The “Fresco-Hunting” Photo Research Expedition to Medieval Balkan Churches

Posted on March 25, 2022 by bsanacom

The “Fresco-Hunting” Photo Research Expedition to Medieval Balkan Churches provides a unique opportunity for students and volunteers to take part in an expedition to document abandoned medieval churches/chapels and their frescos in western Bulgaria, and to visit many other Christian Orthodox churches, monasteries, museums and archaeological sites in Sofia and western Bulgaria.

The field school is designed for students and young specialists in heritage, archaeology and conservation as well as artists, but we also welcome anyone interested in:

medieval civilization in Southeastern Europe (especially Byzantine and Christian Orthodox architecture, arts and iconography during the late medieval period: 13th to 17th centuries)
digital photography
documentation of ecclesiastic architecture and frescos
cultural heritage preservation
travel to significant heritage sites in western Bulgaria.

Dates: 21 May – 4 June 2022

For more information and to apply: https://www.bhfieldschool.org/program/medieval-fresco-photo-expedition

Academic credits available through our partner New Bulgarian University

EuQu International Workshop – The Holy Book of the Ishmaelites in the World of Eastern Christianity

Posted on March 24, 2022 by bsanacom

International Workshop – The Holy Book of the Ishmaelites in the World of Eastern Christianity

May 11-12, 2022 | University of Copenhagen

The Holy Book of the Ishmaelites was the name commonly used by Eastern Christians of various traditions to refer to the Qur’an. Since the emergence of Islam in Late Antiquity, Eastern Christians speaking Arabic, Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopic, Georgian, Greek, Church Slavonic, Russian and Syriac came in contact with Islam and its Holy Scripture. From the Mediterranean lands to Russia via the Balkans, Anatolia and Caucasus, the experience of Eastern Christians with their Muslim neighbors and/or rulers was shaped by diverse multicultural and multiconfessional contexts in which their approach to the Qur’an played a significant role in defining religious identity and the dynamics of communal life.

This international workshop will explore how Eastern Christians engaged with the Qur’an and its Islamic interpretations from the medieval period until the end of the eighteenth century. Bringing together different religious traditions, one of the main scopes of the workshop is to build a platform of discussion between scholars working with source material from Arabic, Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian, Georgian, Greek, Church Slavonic, Russian and Syriac contexts, with a focus on how these milieus shaped Eastern Christian responses to Islam and its Holy Scripture.

How did texts on Islam and Qur’an circulate within groups and networks? How did they cross confessional boundaries? Who were their authors and intended audiences? These and similar questions will guide the discussions, and will generate – we hope – new debates for the entangled history and cross-cultural history of the Eastern Christian communities from the medieval to the dawn of modernity.

Read the program:
https://euqu.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Event-converti-compresse.pdf

GSC Webinar: Medievalists Beyond the Academy

Posted on March 24, 2022 by bsanacom

Join the Medieval Academy of America Graduate Student Committee on March 30th, 2022 at 7 pm EST for a panel on employment for medievalists outside of what we traditionally envision as the “academy” (university-based research and teaching). Each of our panelists received a PhD in a premodern subject, and each have successfully leveraged their training into a career that utilizes and expands upon their background as medievalists. From grant writing and archival management to secondary education and academic publishing, our participants represent a wide range of experience levels and professional opportunities. In this conversation moderated by leading independent scholar Laura Morreale, panelists will share their pathways from their PhD to their current position, followed by a live Q and A with questions submitted by our audience. We hope you can join us! Click here to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9MZkQ4oNRBuZvJ3eT0N_Sw

Moderated by Dr. Laura Morreale, Independent Scholar

Panelists include:

Dr. Jennifer Speed, Research Development Strategist at Princeton University
Dr. Anna Siebach-Larson, Director, Rossell Hope Robbins Library and Koller-Collins Center for English Studies at the University of Rochester
Dr. Ross Karlan, World Languages Educator at Geffen Academy
Dr. Rachel Ruisard, Project Editor at Oxford University Press

Cappadocia in Context Summer Program, 20 June – 4 July 2022

Posted on March 18, 2022 by bsanacom

Cappadocia in Context Summer Program (CAPP)

Date: 20 June – 4 July 2022

Place: Cappadocia, Nevşehir

Application Deadline: 14 April 2022 (GMT+3, Turkey local time)

