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timing FEstivals with Archaeology and Skyscape at Greek Temples

Project description

Unveiling ancient Greek festival timings through skyscape archaeology

The archaeology of Greek sanctuaries in Magna Graecia suffers from a knowledge gap regarding the timing of their main celebrations. Existing epigraphical, historical, and archaeological evidence is notably sparse on festivals and calendars. Consequently, the periods of major festivities at these temples remain unknown. This hinders our understanding of ancient Greek religious practices. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) programme, the FEAST project will bridge this gap by applying skyscape archaeology, which combines classical archaeology with astronomy. FEAST will investigate the original alignment given to these monuments. Spanning from the 8th to the 3rd century BCE, FEAST will uncover continuity in the sacred topography.

Objective

FEAST action will investigate the timing for the main celebration at Greek temples. The project attempts to overcome a gap in the current knowledge on the archaeology of Greek sanctuaries (specifically for the Magna Graecia) by applying an interdisciplinary approach to classical archaeology, that is skyscape archaeology. For most of Magna Graecia temples, there are no indication about when, in the year, the main celebration would have taken place. There, the epigraphical, historical, and archaeological evidence is very lacunose for the topic of festivals and calendars. Therefore, the method here proposed interlinks archaeology with astronomy, researching about the way ancient sanctuaries were built, by analysing the actual orientation that the founders gave to the monument during its foundation in relation to the sky. Temples will be surveyed according to standard topographical methods, with specific attention to the superimposition of strata and the diachrony of the phases of attendance. This research will focus on a chronological horizon that goes from the 8th to the 3rd century B.C. a broad spectrum which allows to discern any continuity and discontinuity in the topography of the sacred. In line with Europe priorities for an inclusive, green and sustainable development, FEAST action fit in the modern challenge of recovering the deep/intimate connection between people and the planet/the sky, while tackling most pressing global challenges of identity crisis of people/nations, focusing on the festivals as moments of community memory and identity building and on heritage sites as places of belonging (coherently with The New European Bauhaus EU mission). The fellowship at the Laboratory of Archaeometry at UOP would open up Dr. Cristofaro career by establishing the applicant as one of the few experts in the world in Skyscape Archaeology of the Classical World, as well as will enhance LA@UOP's international excellence in Archaeometry by adding a new field of expertise.

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Topic(s)

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HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01

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Coordinator

UNIVERSITY OF PELOPONNESE
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 169 326,72
Address
STAVROU 28 KAI KARYOTAKI 28
221 00 Tripolis
Greece

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Region
Κεντρική Ελλάδα Πελοπόννησος Αργολίδα
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

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