfson College, University of Oxford).
18.30-18.40 pm: Short break
18.40-19.00 pm: Mehmet Akif Erdem & Zafer Derin, The presence of the elites in Western Anatolia in the 2nd Millenium BC finds from İzmir Yassıtepe (Ege University).
19.00-19.20 pm: Eser Kortanoğlu, ‘Narrative Production Processes in the Construction of Ancient Greek Cultural Chronology’ (Professor of Archaeology- Anadolu University, Faculty of Humanities, Department of Archaeology).
19.20-19.40 pm: Discussion on afternoon session (Part B).
19.40-20.00 pm: Closing Remarks on the Workshop
Zoom links for each of the sessions will be announced nearer to the time of the workshop.
Stefano Ruzza, Which Mycenaeans? Forms of Regionalism in the Copais Basin in LH IIIA-B
You are invited to an IIHSA Lecture (in person) on Thursday November 21, 2024 at 7.00 pm (Greek time)/ 5.00 pm (Irish time) / 12.00 (EST) by Stefano Ruzza (PhD candidate, La Sapienza University of Rome and National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), Which Mycenaeans? Forms of Regionalism in the Copais Basin in LH IIIA-B.
Abstract: The term ‘Mycenaean’ coined more than one hundred years ago, is widely used to label the Late Bronze Age culture that flourished in the Aegean. Despite its usefulness, though, this term is too broad and fails to consider the cultural, social, economic, organisational, and political differences that existed within the Mycenaean World. When regionalism is accounted, the Copais Basin in NW Boeotia is an interesting case study from several points of view. Indeed, it is somehow at the border between the Southern Greek Mainland, the heart of the Mycenaean civilisation, and its northern periphery. Its prehistoric inhabitants, also, partly drained the lake to claim new land to farm showing not only unparalleled skills but also an original economic strategy. Within this framework, I reconsider all the archaeological evidence retrieved within the region to discuss the meaning they may have had for the inhabitants of the basin in LH IIIA–LH IIIB (roughly 1400–1200 BC). Finally, I aim to stress how, despite its incredible potential, NW Boeotia is somewhat neglected by archaeological research when compared to other regions such as SE Boeotia, Argolid and Messenia.
The lecture will be held in person at the IIHSA in Athens: 7.00 pm (Greek time)/5.00 pm (Irish time)/12.00 (EST). If you would like to attend the lecture online, contact us at irishinstitutegr@gmail.com and we will provide you with a Zoom link.
Sophie McGurk: A Certain Greek Kinship: Ireland, Ancient Greece and Hibernian Philhellenism
You are invited to an IIHSA Online Lecture on Thursday October 31, 2024 at 5.00 pm (Irish time) / 7.00 pm (Greek time)/12.00 (EST) by Sophie McGurk (Trinity College Dublin): A Certain Greek Kinship: Ireland, Ancient Greece and Hibernian Philhellenism.
Abstract
The study of Classics in Ireland, and the respect it commanded, dates back to the beginning of the Middle Ages. However, it was not until 1976, that W. B. Stanford released his seminal work, ‘Ireland and the Classical Tradition’. This was a work that was the first of its kind, in what Stanford rightly called a “neglected field”. It is essentially a catalogue of classical interaction in Ireland, providing a chronological and interdisciplinary overview. However, my paper aims to show how terms like the ‘Irish Classical Tradition’ are, in fact, lacking and do not portray the tensions that arise from the complex and unique cultural mosaic that is present in the history of Irish classicism.
This paper will illustrate how I see classicism in Ireland as three-fold: as resulting indirectly and with literature at its root yet remaining pervasive in society and civic life; as consistently philhellenic; and as characterised by non-specialists in popular opinion. For this reason, in my research, I have elected to use a new term to denote this very non-traditional tradition: ‘Hibernian Philhellenism’. Thus, my re-naming of this tradition goes beyond contributing to an established frame but, rather, works to re-define said frame.
This paper will examine the factors that have contributed to my designation of this term and offer an exploration into the unique relationship that Ireland has to Greek antiquity, a relationship that was once referred to by J. M. Synge as a “certain Greek kinship,” while also proposing a new way of thinking about 'tradition' that moves beyond the model of succession that is so readily accepted in Western thinking.
Phil Holden (Greek-Irish Society), James Joyce’s Ulysses: Celebrating the Greek influence on an Irish masterpiece
We are delighted to host this in person Greek-Irish Society event and to welcome their members to our new premises at Agras 23.
Abstract
Phil Holden presents a brief introduction to the life of the Irish writer James Joyce, with the distinct focus on his greatest work, Ulysses. In addition to exploring the remarkable story of Joyce’s struggle to write and publish Ulysses in the face of accusations of obscenity, the talk will throw light on the brilliance of the book itself, its literary inventiveness and, above all, its ingenious retelling of Homer’s Odyssey.
When Ulysses was published in 1922 it changed literature, while also creating an enduring connection between Irish and Greek literature to be celebrated and cherished even now, more than a century later. Come along to the presentation, learn about a remarkable work of literature, and be persuaded to delve deeper into this fascinating book.
