Summer School on Zoroastrian Texts and Mithraic monuments in Rome

This summer school, to be held in Rome in the last week of August, opens pathways into important monuments of ancient religious history spanning East and West. Michael Stausberg (University of Bergen), Céline Redard (University of Strasbourg), and Gianfilippo Terribili (La Sapienza University of Rome) will introduce participants to textual and material monuments: texts from ancient Iran composed in a liturgical language (Avestan) and subterranean sanctuaries where ritual assemblies were held in honor of the “foreign” deity Mithras (with roots in Indian and Iranian religions). While the Avestan texts, which also mention the deity Mithra, are until our days recited by Zoroastrian priests, the so-called Mysteries of Mithras have died out with the spread of Christianity. In our summer school, textual studies will go hand in hand with site visits in Rome. Welcome to an intense learning week with first-hand exposure to sources of ancient religion!

Attendance is free, but places are limited.

ECTS: 5

Application deadline: 15.4.2026

Dates: 24.8.-28.-8.2026

Venue: Det Norske Instituttet i Roma / The Norwegian Institute in Rome

Application form: Søknad om deltakelse - ZOR202 / Application for ZOR202 – Fyll ut skjema