Representions of Ancient, Medieval & Modern Mediterranean WomenAWAWS Panel proposed for MAARC 2, Online Jan. 31 to Feb. 2, 2022
Extant visual representations of ancient, medieval or early modern Mediterranean women are layered with meaning, whether those representations depict human or divine, historical or mythological, Christian or Muslim women. Physical manifestations of the human female form beyond the children born of living women all still embody social, political and cultural spheres in which they were created, received and then transmitted to the present day. Over time, most of these physical images of bodies have been altered, sometimes violently, and all have endured through multiple changes of viewership and significance across myriad cultures and times. Their encoded meanings have been reinterpreted, remade or even wholly reimagined. Modern and now Post-Modern (or Anthropocene?) and culturally-specific perceptions of women, the female body and gender have also greatly influenced the ways in which ancient and medieval female imagery has been interpreted. Ancient and medieval imagery of women has been, and still is, harnessed as a positive encouragement for self-confidence in some spheres and weaponised in others, either to action or to attack modern feminist (and other) agendas in academic, popular and international discourse. This online panel for the 2nd Mediterranean Archaeology Australasian Research Community (MAARC) free meeting will explore a variety of ways in which women are represented in the material culture of the ancient, medieval and/or modern Mediterranean cultures (or their receptions); the processes by which these images were made, and how meaning was created, attached to these images, and changed; and the ways in which specific physical depictions of women have changed over media, time and different cultural contexts. Papers are invited that:
Abstracts for papers of circa 20 minutes are solicited from contributors in Australia, New Zealand or wider Australasia on current archaeological research on the ancient female form, and its reception, by email to MAARC and Dr Brown by December 19, 2021, at the MAARC email: mediterraneanarchaeology@gmail.com. If you have any questions please email Dr Brown via a.brown9@uq.edu.au.
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![]() AWAWS Brisbane, in partnership with the AWAWS Academic Mentoring Program, is hosting The Cancelled Conference 2.0 in order to showcase the work of mentees and provide an example of what can be achieved through the program. The conference will be held over held over Wednesday 29- Thursday 30 September, with a plenary session on the mentoring program on the first day. Attendance is open to anyone, and in particular we would like to encourage those who are interested in learning about and fostering postgraduate research to attend. If you would like to register to attend the conference please email Brianna, Tyla and Janette (Conference Conveners & AWAWS Brisbane Co-Chairs) - awawsbrisbane@gmail.com Program Schedule![]()
Representing women through the agesRepresentations of ancient women, whether human or divine, historical, literary or mythological, are always layered with meaning. Physical manifestations of the human female form embody the social, political, and cultural spheres in which they were created, received and transmitted. Over time, most of these physical images of bodies have been altered, sometimes violently, and transmitted across myriad cultures and times. Their encoded meanings have been reinterpreted, or often wholly reimagined.
Modern perceptions of women, the female body and gender have greatly influenced the ways in which ancient imagery has been interpreted. Ancient imagery of women has been, and still is, harnessed as a positive encouragement to self-confidence in some spheres and weaponised in others, either to drive or to detract from modern feminist (and other) agendas in the academic and popular spheres. This panel hopes to explore a variety of ways in which women are represented in the material culture of the ancient world (or its receptions); the processes in which meaning is created and attached to these images; and the ways in which physical depictions of women have changed over time and in different cultural contexts. Papers are invited that:
This week we launched a new e-newsletter to bring you all the latest happenings from the AWAWS membership. We hope to bring you a newsletter update every two months. If you havent got yours please check your spam and then send us an email socawaws@gmail.com We are recruiting!Diversity Officer
AWAWS as a group is committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone, with a particular focus on supporting minority and underrepresented groups and individuals. We aim to support diversity both within AWAWS and within ancient world studies as whole, including diversity in culture, language, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability, socio-economic status, and religion. This role will help further support these aims. The Diversity Officer will: - help foster diversity and intersectional awareness - liaise and affiliate with other groups (including passing along intersectional material of interest to be shared on social media by our web officers) - advise on diversity presentation questions or code of conduct issues relevant to diversity should they arise. Local Chapters representative The aim of this role is to help streamline communication between the executive and the local chapters, to ensure events are well publicized, and to provide further support to Local Chapter Heads. The Local Chapters representative will: - liaise with local chapters about events, marketing, and funding opportunities - liaise with web officers to ensure events are promoted to our membership - raise any issues or challenges faced by local chapters in the Monthly executive meetings. To nominate for one of these roles please email your expression of interest to the executive committee on socawaws@gmail.com. Expressions of interest will be accepted until 15 September 2021, with an election window (if required) of 20-24 September, 2021. Written by Yvonne Inall |
...Seeing the positive side of things, the pandemic has allowed me to participate, from Spain, in an event held in Sydney, which demonstrates our resilience in the face of adversity. I am fascinated by the number of participants, the number of presentations, the organisation and the interaction you have made possible. Amazing! I had an amazing time at the conference and met some wonderful, insightful, and passionate individuals. And I’ll readily attend the next conference. I want to thank you for the great organization of the conference. It was something beautiful in these troubled times. |
This article was first published Y. Inall, 'Modern’ Women of the Past?: Unearthing Gender and Antiquity Conference" in AAIA Bulletin 17, 2021. pp.50-51 | ![]()
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All AWAWS members are invited to our Anniversary Panel discussion celebrating the first 10 years of AWAWS. Members of the panel will include the founders of AWAWS and long-term members of the Executive Committee, including the Foundation President. The panellists will discuss the genesis of AWAWS, the challenges over the past 10 years, chart the highlights and discuss what the future might hold for the association. Discussion will be opened to the membership at the end. The panel will coincide with our annual AGM. The new committee, the winner of the annual research grant and this year's virtual bouquets will be announced afterwards.
