Event: VIRTUAL PIZZA TALK: ICONOGRAPHY AND SYMBOLISM OF THE CELESTIAL DOMAIN AND THE PERCEPTION OF SPACE IN THE EUROPEAN BRONZE AGE

SPEAKER:
Alessandro Vanzetti
University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Italy
Associate Professor in Pre- & Protohistory
Short-term Visiting Scholar

The lecture will present the main evidence for the symbolic representation of the celestial domain in the European Bronze Age, with some extension to the former Late Neolithic (also named Copper Age) and to the ensuing Iron Age. An iconographic analysis is necessary in order to decode (or try to) the representations.

In order to do it, we should consider the way in which 3-dimensional space is represented, for the production of symbolic images.

The discussion involves both phenomenological, conceptual, cognitive and religious aspects, often difficult to disentangle.

A simple grammar of the representations, of their rules and occurrences, can help, but it is still only a starting point for further insights

Register for this Cotsen Virtual Pizza Talk here! You will receive instructions on viewing the talk after registering.