About the speaker
Phil Holden has lived in Athens for nearly thirty years. He is the headmaster of St. Lawrence College, a British school based in southern Athens. Holding dual British-Irish nationality, Phil has been a Joyce enthusiast since first encountering the author's works as a teenager. He is married to Argyri.
Eleanor Kellett: Tattooed Thracian Women in Attic Pottery.
You are invited to an IIHSA Online Lecture on Monday September 30, 2024 at 5.00 pm (Irish time) / 7.00 pm (Greek time)/12.00 (EST) by Eleanor Kelley (University College Dublin), Tattooed Thracian Women in Attic Pottery.
Abstract
This paper will explore the depictions of tattooed Thracian women in Attic pottery, focusing on reoccurring tattoo designs and their locations on the body. These depictions provide valuable insights into how Thracian women were perceived by the Athenians and highlight the cultural significance of tattoos in ancient Thrace. The study categorizes these scenes on Attic pottery into three distinct groups: enslaved Thracian women, free Thracian women killing Orpheus, and free Thracian women without Orpheus.
The paper will also address critical issues regarding these depictions, including the potential biases and limitations of interpreting Thracian tattoos through the lens of Attic pottery. It emphasizes the importance of avoiding the imposition of contemporary beliefs and meanings of tattoos onto ancient practices, advocating for a more nuanced approach to understanding the cultural significance of tattoos in Thracian society.
What can be gathered about the tattooing practices of Thracian women through these depictions? How do these depictions compare to the literary sources and archaeological record? What do these artistic representations reveal about Athenian views of Thracian women? Are tattoos evidence that Thracian women exercised some form of bodily autonomy? These are some of the questions I will attempt to answer in this talk, drawing on both ancient evidence and modern theories of bodily autonomy to provide new perspectives on these underrated forms of art.
Online registration via Eventbrite or contact us at irishinstitutegr@gmail.com
EVENT POSTPONED: Musical event on Irish immigration songs by Labrini Gioti Andersson (ethnomusicologist)
We regret that this event is postponed due to illness.
You are invited to an IIHSA in person musical event on Saturday June 1st, 2024 at 7 pm (Greek time). This musical event by ethnomusicologist Labrini Gioti Andersson examines Irish Immigration Songs.
“Parting is bitter and weeping ,vain”
If we follow the line of this song, we will find ourselves into one of Ireland’s richest singing traditions.
The purpose of this event is to approach this kind of Irish traditional song which is associated with a specific historical context and period.
Irish traditional singing was almost always inspired by historical facts, and in this speech, the historical context is emigration which is one of the biggest chapters in the Irish history.
We will see through the songs, how the history of emigration inspired traditional singing, both in Ireland and overseas.
In person event only: Book here with Eventbrite
Professor Diamantis Panagiotopoulos, ‘Unmuting Minoan Koumasa. Data, metadata, and paradata of the 2012-2023 campaigns’
You are invited to an IIHSA Lecture on Wednesdau, May 29th, 2024 at 5.30 pm (Irish time) / 7.30 pm (Greek time)' / 12.30 pm (EST) by Diamantis Panagiotopoulos (University of Heidelberg) on ‘Unmuting Minoan Koumasa. Data, metadata, and paradata of the 2012-2023 campaigns.’
Abstract: More than one hundred years after the first archaeological exploration at Koumasa, a new interdisciplinary research programme commenced in 2012 under the auspices of the Archaeological Society at Athens with the basic aim of systematically exploring the Minoan settlement adjacent to the cemetery and correlating the results of the new research with those from the old excavations. The first decade of fieldwork was full of surprises and insights that lead to a radical reassessment of the original research concept. The lecture presents a concise overview of the most important results of the new excavations in the cemetery and the settlement, explores their significance for our current understanding of Bronze Age Crete, and finally discusses to what extent current strategies of processing excavation (meta)data can impact the production of archaeological knowledge.
The event will be held in person at the IIHSA. Please register via Eventbrite to reserve a seat.
Any queries, please contact us at irishinstitutegr@gmail.com
Anastasia Dakouri-Hild, Eleni Andrikou & Stephen Davis, The Kotroni Archaeological Survey Project (KASP) at Ancient Afidna in Northern Attica: a Synthesis from the Seasons of 2019-2023
You are invited to an IIHSA In Person Lecture on Thursday, May 9th 2024 at 7.30 pm (Greek time)/ 5.30 Irish time by Anastasia Dakouri-Hild (Associate Professor, Art Department, University of Virginia) Eleni Andrikou (Director, Ephorate of Antiquities of East Attica, Greek Ministry of Culture) & Stephen Davis (Assistant Professor, School of Archaeology, University College Dublin), ‘The Kotroni Archaeological Survey Project (KASP) at Ancient Afidna in Northern Attica: a Synthesis from the Seasons of 2019-2023.’
