International colloquium

24th – 25th of May 2013

Ships and their context: depictions, models, components – from the Bronze Age to the end of the Byzantine Empire

Conference venue:
Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum, Ernst-Ludwig-Platz 2, 55116 Mainz

Since prehistory, vessels of varying sizes have been in use on open seas and inland waterways. Information about these vessels, their particular function and shape, were derived from
physical evidence, such as shipwreck parts and equipment, ancient ship models, ship illustrations or depictions of ships on reliefs, wall paintings and coins.

The conference concentrates on iconographical sources, which have only rarely been studied comprehensively. In addition to the aspects of ship construction, the conference will focus on
continuity and changes in ship iconography, as well as its contexts and intentions. The Mediterranean, as the relevant centre of the Greek, Roman and Byzantine cultures, will form
the core study area of this conference.