Call for Papers by Erica Angliker
30th EAA annual meeting, 2024
In ancient Greece, some cults were commonly transferred from one locale to another with the appro... more In ancient Greece, some cults were commonly transferred from one locale to another with the appropriate adaptations to fit into the new context. Such transfers occurred from the Dark Age, when cults were moved from Balkan Greece to Asia Minor, during the Archaic period, when they were transplanted from metropoleis to apoikiai, and throughout Greek history, among communities engaged in synoecism. Even the cults of divinities worshipped under local epithets could undergo this process. When scholars examine these transferred cults, they tend to focus on the similarities between the new and the old sets of practices more than the changes that inevitably occurred. The modalities of cult transformations which occurred in different historical and cultural situations, in particular, the differences between changes in rituals and beliefs, resulting from
Religious space and topography of the Cyclades, 8th century BCE to 8th century CE.
25 - 27 May 2... more Religious space and topography of the Cyclades, 8th century BCE to 8th century CE.
25 - 27 May 2017 at St Andrews.
Throughout their history the Cycladic islands have played a central role in the communication networks of the Eastern Mediterranean; in some respects this is reflected in the desires of the larger surrounding powers (Athenians, Persians, Ptolemies) to control them for their location and resources. Such a view somewhat distracts from the more complex interactions that existed within and between the Cyclades themselves which are probably best represented by the rich variety of religious spaces in the islands. When viewed from the perspective of the islands themselves, the diachronic history of the topography of sanctuaries reveals for some a more conscious intention of development that goes beyond simply religious veneration. Furthermore, scrutiny of local cult sites adds to the complexity of control within such contrasting landscapes. Central to most religious sites was the undertaking and in some cases, the accomplishment of the journey. Different landscapes formal or otherwise, natural, enhanced or built, embellish the journey helping to create more intense experiences. The variety of religious spaces in different landscapes; from easily accessible coastal ones to more secluded rural sanctuaries, reflect interrelated cultural terrains for communication and interaction on regional and supraregional networking contexts. As residents and visitors moved through the sea- and land-scapes to reach these cult sites, network connections were made and different social functions and meanings were articulated; from control of land to community identity to connecting people. The aim of this workshop is to bring together scholars working on networks and religion, particularly in the Cyclades, with a view to understanding how the movement to places and their topography shaped the foundations of cult sites, as well as their development and functions over time. By including all the Cycladic islands within a period from the 8th century BC to the 8th century CE, the range and scope will enable an enhanced diachronic view of the functions of religious spaces in the Cyclades and their contribution to a variety of levels of network connections. Under the broad topic of movement through religious landscapes, a range of topics will be addressed including:
• Cult site location: the journey and how it was defined.
• Who were the pilgrims to the Cyclades and why did they travel?
• Regional and local sanctuaries; interaction and reaction.
• Religious space and island topography.
• Creation and termination of religious networks.
• Religious hubs and their growth.
This workshop which will run under the Centre for Landscape studies, St Andrews will bring together European scholars working on a range of periods and theoretical approaches to cult sites, religious journeys, networks and the Cyclades.
Invited scholars include:
Dr Dimitris Athanasoulis (Ephor of the Cyclades)
Dr Christy Constantakopoulou (Birkbeck University)
Dr Yannos Kourayos (Director of Archaeological Museum, Paros)
Dr Christina Televantou (Ephorea of the Cyclades)
Professor Onno van Nijf, University of Groningen
Dr Mantha Zarmakoupi (University of Birmingham)
Call for papers
If you are interested in offering a 20-minute paper, please send an abstract of up to 400 words by the 23rd October to both Rebecca Sweetman ([email protected]) and Erica Morais Angliker ([email protected])
Sponsored by the AIA Coroplastic Studies Interest Group Among the most frequently found artefacts... more Sponsored by the AIA Coroplastic Studies Interest Group Among the most frequently found artefacts in sanctuaries, tombs, houses, caves, and other archaeological sites are terracotta figurines. The multitude of terracotta figurines discovered at well-excavated archaeological sites has triggered a revolutionary change in their study, and they are now analyzed withing their immediate context and as objects that might have taken part in various rituals, official and unofficial. Having been studied extensively by scholars, moreover, a vast network of typologies and chronologies exists to facilitate their general classification. The present panel aims to contribute to the understanding of the use of terracotta figurines within their broader context by analyzing how they were used over time in tombs, sanctuaries and domestic spaces. Some questions that papers for this colloquium could address include: A. Do the types of figurines used on a specific site (funerary/sacred/domestic) change over time? What is the meaning implied by the changes of use of these figurines? Is this change of use accompanied by changes in other material culture?