Abstract: The contemporary site of Kotroni is located about 30 km north of Athens, near the modern town of Kapandriti. Situated in the northern part of Diacria, the site lies to the north of the river Marathon which feeds the Marathon reservoir today. In the early 19th century G. Finlay described an isolated hill rising “to the height of several hundred feet. On its summit there are remains of an ancient fortress, and traces of habitation on its sides […] the hill is beautifully situated overlooking the fine undulated and well-wooded country through which the river of Marathon flows”. The citadel has been identified as the center of the ancient, constitutional demos of Afidna, and alleged to have been one of the original twelve districts which the legendary king Cecrops II brought together initially to create the polis of Athens, with the process of synoecism completed by the founder hero of the city, Theseus. KASP explores this significant diachronic archaeological landscape within its environmental, geographical, and cultural landscape utilizing a combination of historical research, digital applications, and conventional field techniques such as survey. The project systematizes piecemeal information about this landscape known to scholarship since the 19th c. and substantially and non-destructively augments the record by means of systematic collection of surface artifacts, remote sensing, geophysics, geological and geomorphological analysis. This talk presents the results of the 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons including the outcomes of remote sensing, geoarchaeology, geophysics, and intensive survey. We discuss new evidence for habitation and economic activity within the immediate catchment area of the citadel, and identify several new sites dating from prehistory through the Ottoman era discovered during the survey.
The lecture will be attended in-person only in the IIHSA’s seminar room. Book here with Eventbrite:
Cultural Heritage Management Seminar Series 5: Muiris O’Sullivan, Exploring heritage management issues in Ireland
This seminar is the fifth in our series of theoretical seminars on the topic of ‘Cultural Heritage Management: Laws, regulations, innovative management practices, participation of local communities, the impact of climate change on archaeological sites and European initiatives’. It is directed at graduate students who are interested in the topic.
Abstract: This seminar deals with two locations in Ireland, one the World Heritage Site at Brú na Bóinne, county Meath, and the other a less well-known site in Knockroe townland on the border between counties Kilkenny and Tipperary. Both are passage tomb complexes, megalithic sites from the centuries immediately before 3,000 BCE, and both occur in areas of primarily agricultural activity. Both attract considerable numbers of visitors at the winter solstice, and both feature megalithic art from the Stone Age. The associated conservation and management issues are similar but not identical. The seminar is particularly concerned with the differences, how they might be explained and whether they have implications for future policy.
Muiris O’Sulivan is Emeritus Professor of Archaeology at University College Dublin
Date: Thursday April 4th 2024, at 17.30 (Ireland)/19.30 (Greece)/12.30 pm (standard eastern time). It will take place online.
In order to participate, please simply register via EventBrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/4th-theoretical-seminar-tickets-872361345267?aff=oddtdtcreator
For any questions contact us at irishinstitutegr@gmail.com
Dr Suzanne Lynch, Sexual Violence in Ancient Greek Warfare
You are invited to an IIHSA In person Lecture on Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 5.30 pm (Irish time) / 7.30 pm (Greek time)/12.30 (EST) by Suzanne Lynch (University College Dublin), Sexual Violence in Ancient Greek Warfare.
Abstract: This paper explores the role sexual violence played in Ancient Greek warfare, focusing particularly on the experiences of war-captive women. From the epics of Homer to the histories of Herodotus to the tragedies of Euripides, Greek literature is full of references to the rape and sexual enslavement of captive women; depictions of the seizure of women during warfare are common in art and iconography too. Often, our sources portray the rape and sexual enslavement of women as pre-meditated and systematic, rather than as a ‘side-effect’ of the looting that accompanies victory. This suggests that sexual violence was of strategic importance to the armed group, and that it was employed as a weapon of war. Why was sexual violence against enemy women a useful tactic for the armed group? What value did captive women hold for their captors? Why is sexual enslavement so often conflated with legitimate marriage in our sources? And what was the experience of capture and enslavement like for the women themselves, whose voices are often overlooked in the historical record? These are some of the questions I will attempt to answer in this talk, drawing on modern theories of conflict-related sexual violence in order to shed new light on the ancient evidence.
.This event will be held in person in the IIHSA seminar room and via Zoom (please register via Eventbrite)
Luke Kaiser, The Construction and Maintenance of Cooperative Institutions at Early Bronze Age Mochlos
You are invited to an IIHSA Online Lecture on Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 5.30 pm (Irish time) / 7.30 pm (Greek time)/12.30 (EST) by Luke Kaiser (PhD researcher, University of Arizona), ‘The Construction and Maintenance of Cooperative Institutions at Early Bronze Age Mochlos’.
Abstract: As established by the evidence from the Prepalatial cemetery, Mochlos was a socially ranked community with considerable access to the Early Bronze Age exchange network. This observation has prompted new research focused on illuminating the structure of the Prepalatial Mochlos community. During my graduate studies, I was tasked with studying the Early Bronze Age ceramic material from a series of Prepalatial households at Mochlos. Based on this research, I propose that the Mochlos community utilized social memory as a tool to generate cooperative institutions and maintain group cohesion. These institutions are reflected in the household assemblages through conformity to Western Anatolian and Cycladic pottery, textile, and metallurgical traditions and the adoption of Early and Middle Prepalatial wares from the Mirabello and the South Coast near Ierapetra. This balance created a uniquely Mochlosian culture that reinforced cooperative institutions by simultaneously connecting the community to its past and its present, both in their daily lives and through ceremonial activities in the cemetery. In the Late Prepalatial Period, however, Mochlos intensified their consumption of imported Mirabello wares and decreased their reliance on locally produced traditional pottery. This change in preference indicates a shift from the cooperative institutions of the Early and Middle Prepalatial period toward more individualistic, competitive institutions at Mochlos. This transition eroded group cohesion at Mochlos and may explain the decline in population that was evident at the beginning of the Protopalatial period.
This is an online event: please register with Eventbrite
In case of any difficulties registering, please contact us: irishinstitutegr@gmail.com
Film screening of Agelastos Petra (The Mourning Rock) and discussion with the Director, Phillipos Koutsaftis
We invite you to the screening of The Mourning Rock (‘Agelastos Petra’) followed by a discussion with the film’s director, Phillipos Koutsaftis. In association with the screening of the film (with English subtitles), the Director will talk to us about the making of the movie and the area of the ancient and modern Elefsina (Eleusis). The past and the present coexist in a place spoiled by modern industry but which long ago hosted the Eleusinian Mysteries, the sacred ceremonies that initiated the ancient Greeks into the miracles of life, death and the afterlife.
The event will take at the IIHSA, Notara 51A in Exarcheia, 10683. In order to reserve a seat, please contact us at irishinstitutegr@gmail.com
To attend online please register at the link below
Cultural Heritage Management Seminar Series 4: P. Kassimi, I. Nanopoulou, I. Tzonou, ‘Corinth’s Master Plan: A Collaborative Project Towards an Inclusive, Interactive and Sustainable Heritage’
This event is postponed to a future date.
This seminar is the fourth in our series of theoretical seminars on the topic of ‘Cultural Heritage Management: Laws, regulations, innovative management practices, participation of local communities, the impact of climate change on archaeological sites and European initiatives’. It is directed at graduate students and early career researchers who are interested in the topic.
Abstract: People have been living in Corinth for the last nine millennia. A diverse, multi-ethnic and polyglot community has resided here since antiquity, and in the modern day this diversity persists as locals interact daily with tourists, students, and scholars from all over the world. Since 1896, archaeologists affiliated with the American School of Classical Studies have been exploring the site in a productive collaborative effort with local archaeologists, technicians, and workers under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Ephoreia of Antiquities of Corinthia. Our day-to-day work on site serves to emphasize that it is a creation of people before us and like us. Corinth’s universal value for human history and patrimony is exactly this coexistence of the archaeological landscape with a thriving living community in a most advantageous setting in terms of resources and potential for development. A master plan for this landscape was initiated in 2001 and has been building momentum in the last 8 years. Three bodies, the Ephoreia of Antiquities of the Corinthia with the Ministry of Culture, the ASCSA-Corinth Excavations, and the architectural office of Papagiannis and Associates, are the leading forces behind the process to make the site enjoyable and understandable to both locals and tourists, archaeologists, and the general public. In this seminar we discuss how this whole process of the master plan has been evolving as the interests of the various stakeholders are reconciled: for example, the architects’ interest in integrating the site with the modern community; the archaeologists’ interest in preserving the complexity of the site for future research, and at the same time inviting the public to actively participate rather than passively consume knowledge; and the ministry’s interest in prioritizing site access and clarity for the sake of tourism. In Corinth we aspire to share our knowledge of the past with the local and the global community for an inclusive, interactive and sustainable heritage. We believe our shared humanity from the past to the present can help us educate future generations for a world of empathy.
Panagiota Kassimi, Director of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Corinthia.
Ivi Nanopoulou, Head of the architectural firm, Papagiannis and Associates. Design consultant for the management plan.
Ioulia Tzonou, Associate Director of the Corinth Excavations of the American School of Classical Studies.
The seminar will take place on Thursday, February 8th at 19.00 pm (Greece time), 17.00 (Ireland time), 12.00 pm (Eastern Standard Time). It will be held online and in order to reserve a post please register via Eventbrite below. If you have any difficulties in registering, please contact us at irishinstitutegr@gmail.com
Cultural Heritage Management seminar series 3: Ian Doyle, Community Archaeology in Ireland
This seminar is the third in our series of theoretical seminars on the topic of ‘Cultural Heritage Management: Laws, regulations, innovative management practices, participation of local communities, the impact of climate change on archaeological sites and European initiatives’. It is directed at graduate students who are interested in the topic.
Abstract: Almost every townland and parish in Ireland contains a monument, be it a prehistoric burial or a ruined medieval parish church with a cemetery, a medieval castle, or a monument from the more recent past such as a lime kiln or old forge. The wider Irish landscape contains 120,000 known archaeological sites/monuments which are protected by national legislation. The scale of caring for this resource necessitates a partnership approach with local communities. This presentation will look at recent developments in community archaeology in Ireland. This will include details of policy and structures to support community focused archaeological heritage events as well as public surveys, the practice of communities ‘adopting’ monuments and online digital supports. It will look at a range of not-for-profit community archaeology projects in Ireland, some of which the author has been involved in through a day to day role in working for a State organization, the Heritage Council of Ireland
Ian Doyle is the Head of Conservation with the Heritage Council of Ireland
Date: Thursday January 11th 2024, at 17.30 (Ireland)/19.30 (Greece)/12.30 pm (standard eastern time). It will take place online.
