The Sense(s) of Athletics in the Ancient Mediterranean World
Virtual conference
April 28th-29th 2022
Participation in physical activity, whether in today's world or that of antiquity, is inherently interconnected with the senses. Yet, there has been very little use of sensory approaches/methodologies within the context of ancient physical culture. This conference brings together for the first time the respective fields of sensory studies and the study of athletics in the ancient Mediterranean world with the intention of initiating discussion and debate among researchers from a wide variety of research backgrounds.
The full conference program including abstracts is available .
Conference Schedule
Day 1: Thursday 28th April 2022
14:10: James Lloyd (University of Reading): 鈥楪runts and groans, trills and tribrachs: the use of the aulos in Archaic and Classical Greek athletics鈥�, followed by the performance of a replica aulos
14:55: Matthew Evans (University of 糖心TV): 鈥楿ndefeated by heat: Greek athletes and thermal experience鈥�
15:35: Armin Unfricht (University of Graz): 鈥樷�榌鈥 grovelling together in the mud, wallowing like swine鈥� (Luc. Anach. 1). The Aesthetics and Pragmatics of Oil and Dust in Ancient Wrestling and Pankration鈥�
16:05: Marina Prusac-Lindhagen (University of Oslo): 鈥楾he Aesthetic Perfection of 鈥楾he Boxer at Rest鈥� — Athletic ethos and sensual pathos鈥�
16:45: Keynote: Paul Christesen (Dartmouth College): 鈥楾he Hyperfit and the Hyperreal: How Athletics Shaped Greek Aesthetics鈥�
Day 2: Friday 29th April 2022
14:10: Georgios Mouratidis (University of St Andrews): 鈥樷�溾�btained by sweat and labour his glorious reputation鈥�. Ponos and the educational value of pain in the Greek gymnasium鈥�
14:40: Hara Thliveri (University of the Peloponnese): 鈥楢thletes: Death and Commemoration鈥�
15:20: Jamie Marvin (UC San Diego): 鈥榁irtuous Voyeurism: Emperor Julian on advantages of gymnastic competitions鈥�
15:50: Aitor Blanco P茅rez (Universidad de Navarra): 鈥樷�淐rowned by his (imperial) hands鈥�: Agonistic mobility and emperor鈥檚 accessibility for athletes in the Roman period鈥�
16:30: Roc铆o Gordillo Herv谩s (Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville): 鈥楾he dark side of the games: nocturnal rites in the Greek agones during imperial times鈥�
17:00: Keynote: Jo Day (University College Dublin): Senses, Skills and the Ancient World
Registration and further information
The virtual conference is open to all upon registration. Please fill out the to receive the Zoom joining link.
If you have any questions or require any further information, please contact the organiser Matthew Evans at Matthew dot evans dot 2 at warwick dot ac dot uk.