Lecturer of Greek Language and Philosophy at the University of Melbourne, Emily Hulme Kozey, will present a lecture entitled “The Oracular Tablets from Dodona: Prospects for Further Research in Social History”on Thursday 12 September, at the Greek Centre, as a part of the Greek History and Culture Seminars offered by the Greek Community of Melbourne.

Throughout classical antiquity, the oracle at Dodona in northern Greece (near modern Ioannina) was a destination for pilgrims seeking advice from the god on all kinds of matters. Cities wracked by civil war sent embassies to ask how they could bring about reconciliation, and individuals contemplating a career change or marriage could inquire before making a final decision. Our main body of evidence for this is a group of inscriptions on lead tablets, numbering in the thousands.

“These texts reflect the interests and preoccupations of a huge swath of Greek society: the authors are not just leaders and foreign dignitaries, but also craftsmen, merchants, and slaves, said Emily. “I’ll discuss the workings of the oracle in general and then how ongoing research into these tablets has the potential to throw new light onto questions about Greek society and culture.”

Emily Hulme Kozey is the Seymour Reader in Ancient History and Philosophy at Ormond College and the University of Melbourne. Her primary research is in ancient Greek philosophy (particularly Plato). She teaches ancient Greek language and philosophy at the University of Melbourne.

When: Thursday, 12 September 2019, 7.00pm
Where: Greek Centre (Mezz, 168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne)