Welcome to the 1. Workshop and kick-off meeting of the Migration, Mobility and Religion in Antiquity Research Network (MigRel.Net).

Background

Migration has dominated headlines for decades, yet it is far from being a modern phenomenon. Throughout history, people have always been on the move, even in ancient times. With migration came not just individuals, but their customs, stories, deities, and objects. Relocation impacted not only the moving person(s), but also their cultural, religious and material ‘luggage’ in various ways: Some got lost, changed or challenged by the experiences made during the migratory process. Others faded away or became integral to identity in the new home, often through interaction with, or as a response to local political, social, cultural, economic, religious environment, nature and landscape.

Guiding Questions

The workshop is guided by two central questions: How did the mobility of people in the (post-)Roman Empire influenced transmission of religious objects, ideas, images, beliefs, cults or deities? And, if any, which impact did the environment (including people, social, cultural, religious factors as well as nature and landscape) have on the transmitted objects, ideas, etc.?

Approach

The Workshop approaches these complex questions from a multidisciplinary perspective with the aim to bring together researchers working already on the field and set up an international research cooperation in form of a research network.

Acknowledgements

The workshop and MigRel.Net received generous financial support from the Research Council and Intermediate Staff Association of Bern University, Switzerland. We also express our gratitude for KU Leuven’s Hollands College for hosting the workshop.