The four seminars will be organized as hybrid events at the University of Helsinki and in Zoom (details below).
Each themed session will consist of two talks followed by a shared discussion, and everyone is most welcome to participate!
Thursday 19 February 2026 (16:15-18:00 EET): Astrology and Occult Sciences
- Dr. Aida Alavi: “One Sky, 360 Images”
- Dr. Jeffrey Kotyk: “Astral Magic and Horoscopy in East Asia: Indo-Iranian Connections”
Live venue: Theology Faculty Room, Fabianinkatu 33, room 4938
Virtual venue: Zoom - Meeting ID: 678 8979 2118 /
Thursday 26 March 2026 (16:15-18:00 EET): Stimulants in the Ancient World
- CANCELLED:
“Experiencing Altered States: Stimulants, Ritual Practice and Power in the Ancient Near East” (Diana Stein-Wuenscher) - Prof. Dr. Anna Jarosz-Wilkołazka, Dr. Anna Rysiak & Prof. Dr. Andrzej Kokowski: “Secrets of the Warrior’s Herbarium: Natural Stimulants in Ancient Northern Europe”
For this session, please join us only virtually: Zoom - Meeting ID: 678 8979 2118 /
Thursday 30 April 2026 (16:15-18:00 EEST): Macrolithic Technology in the Ancient Mediterranean
- Dr. Danai Chondrou: “Tracing Cultural Traditions and Identities in Prehistoric Greece through Grinding Stone Technologies”
- Dr. Francesco Michele Rega: “Exploring the Potential of Macro-Lithic Tool Studies for Understanding Socio-Economic Dynamics in the Maghreb”
Live venue: Theology Faculty Room, Fabianinkatu 33, room 4938
Virtual venue: Zoom - Meeting ID: 678 8979 2118 /
Thursday 7 May 2026 (16:15-18:00 EEST): Cuneiform Texts and Scribal Adaptation
- Associate Professor Gian-Pietro Basello: “How to Learn Cuneiform in Elam: Scribal Adaptation of Mesopotamian Models”
- Associate Professor Jay Crisostomo "Say ‘Aa’: The History and Evolution of the Scholarly Signlist ‘Aa = nâqu’"
Live venue: Theology Faculty Room, Fabianinkatu 33, room 4938
Virtual venue: Zoom - Meeting ID: 678 8979 2118 /
We hope to see you there!