Cosmic Magic: Astronomy, Astrology and Graeco-Aegyptian Cultural Interactions

The society of Egypt in the Hellenistic and Roman periods was a unique and fascinating melting-pot of Egyptian, Near Eastern and Greek influences. The astronomy and astrology of the period is an exciting area in which to study this rich cultural hybridity. Cosmology was an area where science, religion and magic met and cross-fertilized in a culture where the boundaries between these areas were differently defined.

This international project, conceived and run by the established scholarly networks ‘Ourania: Network for Astronomical Cultures in the Ancient and Premodern Worlds’ and ‘Graeco-Aegyptiaca’ (Palladion-UCL), brings together participants from the UK, Europe and US to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration in the fields of Graeco-Egyptian history and the history of ancient astronomy and culture.

Our two-day conference, held in London with the support of Palladion, UCL Institute of Advanced Studies, UCL Department of Greek and Latin, the University of Birmingham, the Past and Present Society and the Institute of Classical Studies (University of London IAS) will cast light on how Greek and Egyptian science, religion and magic interacted in the intellectual culture and social and religious practices of Hellenistic and Roman Egypt.

The conference will be fully hybrid and can be attended in person or online. Attendance is free, but registration is kindly requested.

For the full programme, and to register, see https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/908264683117