CALL. 10.01.2016: International Interdisciplinary Conference Praying and Contemplating: Religious a

FECHA LÍMITE/DEADLINE/SCADENZA: 10/01/2016

FECHA CONGRESO/CONGRESS DATE/DATA CONGRESSO: 31/03; 01-02/04/2016

LUGAR/LOCATION/LUOGO: North-West University (Potchefstroom, South Africa)

ORGANIZADOR/ORGANIZER/ORGANIZZATORE: Eleni Pachoumi (School of Ancient Language and Text StudiesNorth-West University)

INFO: elenipachoumi@hotmail.com

CALL:

Proposals are invited for papers on the conference theme, which aims to explore the interactions andsyncretistic tensions between religion and philosophy in texts dating from the 3rd to the 7th c. A.D. Possible areas of interest include personal religious attitudes, notions of theurgy, the mysteries, magic and philosophical approaches to access the divine. The organisers are willing to include a wide range of specialisations, including Patristic literature, Jewish and Syriac religious texts, Neoplatonism, Magical texts, Orphism,Chaldaean Oracles, Alchemy, Manichaeism, Gnosticism, Hermetica and the Coptic Nag Hammadi Library .

Keynote addresses:

Mark Edwards, Oxford University

John Dillon, Trinity College Dublin

Matthew Dickie, University of Illinois, Chicago

Titles with short abstracts (500 words) should be submitted to Eleni Pachoumi (elenipachoumi@hotmail.com)

Submission deadline: extended to 10 January 2016.

The conference aims to publish the papers in a peer-reviewed edition.

The International Interdisciplinary Conference is organised by the School of Ancient Language and Text Studies at North-West University, Potchefstroom in collaboration with UNISA. This conference is the second activity of the research group on Late Antiquity Studies of the focus group on Ancient Texts: Text, Context and Reception of the School of Ancient Language and Text Studies.

Practical information about the conference:

· The conference will be held on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (http://www.nwu.ac.za/content/nwu-potchefstroom-campus).

The historic town of Potchefstroom (http://www.potch.co.za/aabout.htm) is about one and a half hoursdrive from Johannesburg/OR Tambo Airport.

· Transport from Johannesburg airport to Potchefstroom and back to the airport will be arranged for the days before and after the conference.

· Delegates will be assisted with finding accommodation from the wide range of guesthouses on or near the campus. Cf. for instance:

http://www.macachette.co.za

http://www.nwu.ac.za/content/rcs-nonresastro

http://www.potchefstroom.co.za/accommodation/accomodation.html

http://www.wheretostay.co.za/town/potchefstroom/bed-breakfast

http://www.safarinow.com/destinations/potchefstroom/hub.aspx

· Information on the conference fee (appr. R700) and planned excursions will be communicated to delegates when finalised.

For further information, please, contact Eleni Pachoumi at elenipachoumi@hotmail.com