Open invitation to the workshop

GOING AGAINST THE FLOW

WELLS, CISTERNS AND WATER IN ANCIENT GREECE

At the Swedish Institute at Athens, 28-29 September 2017

The workshop Going Against the Flow focuses on the use of wells and cisterns, how these installations functioned and were used in ancient Greece, as well as how they can be better integrated into our understanding of the ancient water supply.

The workshop is divided into two parts. The first is centred on the water sources in their context, discussing use, function and terminology. The second is on contextualisation from other perspectives and disciplines.

The first part of the workshop will focus on the material from ancient Greece. This part will begin with a short session on terminology (e.g. terms from various installations, shapes and construction methods, as well as specific features such as plaster/mortar/cement/lining and other questions) and definitions (what do we mean by cistern, reservoir, manhole, draw-shaft, well, well-like installations etc.). This will be followed by presentations of material at sites explored by the participants. How did the water supply function if we take cisterns and wells as the starting point, not fountains and aqueducts?

The second part of the workshop will broaden the discussion through a contextualising session. This part of the workshop treat the water supply, with special reference to the use of wells and cisterns, and the conditions under which they functioned from perspectives other than the installations themselves. This part of the workshop includes perspectives such as the effects of climate change, land usage, 19th century use of cisterns and wells, as well as outside views from other areas in the Mediterranean world.

Note that the number of seats at the workshop is limited. Those interested in participating should contact the organiser Patrik Klingborg (Patrik.Klingborg[at]antiken.uu[dot]se).

Topics to be discussed
– Terminology: How do we differentiate various similar water sources from each other? How do we define various installations and can modern definitions be reconciled with ancient terminology? How can we work towards a more consistent modern terminology?
– How does the water supply in ancient Greek societies look if we take wells and cisterns as our starting point instead of fountains and aqueducts?
– How influential were external factors, e.g. climate change, political conditions and demographic shifts, for the development of the water supply system?
– What can we learn about the water supply in ancient Greece by widening our scope and incorporating other perspectives and disciplines?

Attached files: Poster, Preliminary Schedule

Organiser
Dr. Patrik Klingborg (Patrik.Klingborg[at]antiken.uu[dot]se)
Uppsala University, Engelska Parken, Thunbergsvägen 3H, Uppsala, Sweden
+46736151874

We celebrated this year’s European Day of Languages  at Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Cente.

The Swedish Institute and the Swedish School at Athens participated in the Multilingual Festival for the celebration of the European Day of Languages, that was held on the Ground Floor of the National Library of Greece, at Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Cente, Athens, Saturday 23 September 2017, 10.00 to 15.00.

Projet d’organisation d’un colloque franco-hellénique Athènes, du 13 au 17 septembre 2017

Opening keynote lectures by Philippe Borgeaud and Angelos Chaniotis.

Attached file: Information about the conference, Poster, Programme

For any questions about this conference, please contact the organizers:
Stavros Perentidis perentid[at]otenet.gr
Maria Patera, maria.patera1[at]gmail.com

In the autumn of 2017, the Swedish Institute at Athens, in collaboration with Uppsala University and Stockholm University, will organize an advanced level course about the concept of democracy. Democratic governance is something that is usually taken for granted in the Western world, but what does “democracy” really mean? What counted as democracy yesterday, what is democracy today, and how will we understand it tomorrow?

Welcome to the Autumn 2017 series of Athens Greek Religion Seminars.

The third season of work at the fortified settlement of Malthi in Messenia started on June 5th. Excavation will be carried out for the coming four weeks. The overarching aim is to establish a chronological sequence for the settlement’s architecture and pottery. Preliminary results suggest that the settlement was occupied from Middle Helladic II to Late Helladic IIB/IIIA1 Early, but that most of the architecture visible today, including the impressive fortification, was erected in Late Helladic I.

The workshop Going Against the Flow focuses on the use of wells and cisterns, how these installations functioned and were used in ancient Greece, as well as how they can be better integrated into our understanding of the ancient water supply.

The Swedish Institute at Athens has invited the jazz band Andreas Hourdakis Trio to perform at the:

• 17th Athens Technopolis Jazz Festival on Friday, May 26, at 21.00 hours and
• 15th Preveza Jazz Festival on Saturday, May 27

Furthermore, the Andreas Hourdakis Trio will give a master class and a concert for the students of the department of Music Studies at Ionian University

• Master Class – Sunday, May 28 2017, at 6 pm, Ionian University
• Concert – Monday, May 29 2017, at 8.30 pm, Ionian University