AWAWS 10th Anniversary Panel Discussion
Wednesday July 14th, 11am (AEST) |
featuring
- Dr Rachel Yuen-Collingridge (Macquarie University)
- Dr Maxine Lewis (University of Auckland)
- Dr Sonya Wurster (La Trobe University)
- Dr Aleks Michalewicz (University of Melbourne)
- Dr Amelia Brown (University of Queensland)
- Introduced and chaired by Hon. Assoc. Prof. Lea Beness (Macquarie University)
The Sydney chapter of AWAWS is hosting a panel discussion on disablism in Ancient World Studies on Tuesday 29 Jun 2021, 17:00 AEST (UTC + 10). We are delighted to be joined by five ancient world scholars living with a disability. Our incredible panel includes
Alexandra Morris
Alexandra F. Morris is currently a PhD student in history and the School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Law’s Postgraduate Student Representative at Teesside University. Her PhD research focuses on disability during the Hellenistic/Ptolemaic Period. Other research interests include making museums more accessible and inclusive for the disabled community, Ptolemaic Egypt, Alexander the Great, and ancient Egyptian and Greek art, medicine, politics, and religious practices. She has an MA in Museum Studies from New York University, and an MA in Near Eastern Languages & Civilisations (Egyptology) from the University of Pennsylvania. Her BA is in Archaeological Studies, Anthropology, and Art History with minors in Classics and history from SUNY Potsdam.
More from Alexandra
https://therockstaranthropologist.com/the-archaeology-of-disability-an-interview-with-alexandra-morris/
https://research.tees.ac.uk/en/persons/alexandra-morris-morris
More from Alexandra
https://therockstaranthropologist.com/the-archaeology-of-disability-an-interview-with-alexandra-morris/
https://research.tees.ac.uk/en/persons/alexandra-morris-morris
David Chapman
David Chapman is currently a PhD Candidate in Ancient History at Macquarie University, having previously completed both his Bachelor of Ancient History and Master of Research. In 2019 he was awarded The University Medal for Ancient History. His research focuses on formal and informal structures of power in New Kingdom Egypt (1550 - 1352 BCE). He is currently working on a study that examines officials associated with the Temples of Montu and the roles temple personnel play within the interpersonal and institutional apparatus of state. David has cerebral palsy and sits on the Department of History and Archaeology Working Group on Approaches to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility at Macquarie University.
Kyle Jordan
Kyle Lewis Jordan (He/Him) is currently a disabled postgraduate student at University College London’s Institute of Archaeology, studying the Archaeology and Heritage of Egypt and the Middle East. Born with Cerebral Palsy, his interests as an Egyptologist broadly encompass the themes of Religion, Magic and Identity, with a special focus on the representation and lived experience of disability. He is currently working on his thesis, which looks at the presence and role of disability and bodily difference in the formation of early court society in Egypt. He is also one of the Snowdon Trust’s Masters Scholars, recognised as a future disabled leader.
Isabel Ruffell
Isabel Ruffell is Professor of Greek Drama and Culture, and head of Classics, at the University of Glasgow, and has particular research interests in Greek comedy and tragedy, and in ancient mechanics. Publications include _Politics and Anti-Realism in Athenian Old Comedy: the Art of the Impossible_ (OUP, 2011) and _Aeschylus: Prometheus Bound_
(Bloomsbury, 2012). Her main current focus is a book, _Constructing Ancient Automata_, stemming from a Levrhulme-funded project on Hero of Alexandria (http://automata.arts.gla.ac.uk). As a visually-impaired classicist, she has a long-standing interest in accessibility in learning and teaching within the subject.
