Ruins Still Standing at the Frontline of Violence: Tadmor-Palmyra and the Future of the Site

Advance booking is required for this online seminar.

Palmyra-Tadmor is an ancient site defined by violence. In this seminar, Rory McInnes-Gibbons excavates three different layers of violence at the ruins. We open with the defeat of the third century AD ruler, Zenobia at the hands of Aurelian in 272AD and subsequent fortification of the ruins under Diocletian's rule. Through a survey of the visual reception of the ruins from its rediscovery in 1678, I will outline the significance of Palmyra in the Western imagination. Then attention turns to the modern destruction of monuments such as the Temple of Bel and theatre during the Syrian Civil War as Islamic State, forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad and Russian military reinforcements all vied for control of this strategic site. Finally, we explore the alterations made to select monuments by architects and archaeologists during the French Mandate of Lebanon and Syria. They were designed to preserve the ruins and return them to something akin to their Roman-era state, in turn displacing the community then resident within the Temple of Bel complex. The discussion will invite attendees to interrogate what we mean by authentic ruins in their original state and whether this cycle of violence to the ancient city and its inhabitants can be stopped.

Ancient Violence and Contemporary Receptions: Challenges and Perspectives

The forms and perceptions of violence in the ancient world remain a widely debated issue in contemporary scholarship. This speaker series aims to explore the various ways in which violence was conceptualized, represented, and interpreted in antiquity, as well as its reception and reinterpretation in modern contexts. By bringing together scholars from different disciplines, including history, philosophy, material culture, and literature, the series seeks to offer a comprehensive perspective on the role of violence in shaping ancient societies and its lasting impact on contemporary thought.

Through this interdisciplinary approach, the series aims to provide new insights into the multifaceted nature of violence in antiquity and its enduring influence on modern societies. By critically engaging with both ancient sources and their receptions, the discussions will contribute to a deeper understanding of how violence has been, and continues to be, a crucial element in shaping cultural and intellectual traditions.

The series will open with a reflection on the historiographical and ideological dimensions of violence, considering how modern interpretations have shaped and, at times, distorted our understanding of its role in antiquity. This methodological approach will serve as a foundation for further discussions on the philosophical, theological, and political implications of violence in the ancient world, including its intersections with slavery, power structures, and social hierarchies. Further sessions will examine the ways in which violent acts and representations of violence have been mediated through various forms of cultural production. This includes an exploration of textual and visual narratives, considering how translation, adaptation, and artistic representations have framed and reshaped perceptions of violence across time. Special attention will be given to the ethical and ideological implications of these reinterpretations, as well as their resonance in contemporary discourse.

The series will also engage with the reception of violence in modern media, from literature to film, and its role in educational and rehabilitative contexts. By analyzing how ancient violence is reimagined in contemporary storytelling, the discussions will highlight the pedagogical and social functions of these narratives, particularly in addressing issues of justice, identity, and historical memory.