Source: Oxford Patristics.
Palazzo Falconieri, Accademia dell’Ungheria, Via
Giulia 1, Roma
An International Conference with the support of the Accademia
dell’Ungheria di Roma Department of Medieval Studies, Central European
University, Budapest
Reading the fourth and fifth century Roman Empire in
terms of the interactions of ’pagans’ and ’Christians’ has provided the leading
paradigm for historical and theological discourse from late antiquity until the
middle of the twentieth century when András Alföldi presented a Christian
Constantine in conflict with a ’pagan’ Rome.
This conflictual model has met with resistance as subsequent generations
of scholars have uncovered new evidence that has led to new interpretive models
to better understand the social, cultural and political changes in Rome. Emphases on assimilation, inculturation, and
tolerance for multiculturalism have replaced conflict. Even the categories of interpretation - `pagan’
and `Christian’ – have been called into question as useful heuristic terms.
It is time now for a new assessment of what we know
about ’pagans’ and `Christians’ in late antique Rome. This conference seeks to consider the religious
roles, identities and the discourses of power after the battle at the Milvian
Bridge opened the way for a new formulation of social and religious life in
Rome. We propose to discuss new material and textual evidence for the survival
of paganism and the expansion of Christianity in the fourth and fifth century
city. New models for interpreting the
complex evidences from the city will be considered along with shifting historical
paradigms that bear on changing interpretations of fourth-fifth century Rome.
In an effort to facilitate a wide-ranging,
interdisciplinary conversation, we encourage scholars working in any discipline
– history, archaeology, art history, religious studies, classical studies - to
submit abstracts for papers. The organizers are particularly interested in
papers that focus on new material evidence, new interpretations of texts or new
interpretive paradigms with which to approach the nature of relations between
pagans and Christians in fourth and fifth century Rome. The proceedings of the
conference will be published.
Participants whose papers are accepted for
presentation will be offered accommodation in the Palazzo Falconieri and meals
for the duration of the conference. We
cannot, however, underwrite travel expenses.
Please send proposals of 400 words for 20-minute
papers in English by 15 April 2012 to saghym@ceu.hu
Michele Salzman Rita Lizzi
Testa Marianne Sághy
University of California Riverside Università di Perugia CEU Budapest