Organized by Koç University Research Center for Anatolian Civilizations (ANAMED), this 2 weeks intensive program is open to the participation of young researchers at the master’s and doctoral level and aims to provide conceptualisation methods of the rich cultural heritage of Cappadocia’s Byzantine and Post-Byzantine past in the historical and artistic context, accompanied by field studies, research and presentations. Within its breathtaking volcanic landscape, Cappadocia preserves extensive rock-cut features from the Byzantine period, including more than a thousand rock-cut churches and chapels (one-third of which preserve significant elements of their painted decoration), as well as monasteries, houses, villages, towns, cemeteries, and fortresses. The region is unrivaled in terms of its material culture, but because it lacks a written history, the monuments of Cappadocia remain poorly known to most Byzantinists.

The language of the program is English. For more information about the program and how to apply please see: https://anamed.ku.edu.tr/en/programs/cappadocia-in-context-summer-program/.

Instructor: Prof. Robert OUSTERHOUT (University of Pennsylvania)
Prof. Ousterhout (PhD University of Illinois) is Professor Emeritus in the History of Art at the University of Pennsylvania, where he taught 2007-17. A recognized specialist in Byzantine architecture, his research focuses on the documentation and interpretation of the vanishing architectural heritage of the eastern Mediterranean. His current fieldwork concentrates on Byzantine architecture, monumental art, and urbanism in Constantinople, Cappadocia, and Jerusalem. Since 2011 he has co-directed the “Cappadocia in Context” graduate seminar. His most recent book is Visualizing Community: Art Material Culture, and Settlement in Byzantine Cappadocia, Dumbarton Oaks Studies 46 (Washington, DC, 2017). His book Eastern Medieval Architecture (Oxford University Press in 2019), was awarded the 2021 Haskins Medal by the Medieval Academy of America.

Identifying and Describing the Structures of Textiles

Posted on March 11, 2022 by bsanacom

Identifying and Describing the Structures of Textiles

The Early Textiles Study Group (https://www.earlytextilesstudygroup.org) offers a course in English on identifying textile structures. The course is divided into two sessions of two weeks each. It is intended for people who have to analyse and describe textiles as part of their employment or research work: archaeologists, museum professionals, anthropologists etc. It is suitable for people with some practical experience of textiles, for example with some weaving experience and/or work already undertaken with archaeological, historical or ethnographic textiles. Part 1 is on simple weaves and early non-woven structures and Part 2 on complex weaves defined as made on a loom with a figure harness.

The 2022 Part 1 sessions will take place in May (9-13 & 16-20) and in July (11-15 & 18-22)

The venue for both will be Britannia Mills, Slaithwaite, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, HD7 5HE. https://en-gb.facebook.com/theloftspaceBritanniaMills/

The tutors for Part 1 are textile archaeologist Hero Granger-Taylor and weaver Ruth Gilbert. The number of participants is limited to 10 and the charge per participant in 2022 is £350. We have places still open for both May and July. For further details please e-mail

Hero Granger-Taylor, hero@granger-taylor.com and copy your message to

Ruth Gilbert, plainweave879@btinternet.com

Part 1 covers the range of simple weaves. We take a broader view of early textiles than the CIETA course (https://cieta.fr/courses/) and cover in addition linking and looping, twining, pile structures, and weaving to shape. Participants will learn how to analyse and record structures using samples of different fabrics, a standard form and agreed terminology (CIETA supplemented by Emery and Seiler-Baldinger). They will also be introduced to different formats of weave diagram. Types of looms and how these may affect fabric structure will be discussed and some simple weaving undertaken to give a proper understanding of the process. Our aim in particular will be to increase the confidence of participants in their analytical skills, needed especially when faced with unfamiliar or poorly-preserved surviving textiles.

The specific learning outcomes for Part 1 are:

· identify basic weave structures and their variants

· record structures in a standard format

· use internationally-agreed terminology

· explain the relationship between looms and fabric structure

Two Part 2 sessions will take place in London during 2022 People wishing to take Part 2 will be asked to take Part 1 first, unless they can prove they have already the background and experience necessary to follow Part 2.

The tutors for Part 2 will be anthropologist Sophie Desrosiers and historian Lisa Monnas, both specialists in European and Asian medieval textiles. Sophie Desrosiers, who also has experience of archaeological and ethnographical textiles from the Andean region, has in the past been the tutor for the CIETA ‘sessions techniques’.