As environmental issues have become an urgent topic, archaeologists are now turning to ancient so... more As environmental issues have become an urgent topic, archaeologists are now turning to ancient societies to see how past communities perceived and interacted with the natural world around them and how the environment, in turn, impacted ancient societies. Along this line of inquiry, one place in particular, where the interactions between environment and human communities has proven interesting to study, is small islands. Although scholars long-believed that small islands worked as closed environments (here referring to the popular ‘island laboratory’ concept), these places are by no means cut off from external influences. Given their geographically-restricted population and natural resources, small islands – in the past, as today – are considered especially vulnerable to natural and anthropogenic hazards. Indeed, studies continue to show that the resilience of island communities is underestimated and that they remain deeply affected by high-risk situations. Small islands are more exposed than continental areas to demographic and social changes, serious earthquakes and to variations in water level, which threaten to disappear whole territories of an island, or to submerge it entirely. The culture of small islands is also deeply affected by external influences like the influx of mass tourism, which may lead to the disappearance of local traditions. This section aims to further examine how ancient people dealt with the different impacts of the environment on small islands. We welcome papers dealing with the impact of environmental changes on the demographic and social composition of small islands. We also will welcome papers that examine how the environment of the islands influenced the local culture of the islands (i.e. their religious practices, social organisation, economies, material culture and local traditions). Particularly welcome will be studies focusing on inhabited or un-inhabited islands which historically served as cemeteries, maritime strongholds, sanctuaries, pirate-hideaways, or ‘goat islands.’
The aim of this dossier is to publish research by archaeologists and historians on insularity in ... more The aim of this dossier is to publish research by archaeologists and historians on insularity in its various forms and in its social and cultural manifestations on the islands of the Mediterranean in antiquity. The islands have been studied in the past fifty years by archaeologists, initially with an environmental, diffusionist and migratory approach that looked at them as laboratories or ecosystems of societies and places vulnerable to external influences,[1] but more recently (since the 1990s) with a cultural approach that sees insularity as a construct subject to change over time and the result of human interaction with the islands.[2] Insularity has two main and complementary aspects—isolation and connectivity—in which the sea serves as the defining territory and border of the island.[3] Absolute isolation is an almost unknown phenomenon on Mediterranean islands, though it may have been experienced by island communities in specific situations imposed by the sea and navigation.[4] However, the sea and navigation also transformed islands into bridges, into networks of connectivity and mobility.[5] The differences between islands led to changing local identities as can be read in the archaeological and written records of their communities, which reveal to us how ancient views of insularity were constructed.
This dossier aims to bring together proposals that address how Mediterranean communities defined their cultures and identities through insularity,[6] how the different scales of Mediterranean islands influenced this phenomenon, and how the relationship between islands and the continent and between inland territories and the coast gave rise to island landscapes and diverse types of networks throughout the ancient Mediterranean.
We invite contributions from ancient history, archaeology, literature, and geography dedicated to the study of islands and their communities in the ancient Mediterranean. The Mare Nostrum Journal publishes previously unpublished scientific articles as well as bibliographical essays and reviews for free and links them to thematic dossiers. Information on submission guidelines can be found at: https://www.revistas.usp.br/marenostrum/about/submissions.
Deadlines
Please submit an abstract (max. 400 words) before November 30th , 2020 to both emails : [email protected]; [email protected]
Notifications of acceptance along with author guidelines will be sent by December 10th , 2020. Full articles are expected to be received latest on 1st March , 2021.
