InternationAl Colloquium – Castles and Fortresses in Times of Pestilence

A virtual conference of the Marburger Arbeitskreis für europäische Burgenforschung e.V./Marburg Working Group for European Castle Research e.V. in collaboration with the Aarhus University, Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies and its research programme “Materials, Culture and Heritage”.

The virtual conference takes place on December 17, 2020 via a licence of the programme Zoom of Aarhus University, Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies.

We are living in a very striking time right now. Entire countries, indeed the whole world is more or less in lockdown. In the meantime, there have been initial easing measures. While some welcome and enjoy the new/old life, others fear the next wave of infection. Throughout the whole year, our usual working tool of intellectual exchange, the conference, cannot be carried out – at least not in the traditional format. But we will not do entirely without and thus take the path, which nowadays is so popular: We will meet virtually.

Regarding the question of subject, we found: let us talk about the elephant in the room everybody is talking about anyhow: the pandemic. Covid 19 is a new epidemic, but pestilences are as old as humankind itself. Thus, the Black Death raged in Europe between 1346 and 1353 and caused 25 million deaths. It has recurred with many waves up to the 17th century and frightened people.

We now pose the question, which role castles and fortresses played in former centuries in the context of pandemics. Martin Luther wrote:

“My confidence and my castle, my God in whom I hope. For he will deliver thee from the snare of the fowler and from the noisome pestilence.”

In Luther’s view, the castle in this song turns out to be the symbol of divine protection against the plague. But what kind of function did real castles have in the case of a pandemic, was it the same? Do signs exist for a changed usage of weir systems during rampant epidemics?

 

Programme

12:45 Virtual Conference Room opened

13:00-13:15 Christian Ottersbach: Introduction

13:15-13:25 Rainer Atzbach: Introduction: The Black Death in Denmark and in front of Kiel Castle

13:25-13:35: Michael Nobel Hviid: The Royal Castle as a catalyst for dissemination

13:35-14:00: Dieter Lehmann – Discussion slot & Break

14:00-14:10 Lea Reiff: War and Pestilence. (Co-)relations between plague and warfare in literature and film, past and present

14:10-14:20 Dominik Gerd Sieber: Walls, Ditches and Gates contra Pestilence
. Castles in Upper Swabia during Times of Pestilence in 16th Century

14:20-14:40: Rainer Atzbach – Discussion slot

You are invited to this Zoom webinar.

When: Dec 17, 2020 12:30 PM Copenhagen

 

Topic: Castles and Fortresses in Times of Pestilence

Register in advance for this webinar:

https://aarhusuniversity.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FDBVBcdjRuKFdBZaWBJv4w

Or an H.323/SIP room system:

H.323: 109.105.112.236 or 109.105.112.235

Meeting ID: 674 7544 3008

SIP: 67475443008@109.105.112.236 or 67475443008@109.105.112.235

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

For further informations about the colloquium please contact:

Dieter Lehmann

info@dikoleh.de

or

Rainer Atzbach

rainer.atzbach@cas.au.dk



Diesen Blogbeitrag zitieren
ottersbach (2020, 11. Dezember). InternationAl Colloquium – Castles and Fortresses in Times of Pestilence. arx et scientia. Abgerufen am 16. April 2024, von https://doi.org/10.58079/r596

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