Great personalities such as Theodor Mommsen, August Boeckh, Adolf von Harnack and Ulrich von Wilamowitz-Moellendorff contributed significantly to establish and maintain Berlin’s reputation as an important center of classical studies. 82 national as well as professional associations from all over the world have joined to form the Fédération internationale des Association d’études classiques (FIEC), the representative institution of classical research. Within this institution, Germany is represented by the Mommsen-Gesellschaft and the Deutsche Altphilologenverband. Once in every five years, FIEC organizes a one-week international congress in order to support scientific exchange and to offer a platform for distributing and discussing the newest discoveries and research results. For the second time in its history, the congress will be held in Germany.

Research on all aspects of the ancient world as well as on their modern perception and transformation has been going beyond the boundaries of Europe and North America. 400 speakers – from Chile, Argentina, South Africa, the Ivory Coast, Lebanon, Iran, Europe and North America – will give public talks and participate in discussions organised in 19 different panels; thus, interesting debates will be triggered.

The opening ceremony of the congress on Monday, August 24, 2009 at 5 p.m. in the Audimax will be held by the president of the FIEC, Prof. Dr. Heinrich von Staden (Princeton University, Institute for Advanced Studies) and the president of the Mommsen-Gesellschaft, Prof. Dr. Christiane Reitz.

Prof. Dr. Jürgen Zöllner (Berlin Senator for Education, Science and Research), Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Christoph Markschies (President of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) and Prof. Dr. Stefan Kipf (Deutscher Altphilologenverband) will deliver the conference’s opening remarks. The keynote speaker of the lecture “Geschichte und Kunst” (History and Art) - which will be open to the public - is Prof. Dr. Hans-Joachim Gehrke, President of the Deutsche Archäologisches Institut.

The closing ceremony will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2009 in the Foreign Office. The congress’s patron is Frank-Walther Steinmeier, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Chancellor of Germany.

Fee:

• Regular fee: 100 euros
• All regular participants of the congress are entitled to free use of the local transportation system (BVG) and free admission to Pergamonmuseum, Bode-Museum and Altes Museum.
• Students pay 10 euros (without the tickets for public transportation and the museums)
• Day tickets can be purchased at the cash desk in the main building’s entrance hall.

Detailed program and registration: www.fiec2009.org



For further information please contact:
Professor Dr. Ulrich Schmitzer (Secretary General in charge)
Institut für Klassische Philologie
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Unter den Linden 6
D-10099 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (30) 2093-2164
ulrich.schmitzer@staff.hu-berlin.de