Academic Conference ‘Bittersweet and Inescapable Crawling Thing*. Love in the Diachrony of Greek Literature’ [14-15/2/23]

Love has been an overarching theme in Greek literature over time. The ancient Greeks took advantage of their religion’s openness and tolerance to dynamically express their sexuality. From the Archaic Period onwards, they created literature on love characterized by libertinism and great expressiveness. Even after the twilight of the ancient world and the conversion to Christianity, the Greeks continued to produce literature on love throughout the Byzantine, Post-Byzantine, and Early Modern Periods.

Our objective at the conference is to give voice to the multiple manifestations of the erotic phenomenon across the whole diachrony of Greek literature.

Organized by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens under the auspices of the Rector, Professor Meletios-Athanasios Dimopoulos, the conference will be hosted at the University’s central building from 14 to 15 February 2023.

Presentations will last 15 minutes, with a further 5 minutes for discussion.

The language of the conference will be Greek.

Crucial dates:

1. 30 November 2022: deadline for the submission of title and abstract of the presentation (max 300 words). Submissions should be sent via email (vasvert@phil.uoa.gr and mathoma@phil.uoa.gr).
2. 20 December 2022: announcement of presentations accepted for the conference.
3. 14-15 February 2023: holding of the conference in the Great Hall of the University of Athens (central building, 30 Panepistimiou st, Athens).

Contact us:

Email addresses: vasvert@phil.uoa.gr and mathoma@phil.uoa.gr

Tel: +30 210 6710243 and +30 6978721790

Academic conference committee:

Vassilios Vertoudakis (Chair of the Committee)

Thanasis Agathos

Theodora Antonopoulou

Marianna Thoma

Nikoletta Kanavou

Kirki Kefalea

Georgios Kouzas

Amphilochios Papathomas

*Sappho Fragment 130A translated by Diane Rayor in Sappho: A New Translation of the Complete Works (Cambridge and New York, 2014).