IMC 2008: Sessions
Session 1218: The Natural World in Late Antiquity and Byzantium, II
Wednesday 9 July 2008, 14.15-15.45
| Sponsor: | Centre for Late Antique Religion & Culture, Cardiff University |
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| Organiser: | Shaun Tougher, School of History, Archaeology & Religion, Cardiff University |
| Moderator/Chair: | Josef Lössl, School of History, Archaeology & Religion, Cardiff University |
| Paper 1218-a | Byzantine Reactions to the Natural World: Fear or Fun? (Language: English) Index terms: Byzantine Studies, Mentalities |
| Paper 1218-b | Literal and Allegorical Readings of Descriptions of Nature in Middle Byzantine Saints' Lives (Language: English) Index terms: Byzantine Studies, Hagiography, Language and Literature - Greek, Mentalities |
| Paper 1218-c | The Empress Maria 'of Alania' and the Natural World (Language: English) Index terms: Byzantine Studies, Language and Literature - Greek, Learning (The Classical Inheritance), Science |
| Abstract | This session focuses on the natural world in the Byzantine empire. Shaun Tougher will explore the engagement of the Byzantines with the natural world by considering specific cases, in particular the reaction to the whale Porphyrios. Dirk Krausmuller will examine descriptions of nature in Middle Byzantine saints' lives, and will attempt to establish possible allegorical meanings of descriptions of nature. Lynda Garland will analyse Eustratios of Nicaea's work on the natural world which he wrote for the empress Maria 'of Alania' and in which he attempted to explain various meteorological, cosomological, geographical and astronomical phenomena. |