Pictorial representations of ports from the Roman Empire to the Early Modern Period

In the historical periods of the Mediterranean as well as of the seas of northern Europe ports and port cities were formative settlements as gateways between land and sea. Accordingly, they were often depicted in various genres of art from the Roman Empire across the Byzantine and European Middle Ages to the Early Modern period. As polyvalent spaces that combined economic, military and representative functions, they provided various opportunities for visual representations and formed different image traditions. The interdisciplinary conference intends to compare the display modes of ports in different eras through a broad diachronic framework. However, the focus is not on the historical design of individual port facilities, but on the image of the harbour, which constitutes specific meanings through its medial context as well as through its interpretive view of the contemporaries.

Program

Friday 6th and Saturday 7th December

Conference venue
Abguss-Sammlung Antiker Plastik
Universität Rostock
Ulmenstr. 69, Haus 5
18057 Rostock

Information and registration
Torsten Bendschus, M.A.
Telefon +49 (0)381 498-2797
E-Mail torsten.bendschus@uni-rostock.de

Organiser
Dr. Stefan Feuser
Dr. Stephanie Hanke