Antonis K. Petrides, Open University of Cyprus, will give a talk entitled

Methodological Prolegomena towards Re-examining the Place of Religion in New Comedy.

The seminar takes place on Tuesday November 29, 2022, at 17.00 (Athens time) in a hybrid format with live presence at the Swedish Institute at Athens, Mitseon 9, and via Zoom link. 

The archaeological site of Vlochos is situated three kilometres north of the town of Palamas in western Thessaly, and consists of the large hill of Strongilovouni and its immediate surroundings. An archaeological field programme (The Vlochos Archaeological Project) was carried out here in 2016–2018 as a collaboration between the Ephorate of Antiquities of Karditsa and the Institute, aiming at surveying the extensive multi-period ancient remains found here.

Ancient Hermione was one of the city states of the southern Argolis region. Today the remains of the polis mostly lie under the homonymous modern town, located on a long narrow peninsula. Its tip, known as the Bisti, is a park, whereas today’s Hermione covers the east slope of the 70-meter tall Pron hill. A fertile plain, once hosting a water course, is found between the Pron and the mountainous Peloponnesian landscape in the north. Both sides of the Hermione peninsula feature excellent natural harbours.

The Sanctuary of Poseidon on Kalaureia is located on the island of Poros in the Saronic Gulf, c. 6 km from Poros town. The site lies on a plateau between the hills of Aghios Elias and Vigla and holds a commanding position c. 200 m above sea level. To the north there is a visual connection with the Methana peninsula as well as the islands of Angistri and Aigina, while in the far distance it is possible to see Pireus and the coastline of Attica on clear days. To the south, the visitor can catch glimpses of the sea against the background of the steep Peloponnesian coast.

Retracing Connections: Byzantine Storyworlds in Greek, Arabic, Georgian, and Old Slavonic (c. 950 – c. 1100) is a long-term international, interdisciplinary research programme funded by Riksbankens Jubileumsfond and administered by Uppsala University, in collaboration with the University of Southern Denmark, the Swedish Research Institute in Istanbul and the Swedish Institute at Athens.

The focus of my research concerns the coroplastic material from the Swedish excavations at Asine in the 1920s. This unpublished material comprises small figurines of terracotta that often represent human beings and animals, but miniature furniture and boats also occur. The figurines were discovered in various archaeological contexts, but are linked to the cultic rituals in the Bronze Age and mirror social, economic and ideological conceptions and conditions. The assemblage of terracotta figurines also signals the local identity and self- representation of the inhabitants.

The Asea valley is located between the ancient cities of Tegea and Megalopolis in the central Peloponnese. The city of Asea itself, an independent polis between the 6th and 3rd century BC, was located on and around the conspicuous Paleokastro hill at the heart of the valley. The location of the valley is important as it acted as a “main” thoroughfare between Corinthia and the Argolid in the east, and Olympia in the west, during prehistoric and ancient times. Due to few mentions in ancient literature, Asea is mainly known through the archaeological evidence.

The city of Soufli in northern Greece once lay along the Silk Road. It was an important European centre for silk production in the 19^th century and still maintain this industry, from larvae to finished fabric, albeit on a smaller scale. In this unique environment, the Swedish Institute at Athens brings together students from Konstfack, the Stockholm University of Arts, Craft and Design, and students from the corresponding Athens institution Athens School of Fine Arts.