Alchemy in Byzantium: A Research Field on the Rise

Event Description


Event Details


The workshop is an activity of the research project “Alchemy in Byzantium” of the Institute of Historical Research, National Hellenic Research Foundation (coordinator: Gerasimos Merianos). It is also the first of a series of scientific events on the history of alchemy, labeled “Alchemical Dialogues”, an initiative undertaken in collaboration with Matteo Martelli, University of Bologna.

The study of alchemy in Byzantium has been advancing during the last few decades, as indicated by the gradual increase in the number of publications, research projects, and doctoral dissertations that examine (or include the examination of) alchemical topics in a Byzantine context.

This workshop is the first scientific event that focuses exclusively on alchemy in Byzantium and delves systematically into various of its dimensions. It builds on the dynamics of the field, aiming to provide an interdisciplinary platform for discussion between scholars specializing in Byzantine alchemy and scholars from diverse fields whose knowledge and insights will substantially aid the understanding of the peculiarities of alchemy in Byzantium.

Monday 9 November 2020

Greetings by the Director of the Institute Maria Christina CHATZIIOANNOU

Gerasimos MERIANOS (National Hellenic Research Foundation) What makes alchemy in Byzantium Byzantine?

Shannon STEINER (Binghamton University, New York) Alchemy and the luxury arts in Byzantium

The Greek treatise on goldsmithing (Par. gr. 2327) revisited: A project of the Leibniz-Science Campus Mainz “Byzantium between Orient and Occident”

Susanne GREIFF (RGZM /Leibniz Research Institute for Archaeology) On common grounds : Goldsmithing recipes in an alchemical collection

Antje BOSSELMANN-RUICKBIE (RGZM / Justus Liebig University Gießen) The goldsmithing recipes in Par. gr. 2327 and the technology of medieval goldsmiths’ works

Günter PRINZING (Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz) Observations on the textual base of the new edition. What do we know about the relation between Ms Par. gr. 2327 and Ms Meteorensis 97? Are they copies from a common source (“Vorlage”)?

Tuesday 10 November 2020

Michèle MERTENS (University of Liège) The trials and tribulations of Zosimos’ writings through the Byzantine era

Cristina VIANO (CNRS) Philosophy and alchemy in the sixth century: The alchemical commentary of Olympiodorus of Alexandria

Maria K. PAPATHANASSIOU (National & Kapodistrian University of Athens) Stephanos of Alexandria and the poet-alchemists

Lucia RAGGETTI (University of Bologna) Four shalt thou count! The Ps. Democritus’ Book on Elements and First Principles

Vangelis KOUTALIS (University of Ioannina) Marcianus gr. Z 299 as part of Bessarion’s Greek manuscript collection

Bojidar DIMITROV & Matteo MARTELLI (University of Bologna) Homer’s alchemy between Byzantium and Baghdad

Maria MAVROUDI (University of California, Berkeley) Alchemy and philosophy between the Greek and the Islamic world, 7th-9th centuries

Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 November 2020, 17:00–21:00 EET

Source: http://www.eie.gr/nhrf/institutes/ihr/news/2020/2020_11_09-10_Byz_Alch_Program.pdf


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