Human-animal relations go back to the dawn of history and are very complex. They have both practical aspects (animals as resources), and symbolic dimensions (animals used as symbols and imaginary creatures). Quite often humans have defined aspects of their identity in relation or in contrast to animals.  Today the relation between humans and animals is under scrutiny. The animal rights movement – which is particularly popular among younger generations – has challenged established views and behaviors towards animals and has motivated researchers to look for other models of human-animal interaction in the past.

In archaeology, we use the following tools to study human-animal relations:
– zooarchaeology, that examines actual remains of animals in human-related contexts,
– history of art, that examines ancient representations of animals and their symbolisms,
– philology and the history of philosophy and science, that explore the views of ancient people for animans, as reflected in texts.

This seminar, organized by Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Museum, the
Malcolm H. Wiener Laboratory for Archaeological Science, American School of Classical Studies at Athens, and the Hellenic Open University, brings together archaeologists, zooarchaeologists, philologists and historians of philosophy and science, who explore human-animal relations in the past. Their dialogue will offer a synthesis of different forms of research, and sometimes will reveal fissures and conflicts, e.g. about ancient texts and actual finds from excavations.

Our goal is to explore different forms of human-animal interactions in the past and how they changed in time. We also wish to bring the public in contact with the scientists who study ancient animals and their relations to human. For that reason, we will also organize two workshops for children at the Canellopoulos Museum and the Malcolm H. Wiener Laboratory for Archaeological Sciences of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens.

Seminars will be presented live at the M. H. Wiener Laboratory for Archaeological Sciences of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens and at the Canellopoulos Museum, and will be broadcasted via the web (see links below).

All seminars and workshops will be in Greek.

Coordination: Nikolas Papadimitriou (Canellopoulos Museum) – Panagiotis Karkanas (Wiener Lab, ASCSA) – Dimitris Michailidis (Wiener Lab, ASCSA) – Stasinos Stavrianeas (Hellenic Open University).

Lecture Program

Wednesday 28 February, 19.00 – Μ.Η. Wiener Lab, ASCSA
Dimitris Michailidis – Katerina Papayianni (Wiener Lab, ASCSA)
Άνθρωποι και ζώα στην Ελλάδα την Eποχή των Παγετώνων
https://youtube.com/live/TyZGv7gB2J8

Wendesday 20 March, 19.00 – Μ.Η. Wiener Lab, ASCSA
George Kazantzis (University of Ioannina)
Βοσκοί και κυνηγοί στον ελλαδικό χώρο κατά τη Νεολιθική περίοδο
https://youtube.com/live/oiMQhlha7VU

Wendesday 10 April, 19.00 – Μ.Η. Wiener Lab, ASCSA
Katerina Papayianni (Wiener Lab, ASCSA)
Άνθρωποι, ποντίκια και γάτες: μια πανάρχαια ιστορία αγάπης
https://youtube.com/live/vB8bbHwVce4

Wendesday 22 May, 19.00 – Canellopoulos Museum
Diamantis Panagiotopoulos (Heidelberg University)
Χορεύοντας πάνω στο φτερό του καρχαρία. Άνθρωποι και ταύροι στη μινωική Κρήτη
https://youtube.com/live/WE8W1aSff4Y

Wendesday 12 June, 19.00 – Canellopoulos Museum
Nassos Papalexandrou (University of Texas at Austin)
Μιξογενή τέρατα του μύθου και της τέχνης στον αρχαίο ελληνικό πολιτισμό
https://youtube.com/live/2J9ZztjPipA

Wendesday 18 September, 19.00 – Canellopoulos Museum
Dimitra Mylona (Institute for Aegean Prehistory – East Crete Study Center for East Crete)
Ακαταμάχητα μπαρμπούνια, τρομερά κήτη και πορφυρή πολυτέλεια. H αλιεία στην αρχαία Ελλάδα
https://youtube.com/live/Gkpqpq-zwdU

Wendesday 16 October, 19.00 – Μ.Η. Wiener Lab, ASCSA
Dimitris Filioglou (Wiener Lab, ASCSA)
Για πάντα μαζί: θυσίες και ταφές ζώων στην αρχαιότητα
https://youtube.com/live/OB631I6jUYc

Wendesday 13 November, 19.00 – Μ.Η. Wiener Lab, ASCSA
Stasinos Stavrianeas (Hellenic Open University)
Οι απαρχές της επιστήμης της ζωο–λογίας
https://youtube.com/live/oKT4SHzeFxk

Wendesday 11 December, 19.00 – Μ.Η. Wiener Lab, ASCSA
Christos Zafiropoulos (University of Patras)
Ομιλούντα ζώα: οι μύθοι του Αισώπου
https://youtube.com/live/lj83qHKyyMs

Workshops for children

1. Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 March, 11.00-12.30 – Canellopoulos Museum
Ζώα και τέρατα στην αρχαιότητα

This workshop includes activities at the museum galleries, where children will come into contact with ancient representations of real animals and imaginary creatures (e.g. Centaurs, Sphinxes, Sirens) on vases and figurines, and draw them in paper. They will listen to ancient stories about animals, and they will meet and discuss with archaeologists, zooarchaeologists and philologists who explore the history of ancient animals. Museum educators: Ioanna Zacharopoulou – Katerina Stamidi

Age: 5-9 yrs
Duration: ca. 90΄
Admission: free with application (limited number of seats)
Information: 210 3319300
Application: [email protected]
In the application, please mention:
– name and surname
– age and school class
– which day of the seminar are you applying for (Saturday 9 or Sunday 10 March)
– name and surname of parent or guardian
– mobile no. and email of parent or guardian.

2. Saturday 13 April, 11.00, 12.00 & 13.00 – Μ.Η. Wiener Lab, ASCSA
Ελάτε να γίνουμε ζωοαρχαιολόγοι!

The Malcolm H. Wiener Laboratory for Archaeological Science opens its doors to welcome our young friends (5th and 6th grade of Primary School and 1st and 2nd grade of Secondary School) in activities full of animals! We will learn how we excavate and how we can identify the animals that lived in ancient Greece. Then we will talk about their relations with the people of that era!

Age: 10-14 yrs (5th and 6th grade of Primary School / 1st and 2nd grade of Secondary School)
Duration: ca. 45’
Admission: free with booking (limited number of seats)
Information: 231 000 2400, ext. 133 (09.00-11.00 am)
Applications: [email protected]

In the application, please mention:- name and surname
– age and school class
– which workshop you are interested in (at 11.00, 12.00 or 13.00)
– name and surname of parent or guardian
– mobile no. and email of parent or guardian.

Access information

Malcolm H. Wiener Laboratory for Archaeological Science – American School of Classical Studies at Athens
54 Souedias street
Athens 106 76
https://www.ascsa.edu.gr/research/wiener-laboratory

Metro station: Evangelismos

Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Museum
12 Theorias street
Athens 105 55
https://camu.gr/en/

Metro stations: Acropolis, Monastiraki