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THE HISTORY LECTURERS SPOKE ABOUT HERODOTUS OF BODRUM

02.11.2022

International Herodotos Workshop Was Held in Bodrum

Having been implemented in cooperation with the ‘The H3A Herodotus Academy Association’ and Bodrum Municipality, the ‘Our Countryman Herodotus Week’ has began on October the 31th and continues with the ‘International Bodrum Herodotus Workshop’.

Having been organised within the scope of the ‘Our Countryman Herodotus Week’, the ‘International Bodrum Herodotus Workshop’ is hosting 21 Ancient History Lecturers from eight countries as speakers.

Having been held at ‘Bodrum Municipality - Herodot Cultural Center’ with the participation of well known Ancient History Lecturers, the opening of the workshop was attended by Bilgehan Bayar, the District Governer of Bodrum; Ahmet Aras, the Mayor of Bodrum; the students of the History Department of Muğla Sıktı Koçman University - Faculty of Letters History Department and numerous guests.

On the first day of the workshop, which started with the reading of Mehmet Nuri Ersoy’s message, the minister of culture and tourism, the conception, authorial persona, travels, vision of world of Herodotus, developed through dialogue and the characteristics of his social scholar-identity were extensively reviewed.

Prof. Dr. Mustafa Hamdi Sayar, an historian at Istanbul University, said the workshop had been planned for Herodotus’ 2,500th birthday but was postponed due to the pandemic.

Bodrum, The City of Civilizations

Stating that 21 Ancient History Lecturers from eight countries are at that moment in the venue of the ‘Herodotus Cultural Center’, Aras, the Mayor of Bodrum said: “We define Herodotus as our countryman. Bodrum is located in a geography hosted very significant civilizations. Numerous philosophers had spent their lives in this very town. It is vital to transfer this history to future generations, since the people residing in this geography, younger and future generations need to know its history. I believe the environmental awareness of the people shall expand as well as their respect to this land, their appetite for peace and democracy if they know the history of this land. Therefore I find the ‘Herodotus Symposium” very important.”

“What matters is to ensure permanency”

Ahmet Aras, the Mayor of Bodrum, said: "The only way to have a lasting impact is through scientific and academic studies, and our main goal is to establish a Herodotus Research Center."

“’The Fisherman of Halicarnassus – Archive’ Is Being Established”

Pointing out that Bodrum is doing the same for Cevat Sakir Kabaağaçlı, also known as the Fisherman of Halicarnassus, a Cretan Turkish novelist, essayist, and travel writer who died in 1973, Aras, the Mayor of Bodrum said: “The Fisherman of Halicarnassus is the philosopher of our time as well. We aim to establish the ‘The Fisherman of Halicarnassus–Archive’. All the research shall be able to be found in there as digital format and as hard copy as well.”

Within the scope of the workshop to be held for 3 days, all aspects of Herodotus’ work will be discussed in 6 major sessions. In the first session moderated by Peter Funke, speeches on the subjects of ‘Aspects of a Global History in Herodotus’ Work’ by Reinhold Bichler, ‘Herodotus and Achaemenid – Persian World View – Some Considerations’ by Robert Rollinger, ‘Prophetic Time and the Organisation of Herodotus’ Histories’ by Thomas Harrison, ‘A Different Way Writing History’ by Carolyn Dewald were given.

In the second session of the first day in the workshop moderated by Carolyn Dewald, speeches on the subjects of ‘It All Began Here: Herodotus and Near-Eastern Narrative’ by Ioannis Konstantakos, ‘Herodotus on War and Courage’ by Rosaria Munson, ‘The Discourse on Empire in the Histories of Herodotus’ by Julian Degen, ‘Pindaric ‘Arrows’ in Herodotus’ Narrative on Cambyses: Psammos: Just a Sandstorm or Laso a Rebel (Lion)?’ by Andreas Schwab’ were given.

You may watch the workshop on this platform: https://bodrumbelediyesi.tv

You may check the program of the ‘International Bodrum Herodotus Week’ & ‘International Bodrum Herodotus Workshop’ on this platform: https://herodot.bodrum.bel.tr