In order to participate, please simply register via EventBrite: https://rb.gy/2b1rve
In case you face any difficulties in registering, please contact us at irishinstitutegr@gmail.com
Cultural Heritage Management seminar series 2: Dr Clare Tuffy, Connecting with our Past
This seminar is the second in our series of theoretical seminars on the topic of ‘Cultural Heritage Management: Laws, regulations, innovative management practices, participation of local communities, the impact of climate change on archaeological sites and European initiatives’. It is directed at graduate students who are interested in the topic.
Abstract: This seminar discusses the importance of creating opportunities for people, in particular local communities to connect in meaningful ways with their cultural heritage. The focus of this talk is on the World Heritage property of Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange, Dowth & Knowth) where the benefits for the communities, visitors and the monuments are outlined. The winter solstice experience at Newgrange will be discussed as well as the impact of broadcasting the solstice sunrise live from inside the burial chamber to a worldwide audience during the pandemic. New research into the solstice alignment resulted in fantastic high-resolution images of the solar illumination of the burial chamber which will be shown as part of the presentation.
Dr Clare Tuffy worked for The Office of Public Works in Ireland at Brú na Bóinne for over 40 years. She will share her intimate knowledge of the monuments and her insights into why it is so important to have people making personal connections to the monuments not only as part of the regular visitor experience but also for events big or small on special occasions.
Date: Thursday December 7th 2023, at 17.30 (Ireland)/19.30 (Greece)/12.30 pm (standard eastern time). It will take place online.
In order to participate, please simply register via EventBrite: https://shorturl.at/eqR08
In case you face any difficulties in registering, please contact us at irishinstitutegr@gmail.com
Stephanie Aulsebrook: Context And Content: Rethinking the Poros Wall Hoard from Late Bronze Age Mycenae
You are invited to an IIHSA Online Lecture on Thursday, November 2023 at 5.30 pm (Irish time) / 7.30 pm (Greek time) by Dr Stephanie Aulsebrook (University of Warsaw): ‘Context And Content: Rethinking the Poros Wall Hoard from Late Bronze Age Mycenae.’
Abstract: The phenomenon of hoarding metal artefacts in Bronze and Iron Age Europe has attracted much scholarly interest, generating fierce debates about their secular or ritual nature in particular. The Poros Wall Hoard, excavated at Mycenae in 1952, is one of five such groups of metalwork known from Late Bronze Age contexts at this site. Until a restudy of this hoard commenced in 2018, interpretations of its underlying meaning had centred on its contents; these had prompted its assignment to the category of “founder’s hoards”, that is to say a group of objects buried by a smith for safekeeping. The first stage of this restudy, focused on the context of the hoard, revealed mistakes in its publication had obscured important stratigraphic evidence that pointed to its deliberate inclusion within a landscape of ritual activity. In this presentation I will share the preliminary results of the ongoing second phase of this restudy, returning to the objects themselves. Detailed macroscopic analysis, aided by optical microscopy, uncovered information concerning the choice of objects and their treatment that, amongst other conclusions, also indicates the influence of ritual considerations on the actions associated with the deposition of this hoard.
This lecture is co-hosted by the School of Archaeology, University College Dublin.
Registration details to follow shortly
Email for any further information: irishinstitutegr@gmail.com
IIHSA 2023 information session on graduate opportunities in Ireland
Missed our event? Check out the video below
Ireland is home to world renowned universities where students can study Archaeology and Classics. Our academic departments are ranked in the Global Top 100 for both Archaeology and Classics and offer a range of graduate qualifications. The Irish Institute of Hellenic Studies at Athens invites you to a short information session about graduate study opportunities in Ireland.
Dublin is a vibrant, welcoming and culturally rich European capital city that hosts three internationally renowned Universities – Maynooth University, Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin. If you take one of our Graduate Certs, Diplomas or Degrees, you will study in a native English speaking environment. Our range of programmes includes Archaeology and Classics, with specialist offerings such as Experimental Archaeology, World Heritage and Hunter-Gatherer studies.
With potential for scholarships through the Irish Research Council, students may enter PhD programmes supervised by one of our many faculty members with expertise in Mediterranean cultural heritage. Supported through the Irish Institute of Hellenic Studies at Athens, staff and students at Irish Universities have a long history of researching and teaching Greek culture from prehistory to the present.
At our information session, we will present overviews of what you can expect to develop your career in Ireland. We hope to see you at our virtual / zoom information session.
Time: Monday November 13th 2023, 4-5 pm (Dublin), 6-7 pm (EST).
A recording of the event is available above.
Cultural Heritage Management seminar series 1: William Megarry (Queen’s University Belfast ), “Crises, Conservation and Change: Global Challenges, Heritage and the Futures of our Past.”
This seminar is the first in a series of theoretical seminars on the topic of ‘Cultural Heritage Management: Laws, regulations, innovative management practices, participation of local communities, the impact of climate change on archaeological sites and European initiatives’. It is directed at graduate students who are interested in the topic.
