Seminars

This first “episode” of the MAP Seminar “Noms de dieux !” gave the opportunity to question the ways of naming the gods, and in particular the categories of “divine epithet” and “epiclesis”. As part of an exploratory process, the reflection focused in particular on the methodssources and spatio-temporal perimeters of the survey. Particular attention was paid to the contribution of the comparison between the Greek and Semitic worlds, but also between ancient societies and anthropological fields, according to a tradition well established in Toulouse. All the fields explored have reflected the great plasticity of divine onomastics, from one society to another, but also within a given society: in this matter, the variety of enunciation contexts in which the names of the gods appear is, indeed, not without effect.

Poster in PDF

In line with Seminar 1, this second session is aimed at pursuing the reflection on the names of the gods and the strategies of naming in the “making of the divine”. In order to continue the comparative approach, the exploration is extended to dossiers that are at the (geographical and chronological) “borders” of the ERC MAP project. The program for this semester thus gives pride of place to the societies of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East (other than Greek and Western Semitic), and in particular: the Ugaritic texts, the Hittite and Mesopotamian worlds, as well as Achaemenid IranGaulRome and pre- Islamic Arabia.

Poster in PDF

In line with Seminar 1, this second session is aimed at pursuing the reflection on the names of the gods and the strategies of naming in the “making of the divine”. In order to continue the comparative approach, the exploration is extended to dossiers that are at the (geographical and chronological) “borders” of the ERC MAP project. The program for this semester thus gives pride of place to the societies of the ancient Mediterranean and Near East (other than Greek and Western Semitic), and in particular: the Ugaritic texts, the Hittite and Mesopotamian worlds, as well as Achaemenid IranGaulRome and pre- Islamic Arabia.

Poster in PDF

This year’s seminar focuses on the human agents in the process of naming the divine, whether they are producers of a discourse on the deities, addressers in a communication with the deities, or even experts in charge of a ritual knowledge. What agency do men and women exercise in the production of a specific denomination of the divine? How can we question their choices, their anchoring in a tradition or their innovation strategies?

Due to the pandemic, the first three sessions of the seminar will be accessible in videoconference, on Zoom. Links to these online sessions are available below. Each session is video and audio recorded for broadcast. If you wish to attend the seminar for the first time, you can request the zoom link by writing to sylvain.lebreton@univ-tlse2.fr or thomas.galoppin@univ-tlse2.fr. Any changes to the programme will be announced and this page may need to be updated.

Poster in PDF

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