Call for Participants
Symposium: Graeco-Roman Philanthropy and Christian Charity
DePauw University
Greencastle, IN 46135
March 17-18, 2007
Contact: Dr. Jinyu Liu, Assistant Professor of Classical Studies
Email: jliu AT depauw.edu
Ever since Paul Veyne's seminal work Le pain et le cirque (1976), the
nature of ancient euergetism (benefaction), which is widely attested
in all kinds of ancient sources including inscriptions from the first
three centuries CE, has been extensively explored. Scholars have
reached consensuses that benefactions in the Graeco-Roman cities were
not directed at the poorer segment of the society but at the citizen
body at large and that the benefactors were not motivated by
altruistic goals but by the desire of self-promotion. There has been a
general tendency to emphasize the discontinuity between ancient
euergetism and Christian charity. Recently, Susan Holman (2001) and
Peter Brown (2002)'s works have lent further support to this
differentiation by bringing into focus such topics as the development
of Christian rhetoric concerning poverty, invention of "the poor" and
their acquisition of cosmic significance in late antiquity.
Despite these superb contributions to a profound understanding of the
rise of Christian charity, there are still many missing links in our
understanding of the transition from ancient euergetism to Christian
charity particularly on the micro-level. How, for example, did
different ideas and practices meet, clash, or mutually influence each
other in the transitional period of the fourth century CE? To what
extent were the changes in the honorific languages and practices
embedded in the change of beliefs or the structural change of the
Roman society? How did socio-economic elements such as inflation, or
the evolving "epigraphic habit" factor into the changing forms of
benefactions and honorific practices in local contexts?
This symposium will attempt to explore these questions from a number
of angles. We welcome the insights of ancient social historians,
historians of late antiquity, epigraphists, philologists, Biblical
scholars, philosophers, Medievalists, anthropologists and sociologists.
Areas of interest include but are not limited to:
• Forms of benefaction in the Ancient World
• The beneficiaries
• Motivations of public and private benefactions
• Honorific languages and practices
• Attitude(s) towards poverty and the poor
• Philanthropy and economy
The event is free and open to all. Grants are available on a First
Come, First Serve Basis to the participants to underwrite travel
expenses, and lodging.
If you wish to present a paper or volunteer as discussants/moderators
at the symposium, please submit a brief abstract or statement of
interest (Max. 300 words) with your affiliation and contact
information before February 28, 2007 by mail or email to:
Jinyu Liu
303 East College
DePauw University
Greencastle, IN 46135
jliu AT depauw.edu
Symposium: Graeco-Roman Philanthropy and Christian Charity
DePauw University
Greencastle, IN 46135
March 17-18, 2007
Contact: Dr. Jinyu Liu, Assistant Professor of Classical Studies
Email: jliu AT depauw.edu
Ever since Paul Veyne's seminal work Le pain et le cirque (1976), the
nature of ancient euergetism (benefaction), which is widely attested
in all kinds of ancient sources including inscriptions from the first
three centuries CE, has been extensively explored. Scholars have
reached consensuses that benefactions in the Graeco-Roman cities were
not directed at the poorer segment of the society but at the citizen
body at large and that the benefactors were not motivated by
altruistic goals but by the desire of self-promotion. There has been a
general tendency to emphasize the discontinuity between ancient
euergetism and Christian charity. Recently, Susan Holman (2001) and
Peter Brown (2002)'s works have lent further support to this
differentiation by bringing into focus such topics as the development
of Christian rhetoric concerning poverty, invention of "the poor" and
their acquisition of cosmic significance in late antiquity.
Despite these superb contributions to a profound understanding of the
rise of Christian charity, there are still many missing links in our
understanding of the transition from ancient euergetism to Christian
charity particularly on the micro-level. How, for example, did
different ideas and practices meet, clash, or mutually influence each
other in the transitional period of the fourth century CE? To what
extent were the changes in the honorific languages and practices
embedded in the change of beliefs or the structural change of the
Roman society? How did socio-economic elements such as inflation, or
the evolving "epigraphic habit" factor into the changing forms of
benefactions and honorific practices in local contexts?
This symposium will attempt to explore these questions from a number
of angles. We welcome the insights of ancient social historians,
historians of late antiquity, epigraphists, philologists, Biblical
scholars, philosophers, Medievalists, anthropologists and sociologists.
Areas of interest include but are not limited to:
• Forms of benefaction in the Ancient World
• The beneficiaries
• Motivations of public and private benefactions
• Honorific languages and practices
• Attitude(s) towards poverty and the poor
• Philanthropy and economy
The event is free and open to all. Grants are available on a First
Come, First Serve Basis to the participants to underwrite travel
expenses, and lodging.
If you wish to present a paper or volunteer as discussants/moderators
at the symposium, please submit a brief abstract or statement of
interest (Max. 300 words) with your affiliation and contact
information before February 28, 2007 by mail or email to:
Jinyu Liu
303 East College
DePauw University
Greencastle, IN 46135
jliu AT depauw.edu