- Intellectual Heritage of the Ancient Near East
- Europe 1815-1914 (EReRe)
- St. Petersburg - Helsinki
- Centre of Excellence on Ancient Greek Written Sources
- The Governance of Transnational Islam
- Cultures of Silence
- People and the Environment: Human Agency, Housing Constructiongs and Social and Ritual Space in Egypt 1550-1609 BC
- Nordic Co-operation Revisited
The Department of World Cultures is part of the Faculty of Arts.
PO Box 59
00014 University of Helsinki
Unioninkatu 38 A
+358 (9) 191 22994
Intellectual Heritage of the Ancient Near East
The research project on the Intellectual Heritage of the Ancient Near East examines the cultural, linguistic and literary relations between the Near East and the West, and the interaction between the Near East and ancient Greece in particular. The five-year project (2010–2015), part of the Finland Distinguished Professor Programme and funded by the Academy of Finland, is based in the Department of World Cultures, University of Helsinki.
The project is led by Prof. Jaakko Hämeen-Anttila in collaboration with FiDiPro Professor Robert Rollinger (formerly of Innsbruck).
Other team members are Dr Erik van Dongen, Dr Raija Mattila, Inka Nokso-Koivisto (MA), Ilkka Lindstedt (MA) and Saana Svärd (MA).
The multimethodological undertaking draws on Akkadian, Greek and Arabic sources to elaborate on East–West relations. Searching for the historical roots of various dichotomies and controversies, the project analyses the formation of cultural identities in a multicultural environment.
The analysis of relations between three interrelated cultures (Mesopotamia, Greece, the Islamic culture) through millennia from different perspectives (religion; power; literature; philosophy; historiography) makes it possible to create a model for cultural change and identity formation. In order to secure a comprehensive analysis, the project has three research strands focusing on the same phenomena from different viewpoints.
Project members' publications (pdf)
Further information: Prof. Jaakko Hämeen-Anttila, jaakko.hameen-anttila(at)helsinki.fi.
News in May 2012
PUBLIC LECTURE
Prof. Dr. Josef Wiesehöfer (Kiel)
Ancient and Contemporary Iranian Views of the Greeks and the 'Greek Wars'
Tuesday 15 May, 14.15–15.15, in Topelia, Unioninkatu 38, B107.
LECTURE SERIES IN ASSYRIOLOGY
Lectures will be given by Finland Distinguished Professor Dr. Robert Rollinger and guest lecturers Dr. Sebastian Fink and Dr. Martin Lang from the Leopold-Franzens University Innsbruck.
Monday 14 May
Topelia, Unioninkatu 38, B107
9.15–10.45 Dr. Sebastian Fink: The Tradition of the Lamentation-Literature and the Quest for Theodicee
11.00–12.30 Dr. Martin Lang: International Relations in the late Bronze Age
13.15–14.45 Finland Distinguished Professor Robert Rollinger: Berossos and the Hanging Garden of Babylon
Wednesday 16 May
Topelia, Unioninkatu 38, B107
9.15–10.45 Dr. Martin Lang: Ancient Mesopotamian Kingship
11.00–12.30 Finland Distinguished Professor Robert Rollinger : Achaemenid Royal
Inscriptions: Historical thinking and audience, lecture 1
13.15–14.45 Finland Distinguished Professor Robert Rollinger : Achaemenid Royal
Inscriptions: Historical thinking and audience, lecture 2
The lectures will be held in English and they are open for all. The lecture series + a learning diary corresponds to 2 credits in Assyriology (AAS120, AAS130 or upon agreement).
For additional information, please contact Dr. Raija Mattila, 09-191 22093, raija.mattila(ät)helsinki.fi .