3 - 4 pm (CET)

Venue:

Einstein Center Chronoi

Otto-von-Simson-Straße 7, 14195 Berlin

Prof. Dr. Ludwig Morenz

In a cross-cultural perspective, sacred landscapes reveal particular modes of relating to the past “inscribed” into the landscape. However, the profound impact of centuries of materialised history in the radically Osirianised Abydos seems exceptional. Historically, after a prolonged decline in significance at the end of the 3rd millennium, the ancient necropolis of rulers from the 4th and early 3rd millennium was conceived as the specific earthly location of the god Osiris, and the mytho-historicised landscape was celebrated in festivals. 

Building on the already very ancient material culture of the time and on certain historical memories, as well as on certain mythological ideas closely associated with them, a new type of Osirian sacrotope was created in the 2nd millennium as a mytho-historicised site of the god Osiris on earth. In addition to various truly ancient objects as references, archaising elements were also incorporated into images, writing, and other aspects of material culture. The deep historical past, dating back about a millennium, was mytho-historically transformed into the “time of gods” – specifically, the “time of Osiris”. Within this framework of a mythologically updated distant past, essential aspects of the Egyptian religion of the dead were shaped, and not only were old ideas continued, but themes and motifs such as the concept of the judgement of the dead were specifically developed within this Osirian framework.

Participants can join the online Chronoi Talk by clicking on the following link:

https://fu-berlin.webex.com/fu-berlin/j.php?MTID=m344640c506f8d614485f1916696e9b8c

The conference room can be accessed using the following methods:

• Joining directly in your browser; simply click the link above, and look for a button with this option near the bottom of the webpage.

• Downloading the program to your computer (instructions can be found by following the meeting link)

• Using the smartphone app called "Cisco Webex Meetings."

You are welcome to enter the online conference room up to 15 minutes in advance of the start time.