Current studies on ancient religious experiences and practices at Panhellenic sanctuaries pay ins... more Current studies on ancient religious experiences and practices at Panhellenic sanctuaries pay insufficient attention to the role of sound and music within the sacred sphere. Whenever scholars do turn to sound and music, they generally focus on certain types of music and/or choral performances. What they have particularly overlooked are spaces and structures dedicated to music and dance performances in the sacred context. The acoustic properties of these spaces and their immediate surroundings, as well as their relation to religious experiences and practices, have been given little thought. In addition, insufficient attention has been paid to the role of musicians and dancers at festivals, processions and sacrifices. This panel aims to address these lacunae by bringing together papers that address the following questions: a) What written sources (literary and/or epigraphic) and archaeological evidence of music and dance performances at Panhellenic sanctuaries exists? Is it possible to detect differences or similarities in this respect at various sanctuaries? b) Which "cultic soundmark" was distinctive to a cult's locale, be it in features of the natural landscape, manmade sacred structure, ritual practiced or some combination thereof? c) Who were the music and dance performers at festivals? Were they professionals? Can families of performers be traced? d) Did Panhellenic sanctuaries have special places dedicated to the music and dance performances? e) Is there any evidence of how audiences reacted to the sacred sounds and ritualized movements as well as the music played at ceremonies in Panhellenic sanctuaries? f) What was the sonic experience like in these sacred spaces? How might sonic events and natural sounds in these sanctuaries have enhanced the relationship between buildings, the environment and social interactions? These topics will be addressed through contributions by scholars working in various fields: archaeology, history of religion, archaeomusicology, archaeoacoustics, ecoarchaeology, classics, anthropology, and art history. Interested scholars should submit for consideration an abstract of approximately 250 words in length by Friday 20 March 2020 to the panel of co-organizers: Erica Angliker ([email protected]) and Angela Bellia ([email protected]). If you have questions about whether an idea would fit with the theme, please feel free to contact them. In accordance with AIA regulations, all abstracts for papers will be read anonymously by two referees.
Traveling and Cult Practices in the Ancient Mediterranean
120th Annual Meeting of the Archaeolog... more Traveling and Cult Practices in the Ancient Mediterranean
120th Annual Meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America
and the Society for Classical Studies, Washington, D.C.
January 2-5, 2020
In Antiquity, the fantastic interplay of sea, land, large islands, small archipelagos and coastal areas in the Mediterranean fostered complex interactions and gave rise to a rich variety of religious space, from easily accessible coastal sites to more secluded rural sanctuaries. Such interrelated cultic places served as cultural terrains for communication and interaction on a regional and supra-regional level. Central to some of them was the undertaking and completion of a journey. The aim of this colloquium is to trace evidence (archaeological, literary or epigraphical) of travel to cultic sites in the Mediterranean. Relevant questions include: who travelled to such religious places, and what kind of evidence (e.g. archaeological, textual, epigraphical) supports our conclusions? Is there evidence of intentional and incidental movement to sanctuaries? Is there evidence attesting to worshippers’ preparations for such trips? Where were these cult sites located: en route to a specific destination or off the beaten track? Were cult sites established in hard-to-reach locations (i.e. ones that entailed a pilgrimage)? Did they develop in places with notable natural features (springs, volcanic phenomena, mountain tops, lakes, rivers, islands, etc.)? Did worshippers obtain any kind of object that they brought home with them from the trip? What practices were conducted at the site, and how did these relate to the journey and to the arrival of worshippers? Did they reflect the natural qualities of the site?
Topics may focus on any geographic area of the Mediterranean and any period from the Bronze Age to Late Antiquity. Interested scholars should submit an abstract of approximately 250 words by 15 March 2019 to Erica Angliker ([email protected])
The new millennium has seen an intensification of scholarly attention on the material dimensions ... more The new millennium has seen an intensification of scholarly attention on the material dimensions of religious/magical practices and collective/personal experiences in the ancient Mediterranean. The identification of material traces of ritual in the archaeological record and
Papers by Erica Angliker
‘Materialist Insights: The Tablets of Dodona as Objects’, in Bowden, H. & Eidinow, E. (eds) Visiting the Oracle at Dodona: Contexts of Unknowing in Ancient Greek Religion. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 80–96., 2026
Sanctuaries and Experience. Knowledge, Practice and Space in the Ancient World. Edited by Greg Woolf, Ilaria Bultrighini and Camilla Norman, 2024
Ancient religion is traditionally understood in terms of myths, rituals and institutions, as tran... more Ancient religion is traditionally understood in terms of myths, rituals and institutions, as transmitted in ancient texts. The studies gathered here focus instead on the lived experience of ancient cult and the places in which that experience was formed. They build on recent explorations of Lived Ancient Religion and also on new approaches to Material Ancient Religion. All ancient societies constructed elaborate sanctuaries. Their architecture and the collective rituals that took place there shaped collective experiences. Through case studies drawn from Ancient Egypt, the Greek World and the Roman Empire these themes are explored and elaborated. Together they indicate new ways of approaching ancient religious experience, collective and individual.
