GRK 2844:  Staging of religious atmosphere in ancient cultures

• Subject Area: Ancient Cultures
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 469367810

This research training group aims to investigate the staging of religious atmosphere in ancient cultures in an interdisciplinary, multi-methodical manner, and, above all, in close cooperation with prospective, younger and established scholars. With this topic, the RTG takes up the clear turn towards the investigation of sensory impressions and emotions that has taken place in the study of ancient cultures in recent years, but methodologically further develops this concept. The geographical breadth and historical depth in pursuit of a consistent synopsis of material and textual legacies is characteristic of the alliance of the disciplines represented in this application. To this end, three research fields have been defined: a) spaces, b) actions and c) impressions, which reflect the material, socio-cultural, and psychological dimensions of the topic. The RTG will examine the three research fields with regard to four guiding research questions: 1) How is "divinity" made tangible, 2) how is authority and credibility generated, 3) how is group identity strengthened, and 4) how are hierarchies and power structures conveyed? The proposed cultural, linguistic, literary, natural, religious, theological, historical, legal historical, and archaeological studies are intentionally broad. They will contribute to a comprehensive picture of the staging of religious atmosphere and will serve as a matrix to recognise breaks and missing points, but also special features and unique characteristics in the various cultures. The fellows of the RTG will be introduced to current theories and methods and will analyse textual and material media and remains under common and individual perspectives. They will develop their culture-specific dissertation projects on the basis of an innovative overarching theme and from an interdisciplinary perspective. The common research fields and questions ensure that the freely definable dissertation topics will resonate with other disciplines and possess methodologically precision, making the Research Training Group particularly productive. The qualification concept can draw on established structures through the Philipps-University’s graduate institution Marburg University Research Academy, the Hochschuldidaktisches Netzwerk Mittelhessen, and the Marburg Centre for the Ancient World, which, however, do not yet have a structured doctoral programme in the field of Ancient Studies. Our close supervision structures and the simultaneous creative freedom will promote the speedy and successful completion of the fellows’ doctorates, while the retreats, workshops, and meetings will encourage networking with national and international academics.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Philipps-Universität Marburg
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Nils Heeßel
• Participating Researchers: Professorin Dr. Bärbel Beinhauer-Köhler; Professorin Dr. Beate Böhlendorf-Arslan; Professor Dr. Boris Dunsch (†); Professorin Dr. Sabine Föllinger; Professorin Dr. Alexandra Stephanie Grund-Wittenberg; Professor Dr. Winfried Held; Dr. Florian Krüpe; Professor Dr. Dennis Pausch, since 4/2023; Professorin Dr. Tanja Pommerening; Professorin Dr. Theresa Roth; Professorin Dr. Angela Standhartinger; Professor Dr. Constantin Willems