(Bloomsbury, 2012). Her main current focus is a book, _Constructing Ancient Automata_, stemming from a Levrhulme-funded project on Hero of Alexandria (http://automata.arts.gla.ac.uk). As a visually-impaired classicist, she has a long-standing interest in accessibility in learning and teaching within the subject.
Mason Shrader
Mason Shrader is a disabled advocate as well as a Classics and Anthropology master’s student at Texas Tech university. He specializes in the archaeology of disability and in his advocacy he works to make the field of archaeology more accessible. Mason’s current research interests include spatial analysis of medical sites, osteobiography, and the reception of mythic models of disability.
The Sydney chapter of the AWAWS has organised two events for June, and we would like to extend the invitation to anyone working in Ancient World Studies in Australasia. The first event is a workshop on making research and teaching practices accessible, and the second is a panel discussion on disability in Ancient World Studies, in which we will be joined by five wonderful panelists living with a disability who are researching the ancient world.
Workshop on making research accessible.
This workshop is intended to be an introduction to making research and teaching practice and research outputs accessible. It will cover the basics of classroom design and alternative assessments, as well as the core accessibility features of PowerPoint and some considerations when publishing and disseminating research. The workshop will be run by members of AWAWS, and we invite anyone in Ancient World Studies in Australasia who is interested to attend this event.
Date: Friday 25th June 2021
Time: 11:00 AEST (UTC + 10)
Duration: 1 hour
Format: online, via Zoom
Registration: via Eventbrite (https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/awaws-workshop-accessible-research-and-teaching-practices-tickets-157441274089)
Date: Friday 25th June 2021
Time: 11:00 AEST (UTC + 10)
Duration: 1 hour
Format: online, via Zoom
Registration: via Eventbrite (https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/awaws-workshop-accessible-research-and-teaching-practices-tickets-157441274089)
Panel discussion on disablism in Ancient World Studies
We are delighted to be joined by five ancient world scholars living with a disability from Australasia, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, who will cover a range of topics about navigating Ancient World Studies and academia and studying disability in the ancient world. The panel discussion will be followed by a live question and answer session, and we invite anyone in Ancient World Studies who is interested to attend this event.
Date: Tuesday 29th June 2021
Time: 17:00 AEST (UTC + 10)
Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes (including a short break)
Format: online, via Zoom
Registration: via Eventbrite (https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/awaws-panel-disability-in-ancient-world-studies-tickets-157442742481)
Please note: these sessions will be recorded, and closed captions (CC) will be enabled on Zoom. A copy of the recording, PowerPoint, and edited transcript will be made available after the workshop upon request to awawssydney@gmail.com.
Date: Tuesday 29th June 2021
Time: 17:00 AEST (UTC + 10)
Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes (including a short break)
Format: online, via Zoom
Registration: via Eventbrite (https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/awaws-panel-disability-in-ancient-world-studies-tickets-157442742481)
Please note: these sessions will be recorded, and closed captions (CC) will be enabled on Zoom. A copy of the recording, PowerPoint, and edited transcript will be made available after the workshop upon request to awawssydney@gmail.com.
Update from the organisers | 11 June 2021 |
For our upcoming panel discussion on disablism in Ancient World Studies we are delighted to be joined by five ancient world scholars living with a disability. Our incredible panel includes:
And make sure to RSVP for the panel Tues 29/06/2021, 17:00 AEST (UTC + 10). It will be online, via zoom.
- Alexandra F. Morris
- David Chapman
- Kyle Lewis Jordan
- Prof. Isabel Ruffell
- Mason Shrader
And make sure to RSVP for the panel Tues 29/06/2021, 17:00 AEST (UTC + 10). It will be online, via zoom.
We are seeking contributors for our History of Women in Ancient World Studies blog. The blog aims to capture the often neglected stories of women in the fields of classics, ancient history, archaeology, ancient languages, and adjacent study areas in our region of the world. These women could be academics, independent scholars, teachers, mentors, museum workers, administrators, philanthropists, and supporters who through their generosity, ideas or scholarship contributed to the flourishing of ancient world studies in Australia and New Zealand. We are also interested in posts on methodologies and research projects that aim to highlight the contributions of women in the field. Posts can be in the form of biographies, personal reflections or interviews - and if you have another idea, we’d love to hear it.
