Spinning Fates and the Song of the Loom: the use of textiles, clothing and cloth production as metaphor, symbol and narrative device in Greek and Latin literature

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A one day round-table at the Danish National Research Foundation’s Centre for
Textile Research, Saxo Institute, University of Copenhagen

Spinning Fates and the Song of the Loom: the use of textiles,  clothing and cloth production as metaphor, symbol and  narrative device in Greek and Latin literature 

1st June 2012

Ancient writers were well versed in the use of the techniques of textile production
and dress as a short hand for all aspects of ancient life. Authors were skilled at
manipulating descriptions of the dressed individual to produce character
vignettes; textile metaphors abound in all genres of writing, suggesting that
audiences had a shared understanding not only of the language of dress but also
the methods of production.
This one day seminar invites paper from scholars working on all aspects of dress
and textiles in Greek and Latin literature – defined for this purpose as poetry,
prose, philosophy and letters.
Presentations should be only 15 minutes long as our aim is to promote discussion
and an exchange of ideas. You can present work in progress or discuss a precirculated longer paper. A second seminar will take place at the University of
Birmingham, UK, in 2013.
The day will run from 10-17, followed by dinner in Copenhagen.
Some travel funding may be available.
Abstracts should be sent by the end of April, to:
Marie Louise Nosch nosch@hum.ku.dk
Mary Harlow mharlow@hum.ku.dk