Tombs and Astral Knowledge from Egypt to China (1000 BCE–1000 CE), Harnack House, Max Planck Society for the History of Science, November 2–3, 2023
The international conference will focus on materiality and narrativity as tools to explore astral imagery in tombs and related objects in a variety of cultures (Hellenistic, Chinese, Egyptian, Central Asian) between approximately 1000 BCE and 1000 CE. Some of the main topics are:
- funerary art in its ritual context
- cultural interactions in funerary art
- new archeological excavations and case studies
- comparative studies on funerary art
- materiality of the heavens in funerary art
- methodological approaches for studying tombs
During these two days, we will challenge disciplinary boundaries and test unconventional ideas. Bringing together experts in various disciplines (history, history of science, archaeology, history of art, and related disciplines), the conference will offer interpretations on newly discovered material (e.g., Pella tomb, Egyptian coffin) and new approaches to well-established ones (e.g., Brindisi plate). We will explore boundary cultures (e.g., ancient Thrace) as well as a wide range of funerary objects (e.g., coins, textiles, votive reliefs). Our contributors will challenge traditional interpretations of astral imagery on funerary objects and their contextualization in rituals, for example, via the so-called Egyptian Star-Clocks, zodiacal motifs in East Asian tombs, the development of celestial deities in Central Asia, the role of Scythian tombs and so on, to further our understanding of funerary practices and their related cultures. Thus, our discussion will facilitate an exchange of perspectives, interpretive analyses, and methods on similar practices regarding the usage of astral imagery in a multitude of cultures.
Advance registration required.