If you are interested in contributing and have an idea for a subject please get in touch with an outline of the article you would like to contribute. If you are interested in being part of this project, but don’t know where to begin, that’s ok! Get in touch with blog co-ordinator Candace Richards either via socawaws@gmail.com or candace.richards@sydney.edu.au. We can help you discover more about women in the field and find an appropriate subject who you want to learn and write about. Student members are particularly encouraged to get involved.
If you have any questions or feedback on the blog so far, we’d love to hear your thoughts! Just leave us a comment below!
If you have any questions or feedback on the blog so far, we’d love to hear your thoughts! Just leave us a comment below!
Download the call for contributors including the style guidelines on writing for the blog. | ![]()
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AWAWS Brisbane Chapter presents 'The Cancelled Conference 2.0'
Last year AWAWS Brisbane hosted The Cancelled Conference, and asked postgraduate students to put their cancelled conference papers to good use. The conference was a great success and one of the most rewarding aspects of the conference was the feedback presenting postgraduate students received from senior academics who attended.
This year, in partnership with the AWAWS Academic Mentoring Program, AWAWS Brisbane is hosting The Cancelled Conference 2.0: a postgraduate conference designed to give students the opportunity to receive feedback on their work from established academics who are invested in supporting and fostering postgraduate scholarship.
There will be a number of AWAWS mentors in attendance and chairing the panels. This will ensure every presenter has the opportunity to receive critical and constructive feedback from leading academics in their field. There will also be a plenary discussion panel about the AWAWS Academic Mentoring Program. This session will highlight the benefits of academic mentoring and showcase positive academic outcomes achieved through the program by past mentors and mentees.
Who is this conference for?
Date and Location
The Cancelled Conference 2.0 will be held between Wednesday 29 September – Thursday 30 September 2021.
The conference will be held virtually through Zoom. Once the program has been finalised information on how to register and attend each session will be circulated. Please save the date in the meantime.
Conditions
How to apply
To apply for the conference please send an abstract and your completed submission form to AWAWS Brisbane awawsbrisbane@gmail.com - Submissions are due by Monday 26 July.
This year, in partnership with the AWAWS Academic Mentoring Program, AWAWS Brisbane is hosting The Cancelled Conference 2.0: a postgraduate conference designed to give students the opportunity to receive feedback on their work from established academics who are invested in supporting and fostering postgraduate scholarship.
There will be a number of AWAWS mentors in attendance and chairing the panels. This will ensure every presenter has the opportunity to receive critical and constructive feedback from leading academics in their field. There will also be a plenary discussion panel about the AWAWS Academic Mentoring Program. This session will highlight the benefits of academic mentoring and showcase positive academic outcomes achieved through the program by past mentors and mentees.
Who is this conference for?
- Postgraduate students involved in the AWAWS mentoring program who would like to showcase their work to their mentors, their peers, and the broader community of ancient world studies
- Postgraduate students who are interested in joining the AWAWS mentoring program and would like to see what the mentoring program can do for them
- Postgraduates students seeking critical and constructive feedback from academics in their field
Date and Location
The Cancelled Conference 2.0 will be held between Wednesday 29 September – Thursday 30 September 2021.
The conference will be held virtually through Zoom. Once the program has been finalised information on how to register and attend each session will be circulated. Please save the date in the meantime.
Conditions
- 20 minute paper + 10 minute question time
- Paper submissions are open to all AWAWS postgraduate members: renew or join here.
- There is no set theme for this conference, all topics are welcome
- Audience attendance is free and open to the public
- We stress that the aim of the conference is to support and encourage postgraduate research, and we invite all postgraduates, academics, and industry professionals to attend and share this aim.
How to apply
To apply for the conference please send an abstract and your completed submission form to AWAWS Brisbane awawsbrisbane@gmail.com - Submissions are due by Monday 26 July.

The Cancelled Conference 2.0 submission form | |
File Size: | 85 kb |
File Type: | docx |
If you have any further questions about the conference, you can contact us via our email address or Facebook page.
Email: awawsbrisbane@gmail.com
Facebook: @awawsbrisbane
Conference Convenors
Brianna Sands, MPhil candidate (UQ), Co-chair AWAWS Brisbane Chapter
Tyla Cascaes, PhD candidate (UQ), Co-chair AWAWS Brisbane Chapter
Email: awawsbrisbane@gmail.com
Facebook: @awawsbrisbane
Conference Convenors
Brianna Sands, MPhil candidate (UQ), Co-chair AWAWS Brisbane Chapter
Tyla Cascaes, PhD candidate (UQ), Co-chair AWAWS Brisbane Chapter
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