Call for Papers: “The Material Sides of Marriage: Female goods and women’s economic role in the domestic sphere in Greek, Roman and Byzantine times”

International Symposium at the Institutum Romanum Finlandiae (Villa Lante, Passeggiata del Gianicolo 10)

in Rome, Italy, on 21.-22. November 2013

Deadline for proposals: 15 July 2013

Contact: PD Dr. Sabine Huebner (sabine.r.huebner@gmail.com) or Dr. Ria Berg (riaberg@hotmail.com)

We propose to study women’s economic role in the domestic sphere focusing on the domestic economy, marriage and family in Greek, Roman, and Byzantine times at a two-day symposium to be held at the Institutum Romanum Finlandiae in Rome, Italy. Themes will include a wide variety of practices that materialize the gendered economies of ancient Mediterranean cultures, from betrothal and dowry practices, material goods in a domestic context, division and maintenance of resources, women’s economic contributions to the household and inheritance and gift giving practices.

The conference organizers welcome abstracts of about 300 words on female goods and the economic activities of women in the sphere of the ancient household based on the analysis of literary, documentary, archaeological and iconographic evidence. Papers should be 20 minutes in length (allowing for 10 minutes of discussion after each individual paper) and should be read in English. We encourage junior researchers and recent PhD holders to apply as well. All speakers are responsible for their own travel arrangements and accommodation in Rome.
Please submit your abstract by e-mail to PD Dr. Sabine Huebner (sabine.r.huebner@gmail.com) or Dr. Ria Berg (riaberg@hotmail.com). Please include the full title of your abstract and a short biographical note on your affiliation and previous research. The deadline for proposals is 15 July 2013.