Organisers

Contact the organizers at rai70@ff.cuni.cz

The Institute of Ancient Near Eastern Studies (IANES) at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University, has a proud history dating back to its founding in 1919 by the renowned scholar Prof. Bedřich Hrozný. Originally established as a seminar for cuneiform research and the history of the ancient Orient, the Institute reflects Prof. Hrozný’s contributions to the field, particularly his role in deciphering of the Hittite language, a discovery that captivated both the scientific community and the general public. Prof. Hrozný’s achievements, which brought him international recognition, also led him to serve as Rector of Charles University, further cementing his legacy within the institution.

Today, the Institute of Ancient Near Eastern Studies continues to thrive, building on Hrozný’s pioneering work. It now encompasses two primary areas of research: Ancient Near Eastern Studies and Comparative Linguistics. These fields are deeply interrelated and benefit from close collaboration with other departments within the Faculty of Arts, fostering a rich interdisciplinary approach. The Institute remains committed to advancing the study of the languages, history, and cultures of the ancient Near East, ensuring that the legacy of its founder continues to inspire new generations of scholars and researchers.

The Oriental Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, founded in 1922, is one of Europe’s oldest institutions dedicated to the study of the cultures, politics, and societies of Western, Central, and Eastern Asia. The institute has been closely associated with cuneiform studies since its inception, largely due to the pioneering work of Bedřich Hrozný, one of its founders, who laid the foundation for its focus on the languages and cultures of the ancient Near East. This legacy has been carried forward by scholars such as Lubor Matouš, Blahoslav Hruška, Jana Pečírková, Petr Charvát, and Jiří Prosecký, and continues today through collaborative projects with European and Iraqi institutions.

Organising Committee

Jana Mynářová is Assyriologist and Egyptologist, Professor of History and Cultures of Asia and Africa at the Institute of Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Faculty of Arts, Charles University (Prague). She is also a co-editor of the Bulletin of the American Society of Overseas Research (BASOR). In her research she focuses on relations between the Near East and Egypt, political, social, and economic history of the regions during the Late Bronze Age.

Sergio Alivernini is a Research Fellow and Head of the Department of the Middle East at the Oriental Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences. He specializes in the administrative and economic history of ancient Mesopotamia during the Third Dynasty of Ur. Alivernini earned his Ph.D. from Sapienza University of Rome and held postdoctoral fellowships in Heidelberg and Rome. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of Archiv Orientální, a leading journal in Asian and African studies.

Ludovica Bertolini is Assistant Professor of Sumerology at the Institute of Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Faculty of Arts, Charles University in Prague. Her research focuses on Mesopotamian literature and religious traditions. More recently, she has expanded her interests to include lexical lists from regions east of Mesopotamia, particularly from the Late Bronze Age. She is a member of the editorial board of the journal Annals of the Náprstek Museum.

František Válek is Assyriologists and Historian of Religions. He is part of a research project at the Institute of Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Faculty of Arts, Charles University (Prague) and Assistant Professor at Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Faculty of Arts and Philosophy, University of Pardubice, where he is also a vice-dean. His main areas of research are Religion of Late Bronze Age Syria, Digital Humanities, and religion in popular culture.

Partners and Sponsors

Projekt je realizován s finanční podporou hlavního města Prahy