An interdisciplinary conference at the Norwegian Institute in Rome (DNIR), 24 -26 May 2023, Organized by Dr. Marianne P. Ritsema van Eck (UiO) and Dr. Kaja Merete Hagen (UiO). Ever since fourth century CE, iconic objects and places have played a formative role in articulating Christian sacred space. This conference investigates the specific role of mobility and materiality in the creation of (trans)regional sacred landscapes and cityscapes, taking a longue durée perspective. In particular, our aim is to address the role of mobility of objects, texts, and persons in the creation of sacred topographies. This explicitly includes objects and materials with the potential to reference or invoke sacred topographies further afield, as well as translated sacred topographies, and sites with a multi-scalar sense of place.

Moreover, this conference aims to address to the interplay between narrative/documentary sources and material culture: what role did cross-fertilization between narratives, and iconic objects and locations play in the creations of pre-modern hagioscapes? We are particularly interested in bringing together scholars specialized in different geographical areas, in order to confront and connect the process of hagio-scaping along the axes of the North and South, old and new.

Ultimately, the aim is to put into dialogue practices from North Sea and Baltic area and with the Mediterranean basin, as well as Old and New World contexts. Confirmed invited speakers include Professors Achim Timmermann (Michigan), Christine Göttler (Bern), Margaret Cormack (Iceland), and Simon Ditchfield (York).