Digital Storytelling for Byzantinists: A Digital Story Map Workshop

Posted on February 25, 2022 by bsanacom

The Mary Jaharis Center for Byzantine Art and Culture and BSANA are pleased to offer a Digital Storytelling workshop for graduate students and early career researchers in collaboration with Professor Fotini Kondyli at the University of Virginia.

Digital Storytelling for Byzantinists: A Digital Story Map Workshop, workshop by Dr. Fotini Kondyli (University of Virginia), via Zoom, March 25, 2022, 3:00–5:00 pm (ET)

Digital story maps give us the opportunity to tell fascinating stories about the past and connect our audiences with our data. They provide engaging and clear ways to communicate complex ideas and research outcomes and offer easy-to-use tools and visually stunning features to present our data and embed photos, videos, and maps in our written work. Such story maps allow us to reach larger audiences, share our knowledge and skills, and contribute to a more inclusive learning environment. In this workshop, participants will learn to build, publish, and share an ArcGIS StoryMap, design interactive maps, and create timelines.

The workshop is limited to 30 participants. Registration is first come, first served.
Registration closes Monday, March 21 at 1:00 pm (ET).

Who is eligible?
–Graduate students in the field of Byzantine studies who are currently enrolled in a graduate program in North America
–Early career researchers who received their PhD from a North American university and are within 3 years of receiving their degree (i.e., after March 2019). For ECRs who received their degree between 3 and 8 years ago, you may request to be put on a waiting list and will be contacted in the event that there are open spaces in the workshop. To be put on a waiting list, please contact Brandie Ratliff at mjcbac@hchc.edu.

To read a full description of the workshop and register, please visit https://maryjahariscenter.org/events/digital-storytelling-for-byzantinists.

Contact Brandie Ratliff (mjcbac@hchc.edu), Director, Mary Jaharis Center for Byzantine Art and Culture, with any questions.

Classical Armenian course at Notre Dame this summer

Posted on February 23, 2022 by bsanacom

Summer Study: Classical, Medieval and Near Eastern Institute
University of Notre Dame

INTRODUCTION TO OLD ARMENIAN
CLAR 10000/60000
Instructor: Jesse Arlen
MTR 4:00-6:00pm (Fully Online)
May 31-July 7, 2022

https://classics.nd.edu/summer-programs/summer-language-institute/

This course will introduce students to Old (or “Classical”) Armenian, the literary form of the language from the fifth to the nineteenth century, and the liturgical language of the Armenian Orthodox Church today. An Indo-European language, Armenian is distantly related to Greek, Latin, English, and other western languages. It has a vast library of literature comprised of original compositions as well as translations from Greek, Syriac, Latin, and Arabic, among others. Some ancient texts, like certain works of Philo, Irenaeus, and Eusebius, survive only in Armenian translation. Other original compositions, like the prayer book of Gregory of Narek, are masterpieces of world literature. Students will learn the Armenian alphabet, basic grammar, and vocabulary, and will read simple prose narratives, while also gaining an appreciation for the culture and tradition of one of the ancient Christian peoples of the East. The course will be of interest to students in classics, medieval/byzantine/near eastern studies, biblical studies, theology, and liturgy.

Tuition rate info (the course is 3 credits): https://summersession.nd.edu/tuition-financial-aid/

I don’t think ND offers funding for the course, so students would need to apply for funding locally or seek other external scholarships, such as Calouste Gulbenkian’s Short Term Grant for Armenian Studies or a NAASR grant.

Jesse S. Arlen, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Armenian Orthodox Studies
Orthodox Christian Studies Center | Fordham University
Director, Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center,
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)

630 2nd Ave
New York, NY 10016
(212) 686-0710 ext. 126
jarlen@fordham.edu | jarlen@armeniandiocese.org

Digital Humanities Introductory Workshop – University of Cyprus, May 2022

Posted on February 23, 2022 by bsanacom

Call for participants

Digital Humanities Introductory Workshop

The Departments of Classics and Philosophy and History and Archaeology, University of Cyprus (UCY), in collaboration with the School of Advanced Study, University of London, invite participants to join a 5-day Digital Humanities Introductory Workshop, to take place between 23-27 May 2022 at the University of Cyprus in Nicosia.

The workshop will offer introductions to a range of archaeological and philological technologies, including features of EpiDoc XML, linguistic analysis (including treebanking and translation alignment), 3D Imaging, GIS, and Linked Open Geographical Data.

