Thoughts on Antiquity

This is extremely short notice, but may be of interest to those here in Northern California.

http://events.berkeley.edu/?event_ID=20471&date=2009-09-18&tab=all_events

FLESH EATERS: AN INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON ROMAN SARCOPHAGI
To be held on Friday and Saturday, September 18th and 19th 2009

Organized by T.J. Clark and Chris Hallett

Sponsored by the History of Art Department, the Classics Department, & the Deutsches Archäologisches Institut Berlin

This conference examines afresh the distinctive imagery carved on Roman sarcophagi, some of the most beautiful and astonishing works that the ancient world ever produced. Gathering leading scholars from Germany, Italy, England, Canada, and the United States, the conference features a keynote address by Paul Zanker, whose recent book on mythological sarcophagi, Mit Mythen leben (Living with Myth), has propelled these objects back into the spotlight, reminding us of their central importance for understanding the art and culture of the Roman world.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18TH
9 am – 5 pm in the auditorium of the Berkeley Art Museum

Complimentary breakfast buffet: 8 - 9 am in the BAM sculpture garden

KEYNOTE ADDRESS: “Putting the Deceased in the Picture: ‘Pictorial Devices’ as Visual Cues”
Paul Zanker (Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa)

ROMAN LIFE AND THE CONTEXT OF THE TOMB

“Hidden Splendour: Reconstructing the Display Context for Metropolitan Sarcophagi”
Barbara Borg (Exeter)

“The Mythology of Everyday Life”
Michael Koortbojian (Princeton)

Respondent: Ruth Bielfeldt (Harvard)

Lunch break: 12:30 - 2:30 pm

SARCOPHAGUS IMAGERY OUTSIDE OF ROME: ATHENS AND APHRODISIAS

“Death, Body, Myth, and Image”
Björn-Christian Ewald (Toronto)

“Mythology and Sarcophagi at Aphrodisias and Rome”
R.R.R. Smith (Oxford)

Respondent: Mont Allen (Berkeley)

Champagne Reception to follow in the auditorium foyer, starting 4 - 4:30 pm

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 19TH

10 am – 12 pm in the auditorium of the Berkeley Art Museum

Complimentary breakfast buffet: 9 - 10 am in the BAM sculpture garden

THE ROLE OF MYTH IN ANCIENT FUNERARY DISCOURSE

“The Violence of Emotions: Death, Myths, and Empathy in Rome (and Etruria)”
Francesco De Angelis (Columbia)

“Why Mythology?”
Alan Cameron (Columbia)

Respondent: Kathleen Coleman (Harvard)

Lunch break: 12 - 2 pm

2 pm – 5 pm in the East Asian Library [moved from the Bancroft Library]

CONCLUDING ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
Discussants: Mary Beard (Cambridge), Chris Hallett (Berkeley)

Champagne Reception to follow in the East Asian Library, starting 4 - 4:30 pm

Please note: this conference is free and open to the public. No registration is required.

For me, Latin is at noon and Greek following that, so unfortunately I will not be able to make it. (Whatever happened to weekend conferences?) Regardless, it looks to be very interesting and I’m truly sorry to miss out.