The Pseudo-Clementine Homilies: a philosophical and rhetorical novel from Late Antiquity
International conference at Ghent University, Belgium (September 10-12, 2020).
Organizing committee: Benjamin De Vos, Danny Praet and Koen De Temmerman
Deadline for submission of abstracts: April 30, 2020.
Keynote speakers:
Dominique Côté (University of Ottawa/Université d’Ottawa)
Meinolf Vielberg (Universität Jena)
Other confirmed speakers
William Adler (North Carolina University)
Patricia Duncan (Texas Catholic University)
George Gereby (Central European University)
Tobias Nicklas (Universität Regensburg)
This conference wants to bring together four fields of study: the ancient novel, ancient philosophy, ancient rhetoric, and Jewish-Christian narrative. We aim to study one Greek novel from different perspectives: the so-called Pseudo-Clementine Homilies.
The conference sets out to explore the intellectual context of this novel and the ways in which the Homilies had an impact on readers in Late Antiquity. By approaching the Homilies as a philosophical and rhetorical work in its own right, the conference seeks not only to improve our understanding of the Homilies as a late ancient novel, but also the role of philosophy and rhetoric in the religious narratives of Late Antiquity. We welcome studies on
1. the role of philosophy in the Homilies: e.g. the presentation of Christianity as the true philosophy, the influence of Plato, the Sophists, and other philosophical traditions in the Homilies.
2. rhetorical techniques used in the numerous disputations within the novel and in the characterisation of the main protagonists, and
3. novelistic topoi as structural elements: the function of novelistic motives in the Homilies …
Scholars interested in contributing to this conference, are requested to send an abstract (ca. 250 words) in either English or French together with a short CV stating your affiliation and current occupation to Bmardvos.devos@ugent.be, no later than April 30, 2020.
We will send out confirmations about acceptance by May 15, 2020.
For further questions, please contact Bmardvos.devos@ugent.be (Benjamin De Vos).