The workshop will be suitable for advanced undergraduates, postgraduates and early career scholars with little or no previous experience of digital humanities. The workshop will be capped at 20 participants. A limited number of spaces will also be available for remote, asynchronous participants. Those participating physically will have to comply with UCY’s safety protocols, which will depend on the epidemiological situation during the time the event is held. Further details on the programme, preparation material (software, readings) and safety protocols will be sent to the selected participants in advance.

In order to register, please complete the application form at <https://forms.gle/igdBo1oUYfNdY5rX8>, indicating whether you are interested in the archaeological, philological, or both parts of the workshop, and in attending physically or online by 17 March 2022. If you have any questions about the workshop in the meantime, please write to alexandrou.margarita@ucy.ac.cy.

Organisers:

Margarita Alexandrou (Department of Classics and Philosophy, UCY)

Maria Parani and Apostolos Sarris (Department of History and Archaeology, UCY)

Gabriel Bodard (School of Advanced Study, University of London)

Irene Vagionakis (University of Bologna and ENCODE Project)

Valeria Vitale (The Alan Turing Institute)

This collaborative event is organised in the context of the programme HIPPONAX (POST-DOC/0718/0119), funded by the Cyprus Research and Innovation Foundation and hosted by the University of Cyprus, Department of Classics and Philosophy. Programme Coordinator: Professor Georgios A. Xenis; and the research project MedCyprus: A Digital Corpus of Painted Greek Inscriptions from Medieval Cyprus (10th–13th centuries AD), funded by the University of Cyprus and implemented by the Department of History and Archaeology and the Archaeological Research Unit (UCY). Project Coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Maria Parani.

2022 Spring and Summer School Courses of the London International Palaeography School

Posted on February 21, 2022 by bsanacom

Cognitive Elements of Medieval Manuscript Layouts: Designing and Using the Folio Space, see: https://ies.sas.ac.uk/events/lips-cognitive-elements-medieval-manuscript-layouts-designing-and-using-folio-space
Date: 30 April 2021. Time: 9am-4pm GMT (10am-5pm CET).

Latin Palaeography – Early Book Hands, see: https://ies.sas.ac.uk/events/lips-latin-palaeography-early-book-hands
Date: 7 June 2022 – 8 June 2022. Time: 9am-4pm GMT (10am-5pm CET).

Philosophical and Scientific Manuscripts: From Monastic Copying to University Teaching, see: https://ies.sas.ac.uk/events/lips-medieval-philosophical-and-scientific-manuscripts-monastic-copying-university-teaching
Date: 15 June 2022. Time: 9am-4pm GMT (10am-5pm CET).

The courses are online (Zoom), fully interactive and designed as small group seminars. They can be of interest to PhD and MA students and early career scholars within the fields of Classics, Medieval Studies, Byzantine Studies, Manuscript Studies, and ancient and medieval philosophy and science.

London International Palaeography School fees:
One-day online course: £100 (standard), £75 (student).
Two-day online course: £200 (standard), £150 (student).

Medieval Slavic Summer Institute 2022

Updated on March 9, 2022 by bsanacom

Pandemic permitting,
the 11th Biennial Medieval Slavic Summer Institute (MSSI)
will be held June 4 – July 2, 2022 at The Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio, USA)

Application Deadline: March 22, 2022

The Hilandar Research Library (HRL), the Resource Center for Medieval Slavic Studies (RCMSS), and the Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures (SEELC) at The Ohio State University host a four-week intensive Medieval Slavic Summer Institute for qualified graduate students in Columbus, Ohio, every other year. The Medieval Slavic Summer Institute (MSSI) offers lectures in two areas: Manuscript description and access and Readings in Church Slavonic. Manuscript material on microform from the Hilandar Research Library’s extensive holdings forms a large part of the lectures and exercises. There is also a program of lectures on related topics, and other activities.

Applicants must be graduate students with a BA degree and with a reading knowledge of Cyrillic and of at least one Slavic language. Preference will be given to applicants with reading knowledge of Old Church Slavonic or some other pre-modern Slavic language.

For more information, please contact hilandar@osu.edu
Note that health procedures required by The Ohio State University must be followed by all visitors, faculty, staff, and students. See the university’s website (https://safeandhealthy.osu.edu/) for all its health and safety protocols and the latest updates.