Roman Egypt in the Second Century CE. A Nexus of Transformation

Istituto Svizzero in Rome, February 17 - 18, 2026

Organizers:
François Geradin (University of Basel)
Sabine Huebner (University of Basel)
Andrew Lepke (University of Münster)
Patrick Sänger (University of Münster)

We invite researchers from a variety of disciplines to submit proposals for 20-minute papers on the social, administrative, legal, economic, and religious history of Egypt in the 2nd century CE.

The Roman province of Egypt occupied a pivotal position within the Roman Empire. By the 2nd century CE, it had become a unique microcosm of the Roman world: a fusion of ancient traditions, Greek culture, and Roman imperial systems. It was a hub for thriving trade networks stretching from the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean, and a site of both social cohesion and unrest.

This conference seeks to explore the complex developments of this transformative period, drawing on recent research in history, archaeology, papyrology, and religious studies. We aim to investigate the dynamic interactions between imperial policies and local populations, assess the impact of economic and environmental changes, and analyze social and legal transformations brought about by the process commonly referred to as Romanization, which reshaped both urban and rural life

Special attention will also be given to the religious landscape of the time: the persistence of Egyptian temple cults, the emergence of early Christianity, and the adaptation of religious practices under Roman rule. Social tensions and conflicts—such as the Boukoloi uprising—will be discussed in the broader context of an increasingly stratified and diverse society.

We invite proposals from researchers of all academic levels to contribute to this interdisciplinary dialogue. The conference will feature seven thematic sessions, comprising a total of 20 presentations (20 minutes each), followed by 10 minutes of discussion.

The conference will take place at the Swiss Institute in Rome (ISR) and the German Archaeological Institute in Rome (DAI).

Please send your abstract (max. 300 words) to Andrew Lepke (andrew.lepke@clutteruni-muenster.de) by June 1st, 2025.

Possible topics include (but are not limited to):

1. Agents of transformation: cultural brokers, administrators, and other mediators
2. Places and spaces of transformation: cities, sanctuaries, villages, and borderlands – inclusion and exclusion
3. Rituals of transformation: religious innovation, continuity, and adaptation
4. Limits of transformation: resistance, stagnation, and failures of integration
5. Discourses of transformation: identity, memory, and ideology
6. Networks and connectivity: trade routes, migration, and information flow
7. Environmental and economic change: agriculture, climate, and crisis