Abstract: The world is beset by crises. From Covid to conflict to climate change, responding to these complex challenges often feels overwhelming. Yet they have significant impacts on heritage practice. From challenges to fundamental concepts like authenticity and integrity, to decisions about conservation and preservation, these challenges necessitate our response. This presentation will explore some of these challenges with a particular focus on climate change. Using examples from a wide range of projects, it will ask whether they necessitate a fundamental rethink of many concepts central to heritage practice. It will explore some of the key emerging challenges facing heritage in the future and suggest that heritage must position itself not as a victim of global change, but as a powerful asset in responding to it. From archaeology to architecture, and from tangible culture to intangible traditions, it will suggest that heritage holds the key to unlocking people-centred responses and embedding meaningful and sustainable change to society and to the world.
The seminar will take place online and will be limited to only 20 people in order to have a fruitful and educational discussion. To book a place for the seminar, please contact the Assistant Director: irishinstitutegr@gmail.com
Biography: Will Megarry is an archaeologist, geographical information systems (GIS) and heritage management specialist with over 20 years commercial and academic experience. He has a particular interest in cultural heritage site management and protection with a focus on climate change. His career has included time in commercial GIS and he continues to consult on World Heritage management for governments and the nonprofit sector. He has been lucky enough to have worked at some of the world’s most amazing places including Petra in Jordan, Machu Picchu in Peru and the Brú na Bóinne in Ireland. He is currently Senior Lecturer in archaeology at Queen’s University Belfast. He has directed major international and inter-disciplinary research projects addressing some of the most urgent global challenges. He is currently the ICOMOS Focal Point for Climate Action and Cultural Heritage, a member of ICOMOS Ireland and an Expert Member of ICOMOS-ICAHM. He is also Secretary of the Irish Institute of Hellenic Studies at Athens. He is also an active field archaeologist with a project exploring Neolithic stone tool production on the Shetland Islands.
IIHSA Open Meeting 2023, with lecture by Amanda Kelly: The Bridges of Minos' County (Aqueducts of the Greater Iraklio Area, AGIA)
We are delighted to invite you to the Opening Lecture 2023 of the IIHSA, which will take place on Wednesday, 25th October 2023 at 19.30 (Greece time)- 17.30 (Ireland time). It will be held online. Dr Amanda Kelly will speak on the topic ‘The Bridges of Minos' County (Aqueducts of the Greater Iraklio Area, AGIA). The lecture is preceded by a short presentation of the work of the Institute by the Director, Professor Joanne M.A. Murphy.
Since 2019, Amanda Kelly has been mapping the Roman, Venetian and Ottoman-Egyptian aqueducts of Candia/Kandiye (modern Iraklio) in Crete as part of her wider project on “The Aqueducts of the Greater Iraklio Area (AGIA)” which is generously funded by the Gerda Henkel Foundation. The project is kindly facilitated by both the IIHSA and the Ephorate of Antiquities of Heraklion. Her initial fieldwork in 2019 not only mapped the length of the Roman aqueduct supplying the city of Knossos but also that section of the 19th-centuryOttoman-Egyptian aqueduct of Kandiye built directly over it and a shorter tract of the Venetian aqueduct of Candia that either ran alongside it or was, in turn, itself partially overlaid by the19th-century system. In 2021, Amanda directed her attention to the Venetian aqueduct of Candia, identifying its springs, mapping a series of rock-cut channels, photographing the in-situ inscriptions, documenting a previously-unknown stone pipeline, and studying several stunning bridges along its course. Last summer, Amanda Kelly and Evan O’Keefe (of ProvEye) conducted a drone study of all the aqueduct bridges (Roman, Venetian and Ottoman Egyptian), along the aqueduct routes to create virtual models for future study. In her talk, Amanda will present these impressive, but relatively inaccessible, monuments and share her thoughts on how best to study and protect them for future audiences.
In order to attend the event and receive the relevant Zoom link, please register via google forms and it will be sent to you: https://tinyurl.com/msyjpjnw
This lecture is co-hosted by the Department of Classics, Trinity College Dublin
Luigi Lafasciano: The Archaeology of Ritual Dreaming in the Greco-Roman World
You are invited to an IIHSA Hybrid Lecture on Thursday, October 19, 2023 at 5.30 pm (Irish time) / 7.30 pm (Greek time) by Dr Luigi Lafasciano, ‘The Archaeology of Ritual Dreaming in the Greco-Roman World: Lines of Enquiry, Sources, Interpretations’
Abstract: The lecture will present the outlines of an ongoing research on the phenomenon of ritual dreaming in the Greek and Roman Mediterranean, from the Archaic age until Late Antiquity. The phenomenon of ritual dreaming is explored in a variety of contexts, from ancient oracular and therapeutic cults to the late antique cult of the saints in Early Christian culture. Ritual dreaming is presented both in its historical-religious evolution and through its archaeological and monumental evidence.
The event will be held in person at the IIHSA.
In order to attend the event online via Zoom, please register: tiny.cc/fqubvz
The lecture is co-hosted by the School of Classics, University College Dublin
The Multifacted Aspects Of Ritual Seminar Series: Seminar 6. Bettina Arnold, Frequent Hearses: The Archaeology of Funeral Ritual in Early Iron Age West-Central Europe
“On all the line a sudden vengeance waits,
And frequent hearses shall besiege your gates.”
