Call for Papers: Astrology in Time and Place: Cross-Cultural Questions in the History of Astrology

Organised by The Sophia Centre, School of Archaeology, History and Anthropology University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Venue: Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, Bath, England

Date: 23-24 June 2012

We invite abstracts for this academic conference which will consider the questions which arise from the transmission of ideas in the theory and practice of astrology. Such transmission may be between cultures, or through time in the same culture. Issues may also be addressed of comparison between cultures.

Astrology has been practised in some form in most cultures. In some it is rudimentary, in others complex. It may be considered magical, religious or scientific, or it may defy categorisation. There is evidence of the transmission of ideas in the near east between Egypt, Greece and Mesopotamia, and between the Near East, India and East Asia. In Mesoamerica and China technical forms arose which were entirely different to the Near Eastern tradition. Syncretism has been a major feature of astrology in India, Persia and Europe down to modern New Age culture and the globalisation of alternative spiritualities.

This conference will consider questions surrounding the exchange of astrological ideas or practice between cultures, issues arising from their transmission from one period to another, or consider comparisons between the astrologies of different cultures. Papers may focus on iconography, literature, theory, practice, philosophy or cultural context.

Proposals are invited for papers of 30 minutes, to include discussion. All papers will be plenary sessions.

Abstracts should be around 150 words.

Speakers will not have to register for the conference.

Selected proceedings will be published by the Sophia Centre Press.

Please submit abstracts and full contact information to Dr Nicholas Campion n.campion@tsd.ac.uk<mailto:n.campion@tsd.ac.uk>

Deadline 1 December 2011