Virtual conference: 'Mediterranean Antiquity in the Work of H. P. Lovecraft' (10–11 April)

A virtual conference on the topic of 'Mediterranean Antiquity in the Work of H. P. Lovecraft' will take place online on 10 and 11 April. The schedule and registration details can be found at: https://www.carmanromanophd.com/lovecraftconference.

Petition against the reduction in the number of hours of Greek and Latin teaching in Austria

A petition against the reduction in the number of hours of Greek and Latin teaching in Austria is currently circulating. It can be signed at https://mein.aufstehn.at/petitions/latein-ist-kein-luxus-es-ist-bildung. The petition's initiators are asking for support and publicity from other countries. The planned cuts will also affect modern foreign languages, and could jeopardise entire educational programmes in schools that have already reduced teaching hours.

The translated petition reads as follows:

Dear Federal Minister Wiederkehr,

We are concerned about the growing signs of further marginalization of the so-called “dead” languages Latin and Ancient Greek in school curricula, as well as the dismantling of literature classes in favor of supposedly competence-oriented text types, which has been going on for years.

Based on our education and knowledge, we are convinced that a humanistic education, which provides insight into thousands of years of intellectual history, makes an indispensable contribution to the development of mature, independent-minded citizens. This applies at least to the same extent to literature, which has lost its importance in school curricula since the turn of the millennium.

Our request, which can also be understood as a demand, is therefore as follows: The teaching of the classical languages Latin and Ancient Greek should be continued without restriction. The proposed eight (instead of the previous twelve) Latin lessons are definitely not sufficient for a serious acquisition of the subject. And it seems absurd that Austria, a country of culture, is systematically removing literature from the consciousness. Therefore, it should be given its rightful place in the curriculum again.

We kindly ask that this be taken into consideration in the context of the upcoming reforms. 

Inaugural meeting of the Center for Studies of Ancient Mediterranean Music (CEMAM)

The Center for the Study of Ancient Mediterranean Music (CEMAM) is a recently created, non-profit cultural association based at the University of Córdoba, under the initiative of Prof. Fuensanta Garrido Domené. It brings together a multidisciplinary team of researchers from various fields, including Classical Philology, Musicology, Archaeology, Ancient History, Art History, Dance History, and Engineering, and from various academic institutions.

The Center’s main goal is to gather academic and specialized information and preserve the history of music and dance in the Mediterranean basin during Antiquity, its antecedents (prehistoric, Assyrian, Babylonian, Egyptian, and Etruscan periods) and its reception, tradition, survival, influence, and evolution in the medieval period, taking into account other cultures and religions (such as Christianity and Islam, for example). 

To introduce CEMAM to the academic community, a virtual meeting will be held on Friday, January 16, at 5:00 PM. To attend the presentation, please join via the following link.

International hybrid conference: “Lessons from the Past: United Nations Sustainable Development Goals”, 23–24 March 2026.

The Department of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology of the University of Liverpool, in partnership with the University’s Interdisciplinary Centre for Sustainability Research (ICSR) and the Victoria Gallery and Museum, will be hosting the international hybrid conference “Lessons from the Past: United Nations Sustainable Development Goals”, which will be held on the 23rd and 24th March 2026.
 
People who study the past have a unique and broad perspective on humanity. With the challenges of the modern world, this deep understanding has never been more important in shaping our attitudes and responses. The Department is keen to hear from a broad range of speakers and welcome submissions from Archaeologists, Evolutionary Anthropologists, Historians, Classicists, Egyptologists, and anyone else who studies humans in the past. The call for abstract and poster submissions is now open, and the deadline is Monday 27th October 2025. Submitted abstracts will be blind-reviewed by a panel of experts. Detailed submission guidelines can be found here https://lessonsfromthepast.info/paper-submission/.
 
Talks must result in a tangible recommendation to a specified body (e.g. a non-profit institution, local council, University, Government department, or even the United Nations). Presentations should explain how knowledge of the past supports the recommendation. Talks will be selected based on the feasibility of their recommendation and strength of linkage between the proposal made and the evidence used to support it. Poster submissions do not require a recommendation but should include relevant information linking knowledge of the past with a specific UN sustainability goal.
 
More information about the conference, including the keynote speaker, Prof. Robert Kelly (University of Wyoming), can be found on the conference website at https://lessonsfromthepast.info/.
 
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact the conference organisers at contact[at]lessonsfromthepast.info.

Dr. Beatrice Pestarino | Leverhulme Early Career Fellow
University of Liverpool | Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology, 
12-14 Abercromby Square, 
Liverpool L69 7WZ, UK

XVIIIth FIEC Congress / XVIIIe congrès de la FIEC

PRE-ANNOUNCEMENT

We are pleased to announce that the XVIIIth FIEC Congress will be held in Ljubljana (Slovenia) from Monday 3 to Friday 7 July 2028. Further details will follow in due course.

ANNONCE PRÉLIMINAIRE

Nous sommes heureux d’annoncer que le XVIIIe congrès de la FIEC se tiendra à Ljubljana (Slovénie) du lundi 3 au vendredi 7 juillet 2028. Davantage de détails suivront en temps opportun.   

Berlin Graduate School of Ancient Studies – Two scholarships for doctoral studies (October 2026 – September 2030)

The Graduate School Scholarship Program (GSSP) of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is offering two (2) doctoral scholarships for aspiring PhD students within the framework of the "Ancient Languages and Texts" doctoral program of the BerGSAS, https://www.berliner-antike-kolleg.org/en/bergsas/programme/alt/index.html

More information about it and the application procedure can be found below or at https://www.berliner-antike-kolleg.org/en/bergsas/ausschreibungen/index.html#alt

Open rank professorship in Latin literature at the University of Bern in Switzerland.

The Institute of Classical Philology at the University of Bern invites applications for an open-rank full-time position as Professor for Latin beginning in February 2026 or the earliest convenient date (successor of Prof. Dr. Gerlinde Huber-Rebenich).

The Institute seeks applicants with proven international experience in research and teaching. The successful candidate covers the entire field of Latin philology, ideally with a research focus in classical Latin literature. In addition, familiarity with medieval or contemporary (or both) studies is desirable. Research collaboration within the Institute and the new Department of Classics is expected. Responsibilities include participation in the cantonal High School committee on Latin and maintaining relations with the regional Gymnasia that teach Latin.  

Depending on qualifications, the position will be filled at the level of assistant professor, associate professor or full professor. Requirements for an associate or full professor include a Habilitation (or equivalent). Requirements for an assistant professor with tenure track include a Habilitation (or equivalent) in progress. A candidate who cannot yet teach and advise in German, must acquire the necessary language competence in no more than two years after taking up the position.

In accordance with the diversity and equal opportunity goals of the University, the Institute is committed to increase the share of women in academic positions and therefore encourage women to apply. Applicants are also invited to submit plans for job-sharing and dual careers. The University encourages applications from people with disabilities, People of Color, and people who in the Swiss context belong to ethnic minorities.

Start Date: February 1st, 2026

Employer: University of Bern, Faculty of Humanities

 

Position: Full time

 

Location: Bern

 

Application deadline: June 30, 2025

 

Application procedure:

• Please fill in and submit the application form: https://www.philhist.unibe.ch/about_us/now_happening/ausschreibung_latinistik/index_eng.html

 

• Please send your application in a single PDF file to jenny.preiss[at]unibe.ch: Application should include a cover letter, CV, a list of publications, a list of courses taught, teaching evaluations, teaching and research statement, a list of grants and stipends, and academic committee experience.

 

If you have questions, please direct your enquiries to: jenny.preiss[at]unibe.ch