New lecture series: MAGO. Making Gods: the role of ritual practice in the construction of divinities

· by · in Lecture. ·


Please note the presentation of the research Project «MAGO» (“Making Gods: the role of ritual practice in the construction of divinities”) and of the first cycle of its Seminars (“Rituals and denominations in ancient polytheisms”) which will take place in Rome, on 1 February 2024 at 4:00 pm, CNR, Sala Biblioteca – Piazzale Aldo Moro 7.

For those who would like to attend the lecture online, or to participate in person, inscription is required at the following address: ispc.socialboard@ispc.cnr.

PROGRAM
16:00-16:15 – Costanza Miliani, “Saluti istituzionali”

16:15-16:45
Giuseppe Garbati, “Il progetto MAGO. Temi e obiettivi”

16:45-17:00 –
Francesco Massa, Silvia Romani, “Il progetto MAGO. Questioni metodologiche e terminologiche”

17:00-17:15 –
Irene Rossi, Carla Sfameni, “Il progetto MAGO. Il primo ciclo di seminari”

17:15-17:45 –
Sergio Ribichini, “Che cosa è (un) dio? Prolegomeni al progetto di ricerca MAGO”

17:45-18:00 – Discussione

In ancient polytheistic societies, divinities were conceived as powers (or “set of powers”). These powers were understood as active and could be experienced in every natural and social phenomenon; at the same time, they could be activated on specific occasions of worship based on devotional interests. The “MAGO Project. Making Gods: the role of ritual practice in the construction of divinities” has the aim to study the processes of elaboration and construction of divine entities within the framework of the ancient polytheisms. The research is focused on the analysis of rituals, which could help configure the functional profile of gods in different cult contexts.

The first cycle of seminars relating to the project – “Rituals and denominations in ancient polytheisms” – wants to investigate, through monthly meetings, the relationship between the ritual practice, carried out in cult places, and the denomination of deities.

Giuseppe Garbati (CNR-ISPC): Coordinator.
Francesco Massa (UNITO), Silvia Romani (UNIMI), Irene Rossi (CNR-ISPC), Carla Sfameni (CNR-ISPC): Scientific and Organizing Committee.