--To the Memory of an Unfortunate Lady
It has been said that archaeologists excavate burials, not funerals. It is certainly true that the presence of a body, or bodies, whether preserved or implied by the presence of grave goods, is the defining feature of mortuary contexts in prehistory. However, in Early Iron Age west-central Europe the grave itself represents just one inflection point, a single stage in a process extending back in time to the period before the interment as well as after it. The four-wheeled and two-wheeled vehicles found in late Hallstatt and early La Tène burials in the West Hallstatt zone and other evidence for post-depositional activity in a select number of elite graves are part of a complex, multi-stage process that appears to have been accompanied by mourning activity including the cutting of hair, opening of the grave to remove or insert objects or persons, and depositing food offerings after the laying to rest of the dead. Some of these activities, represented by evidence of burning and small stone altars on burial mound surfaces, appear to have gone on for several generations, as this presentation will demonstrate. Viewed as a process rather than an event, the funeral rituals of the early Iron Age in west-central Europe provide a window into how people dealt with death in the past even in the absence of documentary evidence.
The seminar size will be limited to only 20 people in order to have a fruitful and educational discussion. In case you have any questions, please contact the Assist. Director: irishinstitutegr@gmail.com
Multisensory Approaches to the Ancient World (Dublin Day school 2023)
IIHSA 2023 Dublin Day School
'Multisensory Approaches to the Ancient World'
Our senses are at the core of human experience; they help us ‘make sense’ of the world. As sensing is not just a physiological process but is culturally conditioned, how can we investigate ancient sensory perception? To what extent can artefacts, buildings, landscapes, and texts be used to better understand life in the past? Join us at the dayschool of the IIHSA to explore the smells, tastes, sights, sounds and textures of antiquity through a range of case studies and approaches by contributors from Irish universities.
Location: University College Dublin (in person) and online (register below via Eventbrite)
Programme:
1 - 1.15: Welcome
1.15 - 1.45: Jo Day (UCD Classics) ‘Making Sense of the Past’
1.45 - 2.15: William Desmond (NUIM Classics) ‘The Feeling Soul: Aristotle’s Theory of the Senses’
2.15 - 2.45: Bridget Martin (UCD Classics) ‘Sensing the Dead in Dreams in Ancient Greece’
2.45 - 3.15 Coffee Break
3.15 - 3.45: Lauren Brown (UCD Archaeology) ‘Understanding the manufacture of Bronze Age metalwork in south-eastern Europe from workshop debris’
3.45 - 4.15: Franceso Ripanti (TCD Classics) ‘A Multisensory Journey: Therapeutic Sense-making of the Archaeological Landscape of Vignale, Italy’
4.15 - 4.45: Alan Peatfield (UCD Archaeology) ‘Grab and Stab! Discovering Practical Combat Techniques from Bronze Age Images’
Vana Orphanou, A techno-biographical approach to hoarding in Late Bronze Age Europe
You are invited to an IIHSA Hybrid Lecture on Thursday, May 4th 2023 at 5.30 pm (Irish time) / 7.30 pm (Greek time) by Dr Vana Orphanou, ‘A techno-biographical approach to hoarding in Late Bronze Age Europe.’
Hoarding of metal objects is a trademark cultural phenomenon of Bronze Age Europe. The removal from circulation of this valuable commodity has raised time and again important questions and hypotheses about the management of resources, the management of wealth, and the management of social interactions in prehistory. These hoards can take various forms over time and space, even within prehistoric Europe, and they have been understood as anything from ritual / symbolic to functional / economic. In this lecture, a technological and biographical approach (techno-biographical) to Late Bronze Age metal objects from hoards in the Carpathian Basin attempts to address old and new questions about how and why clusters of metal objects found their forever-home underground. Emphasis is put on the object biographies and technological attributes of metal types that form a common denominator for the hoards under investigation. Hypotheses about the making of the objects and the making of the hoards will be discussed in the context of a community of practice in late 2nd mil. BC Carpathian Basin. This work forms part of the ERC project The Fall of 1200 BC awarded to Assoc. Prof. Barry Molloy, and it was conducted at the facilities of the School of Archaeology and the Laboratory for Artefact Biographies (LAB) at University College Dublin.
The lecture is co-hosted by the School of Archaeology, University College Dublin.
The event will be held in person at the IIHSA. To reserve a seat please send an email to irishinstitutegr@gmail.com
In order to attend the event online please register via Eventbrite below
Chiara De Gregorio: “The Ayia Triada Necropolis in EMIII-MMI and the Connections with the Neighboring Area".
Chiara De Gregorio (HGGS-DAAD, Institute of Classical And Byzantine Archaeology): “The Ayia Triada Necropolis in EMIII-MMI and the Connections with the Neighboring Area".
The Ayia Triada necropolis is located ca. 3 km west of the Palace of Phaistos and has been occupied from the Early Minoan until the Late Minoan times, with traces of later use. My dissertation focuses on studying and publishing the finds of the excavations undertaken in the Late Prepalatial necropolis: the so-called area of the Camerette. It comprises two blocks of small-sized quadrangular rooms (the Camerette 1-10, the rooms a-c), a paved area and a possible wall with baetyls, which are located 7 meters south of tholos A and its annexes. Therefore, I have examined the excavations’ documents and the architectural context and carried out the typological and comparative analysis of the pottery uncovered during the excavations of the Italian Archaeological School at Athens between 1997 and 1999 and by the Italian Mission in Crete in 1904. Up to now, this study has documented different phases of exploitation of the area during the Late Prepalatial period and the beginning of the Middle Minoan IB (2300/2200-1850 BC). At the same time, the pottery assemblages have mostly been connected to activities of communal sharing of beverages and food by a considerable number of people. Thus, the ultimate purpose of this research project is to define the chronological sequence of events in the area of the Camerette and the functions of this space over time, as well as the community connected to it. The comparison with the neighbouring areas and the broader Cretan context contributes to final historical synthesis.
