East-West networks of the Ancient World: Workshop with Adrian Pirtea
On the 7th and 9th of March the Ancient World-research group organizes a workshop on cultural and economic contact between east and west in antiquity. The workshop will focus on the religious networks at each end of the so called “Silk Road”, examining how ideas moved in both directions during the late antique and early medieval periods. Both days will feature an introductory lecture by Adrian Pirtea, researcher at the Institut für Griechische und Lateinische Philologie, at the Freie Universität Berlin. His research interests include philosophical and religious movements and trends in ancient Syria, Mesopotamia and Iran, including Syriac Christianity and Manichaeism.
Wednesday 7. March
Seminar room 1 (Øysteinsgt. 3)
12:15-13:00 – Adrian Pirtea: “The Messiah in China: Syriac Christianity and Manichaeism in Turfan”
- 13:00-13:15 – Questions
- 13:15-13:30 – Break
13:30-13:40 – Tomas Høisæter: “Migrants or monks? Buddhism’s path to Niya”
13:40-13:50 – Håkon Teigen: “Itinerant temples? Manichaean Elect in the Turfan Oasis”
13:50-14:10 – Questions/Discussion
Friday 9. March
Seminar room M (Sydneshaugen skole)
12:15-13:00 – Adrian Pirtea: “The Buddha in the West: Real and Imagined Knowledge about Buddhism in Late Roman Egypt”
- 13:00-13:15 – Questions
- 13:15-13:30 – Break
13:30-13:40 – Alexandros Tsakos: “The Legend of Barlaam and Joasaph in Nubia”
13:40-13:50 – Håkon Teigen: “Manichaean notions among the merchants of Kellis”
13:50-14:00 – Eivind Seland: “Nomadic cult in the hinterland of Palmyra”
14:00-14:10 – Tomas Høisæter: “The mythical West in the Chinese Chronicle Hou Hanshu”
14:10-14:30 – Question/Discussion
The Workshop is open for anyone who may be interested.