Problems with Greek Gods (Susan Deacy and Esther Eidinow. Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies, Volume 65, Issue 2, December 2022 , 2022
Recent scholarship has paid increasing attention to the role of divinities in ancient Greek relig... more Recent scholarship has paid increasing attention to the role of divinities in ancient Greek religion, offering fresh approaches to and questions about such issues as their complementarity, the balance in the polytheistic system between local and pan-Hellenic divinities, the strategies for constructing the divinities, and how they were experienced. 1 Having witnessed and participated in this revived interest in the Greek divinities, 2 I immediately thought, when the authors of the volume Experiencing the Gods asked about ongoing problems in interpreting them, of the transfer of their worship under locational epithets or epicleseis to places beyond the sanctuaries where they were originally worshipped. 3 In Ancient Greece, it was common and, apparently, not difficult to transfer some cults, with the appropriate adaptations to fit the social context. However, the transfer of cults of divinities worshipped under locational epithets was more problematic than was the case with other divinities. Locational epicleseis such as Klarios, Didymeus, Delios, and Pythios refer unequivocally to a divinity, Apollo, worshipped at a specific place and, thus, tied to the physical landscape of the sanctuary and myths that explain various rites with reference to the local geography.
Naming and Mapping the Gods in the Ancient Mediterranean, 2022
Paros V: Paros through the Ages. From Prehistoric Times to the 16th Century AD, 2021
Soundscape and Landscape at Panhellenic Greek Sanctuaries. Telestes. Fabrizio Serra e publicado em Pisa/Roma, 2021
by Laura V . Dierksmeier, Frerich Schön, Anna Kouremenos, Annika Condit, Helen Dawson, Erica Angliker, David Hill, Kyle Jazwa, Zeynep Yelce, Ela Bozok, Sergios Menelaou, Alexander J Smith, Francesca Bonzano, Dunja Brozović Rončević, Katrin Dautel, and Beate M W Ratter University of Tübingen Press, 2021
The three maps at the beginning of this book have been produced by Cartographer Richard Szydlak, ... more The three maps at the beginning of this book have been produced by Cartographer Richard Szydlak, who gracefully accepted the challenge to map very many islands, some very small, others imaginary. We are very grateful for the high quality of his work.
Soundscape and Landscape at Panhellenic Greek Sanctuaries. Telestes. Fabrizio Serra e publicado em Pisa/Roma, 2021
Archäologie in Deutschland , 2021
Cave and Worship in Ancient Greece , 2021
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Call for Papers by Erica Angliker
25 - 27 May 2017 at St Andrews.
Throughout their history the Cycladic islands have played a central role in the communication networks of the Eastern Mediterranean; in some respects this is reflected in the desires of the larger surrounding powers (Athenians, Persians, Ptolemies) to control them for their location and resources. Such a view somewhat distracts from the more complex interactions that existed within and between the Cyclades themselves which are probably best represented by the rich variety of religious spaces in the islands. When viewed from the perspective of the islands themselves, the diachronic history of the topography of sanctuaries reveals for some a more conscious intention of development that goes beyond simply religious veneration. Furthermore, scrutiny of local cult sites adds to the complexity of control within such contrasting landscapes. Central to most religious sites was the undertaking and in some cases, the accomplishment of the journey. Different landscapes formal or otherwise, natural, enhanced or built, embellish the journey helping to create more intense experiences. The variety of religious spaces in different landscapes; from easily accessible coastal ones to more secluded rural sanctuaries, reflect interrelated cultural terrains for communication and interaction on regional and supraregional networking contexts. As residents and visitors moved through the sea- and land-scapes to reach these cult sites, network connections were made and different social functions and meanings were articulated; from control of land to community identity to connecting people. The aim of this workshop is to bring together scholars working on networks and religion, particularly in the Cyclades, with a view to understanding how the movement to places and their topography shaped the foundations of cult sites, as well as their development and functions over time. By including all the Cycladic islands within a period from the 8th century BC to the 8th century CE, the range and scope will enable an enhanced diachronic view of the functions of religious spaces in the Cyclades and their contribution to a variety of levels of network connections. Under the broad topic of movement through religious landscapes, a range of topics will be addressed including:
• Cult site location: the journey and how it was defined.
