A seminar that brings together archaeologists, zooarchaeologists, philologists and historians of ancient philosophy and science, who explore the human-animal relationship in antiquity, will be held through live lectures and workshops from February to December 2024. This dialogue, they note the organizers, sometimes it gives rise to compositions and sometimes it brings to the surface contradictions, e.g. between texts and the finds from excavations.

The lectures will be held live at the M.H. Laboratory. Wiener of the American School of Classical Studies (ASCSA) and the Kanellopoulou Museum and will be broadcast digitally. The ultimate goal of the seminar is to highlight ways of interaction as well as changes that occurred in the relationship between humans and animals and to bring the public into contact with the sciences that study animals of the past and their relationship with humans. For this reason, in addition to lectures, the seminar includes two workshops for children at the Kanellopoulou Museum and the M.H. Wiener of the American School of Classical Studies in Athens.

Man’s interest in animals, practical, theoretical and imaginative, marked the emergence and formation of civilization as humans attempted to understand themselves in relation to, but at the same time in opposition to, other natural or imagined species. Today, the relationship between humans and animals is undergoing a period of change. The animal rights movement – with a particular appeal to younger generations – calls into question established ideas and attitudes and prompts researchers to look to the past for models of interaction that differ from today’s.

In archaeology, the relationship between humans and animals is approached through three paths:

– zooarchaeology, which studies the natural remains of animals in man-made environments,

– of art history, which studies the representations of animals and their symbolism,

– of philology and the history of philosophy and science, which study the views of the ancients about animals as they are reflected in texts.

The coordination is by Nikos Papadimitriou (Kanellopoulou Museum) – Panagiotis Karkana (M.H. Wiener Laboratory, ASKSSA) – Dimitris Michailidis (M.H. Wiener Laboratory, ASKSA) – Stasinos Stavrianeas (Hellenic Open University)

PEOPLE AND ANIMALS IN ANTIQUITY – PROGRAMME

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Wednesday, February 28, 7:00 p.m. – MH Wiener Laboratory, ASKSA (Swedias 54, Kolonaki). Dimitris Michaelidis – Katerina Papagianni (Laboratory M.H.Wiener, ASKSA).

People and animals in Greece during the Ice Age Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/TyZGv7gB2J8

Wednesday, March 20, 7:00 p.m. – MHWiener Laboratory, ASKSA (Swedias 54, Kolonaki). George Kazantzis (University of Ioannina).

Shepherds and hunters in Greece during the Neolithic period Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/oiMQhlha7VU

Wednesday, April 10, 19.00 – MHWiener Laboratory, ASKSA (Swedias 54, Kolonaki). Katerina Papagianni (Laboratory M.H. Wiener, ASKSA).

Men, Mice and Cats: An Ancient Love Story Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/vB8bbHwVce4

Wednesday 22 May, 19.00 – Kanellopoulou Museum (Theorias 12, Plaka). Diamantis Panagiotopoulos (University of Heidelberg).

Dancing on the shark’s fin. People and bulls in Minoan Crete Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/WE8W1aSff4Y

Wednesday June 12, 19.00 – Kanellopoulou Museum (Theorias 12, Plaka). Nassos Papalexandrou (University of Texas at Austin).

Mixed Monsters of Myth and Art in Ancient Greek Culture Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/2J9ZztjPipA

Wednesday 18 September, 19.00 – Kanellopoulou Museum (Theorias 12, Plaka). Dimitra Mylonas (Institute of Aegean Prehistory – Eastern Crete Study Center).

Irresistible mullets, formidable whales and purple luxury. Fishing in ancient Greece Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/Gkpqpq-zwdU

Wednesday, October 16, 7:00 p.m. – MHWiener Laboratory, ASKSA (Swedias 54, Kolonaki). Dimitris Filiogou (Laboratory M.H. Wiener, ASKSA).

Forever together: animal sacrifices and burials in antiquity Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/OB631I6jUYc

Wednesday November 13, 19.00 – MH Wiener Laboratory, ASKSSA (Swedias 54, Kolonaki). Stasinos Stavrianeas (Hellenic Open University).

The Beginnings of Zoological Science Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/oKT4SHzeFxk

Wednesday December 11, 19.00 – MH Wiener Laboratory, ASKSSA (Swedias 54, Kolonaki). Christos Zafeiropoulos (University of Patras).

Talking Animals: Aesop’s Fables Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/lj83qHKyyMs

EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN

1. Saturday 9 – Sunday 10 March, 11.00-12.30 – Kanellopoulou Museum. Animals and monsters in antiquity.

In this workshop the children will participate in activities in the museum halls that will allow them to see up close ancient vases and figurines of animals and hybrid creatures (e.g. centaurs, sphinxes, sirens), draw, listen to accounts of ancient authors about animals, and to talk to archaeologists, zooarchaeologists and philologists about how the ancients studied animals.

Museum educators: Ioanna Zacharopoulou – Katerina Stamidis. Ages: 5-9 years. Duration: approx. 90′. Entry: free with reservation – first come, first served. Information: 210 3319300. Requests: [email protected]

The application should include the following information:

– child’s first and last name

– age and grade

– which day the application concerns (Saturday 9 or Sunday 10 March)

– name and surname of parent or guardian

– phone and e-mail of parent or guardian

2. Saturday April 13, 11.00, 12.00 & 13.00 – MH Wiener Laboratory, ASKSA. Let’s become zooarchaeologists!

The Malcolm H. Wiener Archaeological Science Laboratory, ASKSSA, opens its doors to welcome its little friends (grades 5-6 and high school 1-2) to an action packed ancient animal. Together we will learn how to do a small excavation and how to identify the animals that lived in ancient Greece and we will talk about their relationship with the people of the time.

Ages: 10-14 years (E’-S’ Elementary/A’-S’ High School). Duration: 45′. Admission: free with reservation – strict first-come, first-served basis. Information: 231 000 2400, extension 133 (09.00-11.00 am). Applications: [email protected]

The application should include the following information:

– child’s first and last name

– age and grade

– which workshop the application concerns (of 11.00, 12.00 or 13.00)

– name and surname of parent or guardian

– phone and e-mail of parent or guardian