Sofia 2024 Call for Papers
The Research Unit for "Northwest Semitic Epigraphy Related to the Biblical World" is soliciting paper proposals for the 2024 EABS Annual Meeting taking place in Sofia, Bulgaria. This unit investigates the significance of Semitic inscriptions, encompassing Phoenician/Punic, Aramaic, Moabite, Ammonite, and Hebrew, alongside bilingual inscriptions including Akkadian, Greek, etc. Its focus lies in unraveling their role in comprehending the cultures and historical narratives of the Levantine regions during the 2nd and 1st millennium BCE.
Possible paper topics include, but are not limited to:
- New epigraphic discoveries from the Levant
- Material culture related to epigraphic evidence
- Advancements in recording methodology and deciphering technology (photographic techniques, digital epigraphy, AI, etc.)
- The societal environment conveyed through inscriptions
- Archaeological settings shedding light on or validating occurrences, figures, or customs referenced in epigraphic materials
- International relations (political dynamics, sovereignty, warfare, etc.) in conjunction with epigraphic records
- Economic structures and commercial networks inferred from epigraphic discoveries
- The role of epigraphy in the interpretation of ancient Near Eastern texts
Please submit your proposal to [email protected] by February 1, 2024, including the paper title and a 300-word abstract at most. The abstract should encapsulate the novelty, ingenuity, and relevance to the field. The allotted time for each presentation is 20 to 30 minutes, with a provision for a question and answer period. Conference language is English.
Anticipating the submission of proposals that push the boundaries of scholarly discourse at the confluence of epigraphy, identity and cultural studies. A compilation of the finest submissions is in the works.
