Thursday, September 15, 2005
"The Ram in the Thicket" will examine the rich heritage of the Middle East
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University of Southern Indiana’s 2005 international interdisciplinary colloquium, “The Ram in the Thicket: The Cradle of Civilization,” will focus on the Middle East from 2600 BCE to the present. The colloquium will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, September 23, in Carter Hall in the University Center. The Ram in the Thicket is a stunningly beautiful art object of gold, lapis lazuli, and shell, circa 2600 BCE, from Ur, the legendary birthplace of Abraham. The colloquium will investigate the rich heritage of the Middle East, from its earliest beginnings in the creation of writing, urban life, religion, poetry, metallurgy, science, and medicine, to the present day cultural inheritance of contemporary Western civilization. College of Liberal Arts faculty will give 20-minute lectures, poetry and prose readings on topics such as The Epic of Gilgamesh; Sumerian mythology; the goddess in Sumerian, Akkadian and early Hebrew traditions; the first poet, Enheduanna, 2300 BCE; French and English influence in the Middle East; contemporary journalism in the Middle East; veiling practices and gender issues; father-son relations in patriarchy; sacrifice in the Old Testament; and belief in the afterlife. Art faculty will display paintings inspired by the topic. A reception featuring Middle Eastern cuisine will follow the final presentation. In conjunction with the colloquium, there will be a Ropewalk Reading with Dr. Dick Davis, chair of Near Eastern Languages at The Ohio State University, at 7 p.m. Thursday, September 22. Davis will read his translations of Persian poetry. All events are free and open to the public. See "The Ram in the Thicket" Web site for a full schedule, abstracts, and more information: www.usi.edu/libarts/intl/ram.asp In 2004, almost 2,500 students, faculty, staff, and community members attended the Parthenon Colloquium, the first of its kind at USI. For more information, contact Patricia L. Aakhus, director of International Studies, at 812/465-7088. |
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