Current Research Themes and Projects
Scientific Culture in Late Antiquity
The purpose of this theme is to explore the phenomenon of scientific culture in Late Antiquity. The focus is on literary, archaeological or other evidence which throws light on the scientific developments of the period, especially in view of the relationships between theoreticians, practitioners, scientists, engineers, industrialists, traders, politicians, religious and military personnel.
The Latin and Syriac Commentary Project
This project explores the roots of modern western and Islamic attitudes to religion, science, and learning. In classical antiquity the main form of scientific writing was the commentary. Its main language was Greek. From the third century CE Greek texts were translated and new commentaries were written in 'new' languages, in particular Latin and Syriac.
Genre and Content in Late-Antique Latin Literature
This wider theme includes research in a broad range of late-antique Latin literature. It involves a significant number of centre staff, associates and research students, who work with a variety of methodological approaches.
Chinese Nestorian Documents from the Tang Dynasty
The translation project will comprise all texts ascribed to the so-called Nestorian church in China during the Tang period. The best known of these texts is certainly the so-called Stele of Xi’an, the Daqin-jingjiao-liuxing-zhongguo-bei 景教流行中國碑, the "Stele of the Transmission of the Brilliant Teaching to the Middle Kingdom", which has been worked on now for centuries and is still used as a main sources for the history of the "Church of the East".
Julian of Aeclanum and the Hirpini in Late Antiquity
This project takes a comprehensive look at one of the most exciting figures of Late Antiquity within its historical, social, cultural and religious context.
Other Current Projects include:
- The Formation of Christian Identity in Late Antiquity
- The Body and Other Marginal Spaces in Late Antiquity
- Philosophy and Religion in the Second Century
- Cappadocia Before the Cappadocians
- Early Christian Epigraphy