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Multiple Explanations in the Ancient Greek and Roman World

Virtual seminar series, 2021-2022

The University of Patras will be hosting a virtual seminar series on 'Multiple Explanations in the Ancient Greek and Roman World' during academic year 2021-2022.
The aim of the seminar is to explore the technique of multiple explanations across a variety of Greek and Latin literary, scientific, philosophical and other genres in classical and Graeco-Roman antiquity. It seeks to shed light on the contexts, traditions, and intellectual and cultural rationale(s) underpinning the use of multiple explanations in various types of ancient writing.

Speakers will be looking closely at the structure and dialectics of multiple explanations in various texts, in terms of how (for example) the technique contributes to the investigation of causes, or is used as a didactic tool.

The seminar will host talks on a monthly basis, starting from October 2021 up to June 2022. All talks will be held via zoom (please see titles and zoom links below). All are welcome (no prior registration is required).

The organisers

George Kazantzidis (University of Patras, gkazantzidis@upatras.gr)

Katerina Oikonomopoulou (University of Patras, oikonomk@upatras.gr)

Hendrik Müller (Independent scholar, Hendrik.Mueller@hs-fresenius.de)

PROGRAMME

1) 21 October 2021, 19:00- 20:30 (Athens time zone): Robert Mayhew (Seton Hall University): Porphyry and Aristotle on why Odysseus waits to reveal himself to Penelope: Commentary on schol. ‘Odyssey’ 13, Marcianus gr. IX 4 (fol. 80r – 80v).

Zoom link: https://upatras-gr.zoom.us/j/97438687374?pwd=SEF0dG1rNTdIK3ZXVkEwZ0QyOXljdz09 (Passcode: 915217)

2) 30 November 2021, 19:00- 20:30 (Athens time zone): Eva Wöckener-Gade (University of Hamburg): ‘Or it comes from…’ – Collection over Selection as a Principle in the ‘Etymologicum Gudianum’.

Zoom link: https://upatras-gr.zoom.us/j/95545873611?pwd=L2h1ZkljVmwyWDdZVmNudmxCYVZEQT09 (Passcode: 207379)

3) 28 January 2022, 19:00- 20:30 (Athens time zone): Myrto Garani (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens): The Principle of Multiple Explanations: An Epicurean(?) Weapon in a Stoic's Arsenal (Seneca's ‘Naturales Quaestiones’).

Zoom link: https://upatras-gr.zoom.us/j/91549976909?pwd=N1lTdVdWSkcxMk4vd2ViV2RuNTZuUT09 (Passcode: 625718)

4) 25 February 2022, 18:00- 19:30 (Athens time zone): Daryn Lehoux (Queen’s University): Modelling the Heavens in Greco-Roman Egypt.

Zoom link: https://upatras-gr.zoom.us/j/96035037869?pwd=R1pVa2cwK3BjNG9BSnoyWWR1ckYzZz09 (Passcode: 047826)

5) 18 March 2022, 18:00- 19:30 (Athens time zone): Kenneth Yu (University of Toronto): Multiple Solutions in the Homeric Scholia: Ancient Exegesis in the Broader Context of Postclassical Knowledge Practices.

Zoom link: https://upatras-gr.zoom.us/j/98496862325?pwd=MkNJaStHcXlDSEd4ckZPVnRIZUdqdz09 (Passcode: 429800)

6) 28 April 2022, 18:00- 19:30 (Athens time zone): Steven D. Smith (Hofstra University): Erotic Amphib(i)ology: The Alternative Etiologies of AelianNA’ 14.28.

Zoom link: https://upatras-gr.zoom.us/j/96699313893?pwd=VEIrYjBLSVduT1RSeG4xTEhFZFUzdz09 (Passcode: 400907)

7) 19 May 2022, 18:00- 19:30 (Athens time zone): Greta Hawes (Center for Hellenic Studies): Themes, Variations, the Layering up of Etymological Multitudes in Ps-Plutarch’s ‘On Rivers’.

Zoom link: https://upatras-gr.zoom.us/j/97847947065?pwd=Y3E3cjRnK3R1WlY5Z01aUmVreVNJQT09 (Passcode: 514024)

8) 17 June 2022, 18:00- 19:30 (Athens time zone): Michiel Meeusen (KU Leuven): Multiple Explanations in Ancient Greek Natural Problems.

Zoom link: https://upatras-gr.zoom.us/j/92698848099?pwd=ZUVmQkd5MGZ4NU9hVm5QWWdoWnhhQT09 (Passcode: 110091)