The Multifacted Aspects Of Ritual Seminar Series: Seminar 5. Alan Peatfield, “Accounting for time in Minoan religion.”
There is a tension in discussions of Minoan religion between synchronic and diachronic perspectives. In a sense even the language we use reflects this. The term "Minoan religion" creates assumptions about institutional structures, with formal hierarchies and codified beliefs and practices. Such intellectual monoliths view religion as somewhat distinct from the rest of Minoan "history" and society. For this reason, I have variously argued for a diachronic perspective, by which Minoan religion is interactive with social change, and is sensitive to the changes of Minoan society, political, and historical. In this seminar I shall review some of the more recent ideas that are emerging in discussions of Minoan religion. I shall discuss how they offer us a much more sophisticated way of understanding how strongly religion and community interacted dynamically throughout the chronological phases of Minoan culture.
Ten students can attend the seminar in person. In order to reserve a seat please contact the Assist. Director at irishinstitutegr@gmail.com.Ten students can register via Eventbrite to attend online here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/5th-theoretical-seminar-on-the-multifaceted-aspects-of-ritual-tickets-603991052497
The lecture is co-hosted by Trinity College Dublin, Department of Classics, The University of Dublin.
In case you have any questions, please contact the Assist. Director: irishinstitutegr@gmail.com
Dr Francesco Ferrara: “Basileus and Basìleia: royalty and architecture at the origins of Hellenism
You are invited to an IIHSA Hybrid Lecture on Thursday, March 2nd 2023 at 5.30 pm (Irish time) / 7.30 pm (Greek time) by Dr Francesco Ferrara (Scuola Superiore Meridionale in Naples), “Basileus and Basìleia: royalty and architecture at the origins of Hellenism”.
The architectural phenomenon of the Macedonian Royal Palaces, despite the short duration of its development if compared to earlier “palatial systems”, has deeply marked the history of European architecture up to the modern era. The royal peristyle-house, which originated in Macedonia in the late 4th century BCE, is one of the concurrent aspects of a new historical course inaugurated by the Macedonian conquests in the East. In this seminar meeting will be highlighted the major role of the Macedonian basileion, and the Macedonian court society as well, in shaping the Hellenistic antelitteram “new world”, investigating its architectural forms and social functions.
The Multifacted Aspects Of Ritual Seminar Series: Seminar 4. Anastasia Vergaki, “Towards a Theory of Ritual in Late Bronze Crete: How do we discern and identify ritual actions?”
The problem observed in the attempt to identify ritual actions, lies in the fact that Aegeanists remained trapped in their erroneous endeavor to reveal beliefs and reconstruct religious rituals. The insatiable desire of archaeologists to interpret excavation findings as indications strictly for religious and in general cosmological expressions of the people in prehistoric Aegean, often resulted in arbitrary conclusions. Ritual is a complicated action, thus frustrating and hectic when it comes to its theoretical analysis. Therefore, the present seminar endeavours to approach ritual in prehistoric Crete by standing in the middle between the arbitrary and/or the over-reconstructed interpretations, dealing with the term of ritual as a social aspect which may offer indications concerning social organization in the Late Bronze Age. Under a bottom-up perspective, the possible contribution of rituals to the formation of the social milieu will be discussed with the students. In more detail, the impact of domestic rituals on establishing social ties and rules, which govern social order or disorder will be investigated in contrast to the so-called palatial rituals. Are there any similarities and or differences? If yes, what do they tell us about Minoan society? Moreover, the discerning of those characteristics that distinguish private from public/collective rituals is a key issue, whilst it is also worth trying to distinguish ritual objects from those being used in everyday life. Finally, a new definition on ritual, which applies to Minoan archaeology, will be suggested.
The seminar size will be limited to only 20 people in order to have a fruitful and educational discussion. In case you have any questions, please contact the Assist. Director: irishinstitutegr@gmail.com
Traditional Irish Music event, IIHSA with INIS
The IIHSA and INIS invite you to a Musical Event at the Irish Institute of Hellenic Studies, Notara 51a, Athens on Sunday February 19, 2023 from 2 pm onwards.
2pm: Lecture: An introduction to Traditional Irish music history in the late modern era. In this lecture Ben Zilker will take us on a brief journey through the history of Irish Traditional Music, and what makes it such a unique voice within western folk traditions. (90 minutes)
30 minute break
4pm: Workshop: Calling on flute players of all levels, ages and backgrounds! Join us for a comprehensive understanding of the basic foundations of Traditional music on the flute. Ornamentation, breathing and a variety of techniques to take your playing to the next level. (90 minutes)
30 minute break
5.30pm: Irish Trad session: Finish off by playing some tunes all around with a couple of drinks.