Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria

Image: Heracles as Buddha protector (Gandhara (Modern day northen Pakistan/Afghanistan), 2nd Century) .

NOTE: This lecture has changed venue.

Lecturer: Dr Hyun Jin Kim
Entry: Free

Synopsis:

Hellenic impact on Inner Asia and the Islamic World: The Impact of Hellenism on Inner Asia was quite profound. This is shown by the widespread diffusion of Alexander romances among the Turco-Mongol elite of medieval Eurasia. Just like their German and Russian counterparts, the Turco-Mongols also laid claims to the Hellenic political legacy. The Islamic world controlled by rulers of Turkic or Mongol origin was also the recipient of the Greek cultural and intellectual legacy.

Hellenic impact on India and East Asia: The fusion of Greek, Iranian and Indian cultures in Central Asia gave rise to the remarkable Gandhara Buddhist art which had a profound impact on all East Asian art. Greek monetary practices also may have had a great impact on the evolution of Chinese and Indian monetary systems.

Bio:

Hyun Jin was born in Seoul South Korea and grew up in Auckland New Zealand. His love of Classics and Ancient History began very early under the influence of his father who moved his family from Korea to New Zealand specifically for the purpose of studying ancient Greek of all things!

The father was too old to master the language and the task fell on his son, who somehow managed to overcome the temptation to become a lawyer, and chose the path of academia and classical learning. After three and a half years in the UK at Oxford University (as D Phil student) and four years at Sydney University (as postdoctoral research fellow) he has moved to Melbourne.

He is the author of two books: the first on Greek and Chinese ethnography and the second on the Huns and the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

Sponsors:

Our sincere thanks to: Maria Rerakis for sponsoring this seminar.

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