• Who were the pilgrims to the Cyclades and why did they travel?
• Regional and local sanctuaries; interaction and reaction.
• Religious space and island topography.
• Creation and termination of religious networks.
• Religious hubs and their growth.
This workshop which will run under the Centre for Landscape studies, St Andrews will bring together European scholars working on a range of periods and theoretical approaches to cult sites, religious journeys, networks and the Cyclades.
Invited scholars include:
Dr Dimitris Athanasoulis (Ephor of the Cyclades)
Dr Christy Constantakopoulou (Birkbeck University)
Dr Yannos Kourayos (Director of Archaeological Museum, Paros)
Dr Christina Televantou (Ephorea of the Cyclades)
Professor Onno van Nijf, University of Groningen
Dr Mantha Zarmakoupi (University of Birmingham)
Call for papers
If you are interested in offering a 20-minute paper, please send an abstract of up to 400 words by the 23rd October to both Rebecca Sweetman ([email protected]) and Erica Morais Angliker ([email protected])
This dossier aims to bring together proposals that address how Mediterranean communities defined their cultures and identities through insularity,[6] how the different scales of Mediterranean islands influenced this phenomenon, and how the relationship between islands and the continent and between inland territories and the coast gave rise to island landscapes and diverse types of networks throughout the ancient Mediterranean.
We invite contributions from ancient history, archaeology, literature, and geography dedicated to the study of islands and their communities in the ancient Mediterranean. The Mare Nostrum Journal publishes previously unpublished scientific articles as well as bibliographical essays and reviews for free and links them to thematic dossiers. Information on submission guidelines can be found at: https://www.revistas.usp.br/marenostrum/about/submissions.
Deadlines
Please submit an abstract (max. 400 words) before November 30th , 2020 to both emails : [email protected]; [email protected]
Notifications of acceptance along with author guidelines will be sent by December 10th , 2020. Full articles are expected to be received latest on 1st March , 2021.
120th Annual Meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America
and the Society for Classical Studies, Washington, D.C.
January 2-5, 2020
In Antiquity, the fantastic interplay of sea, land, large islands, small archipelagos and coastal areas in the Mediterranean fostered complex interactions and gave rise to a rich variety of religious space, from easily accessible coastal sites to more secluded rural sanctuaries. Such interrelated cultic places served as cultural terrains for communication and interaction on a regional and supra-regional level. Central to some of them was the undertaking and completion of a journey. The aim of this colloquium is to trace evidence (archaeological, literary or epigraphical) of travel to cultic sites in the Mediterranean. Relevant questions include: who travelled to such religious places, and what kind of evidence (e.g. archaeological, textual, epigraphical) supports our conclusions? Is there evidence of intentional and incidental movement to sanctuaries? Is there evidence attesting to worshippers’ preparations for such trips? Where were these cult sites located: en route to a specific destination or off the beaten track? Were cult sites established in hard-to-reach locations (i.e. ones that entailed a pilgrimage)? Did they develop in places with notable natural features (springs, volcanic phenomena, mountain tops, lakes, rivers, islands, etc.)? Did worshippers obtain any kind of object that they brought home with them from the trip? What practices were conducted at the site, and how did these relate to the journey and to the arrival of worshippers? Did they reflect the natural qualities of the site?
Topics may focus on any geographic area of the Mediterranean and any period from the Bronze Age to Late Antiquity. Interested scholars should submit an abstract of approximately 250 words by 15 March 2019 to Erica Angliker ([email protected])
Papers by Erica Angliker