In antiquity, mother deities tend to integrate a multitude of different meanings and values that can hardly be differentiated or even distinguished from each other in their materialization an iconography, as well as in their conceptualization in literary sources can hardly be differentiated or even distinguished from each other. The specific divine figure gains a status of a fluid and contingent figuration that varies in relation to the social and spatial context.
The aim of the conference is to sharpen the different layers of meaning and symbolism that are stand standing behind the shapes of mother deities as they appear in the archaeological and epigraphic material, as well as. Additionally, a focus will be laid on the dynamics and changes in practice and appearance that are derivingderive from the fluidity. Our interest isit to discuss in how far the veneration practices of deities, such as Cybele/Mater Magna, Fortuna or the Germanic-Celtic Matronae in the Northwest provinces negotiated or blurred these semantic and symbolic boundaries. , but alsoWhat new had to create new distinctive presentation parameters were created, for instance in cities where religious groups were in the needed to demarcate themselves from other religious groups in order to achieve particularity and finally to survive?.
The main questions to be explored are:
- differences and similarities in iconography and cult
- epigraphic evidences on mother deities
- rural vs. urban sanctuaries (urban religion)
The conference will take place between 28 – 30 March 2019 at the University of Graz and is organized in collaboration between the Institute for Ancient History at the Karl-Franzens-University in Graz together with the FERCAN project (Fontes Epigraphici Religionum Celticarum Antiquarum), and the Max Weber Centre for Advanced Cultural and Social Studies in Erfurt. Our aim is to bring together researchers not only from the disciplines of archaeology, but also from ancient history und linguistics in order to gain diverse perspectives on the topic from different sides.
The main questions to be explored are:
- differences and similarities in iconography and cult
- epigraphic evidences on mother deities
- rural vs. urban sanctuaries (urban religion)
Organisers:
Dr. Asuman Lätzer-Lasar (Max Weber Centre for Advanced Cultural and Social Studies, University of Erfurt)
Astrid Schmölzer, MA MA (University of Graz / FERCAN-project)
more information on the program here.
