In the Spotlight: the 70th Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale in Prague

Dear Mar Shiprim readers,

This month we thank Jana Mynářová at Charles University in Prague for talking to us about Czech Assyriology’s past, present and future ahead of the 70th Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale (RAI), taking place in Prague 7th – 11th July this year.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

With warm wishes,
Pavla Rosenstein
Mar Shiprim Editor

 

 

In the Spotlight: the 70^th Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale in Prague

 

Could you please tell us about yourself and this year’s Rencontre co-hosts – the Charles University and the Czech Academy of Sciences?

I’m Jana Mynářová, professor of Ancient Near Eastern Studies at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University in Prague, and I currently serve as Deputy Director of the Institute of Ancient Near Eastern Studies (IANES). My research centers on the political and social history of the Late Bronze Age Near East, especially as reflected in cuneiform sources. I’ve worked extensively on the corpus of the Amarna Letters, exploring issues of diplomacy, identity, and regional interaction between Egypt and the wider Near Eastern world.

This year, we are pleased to host the 70th Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale (RAI) in Prague. It’s not the first time the event has taken place here as colleagues may remember the 43rd Rencontre, which was held in July 1996 under the theme Intellectual Life in the Ancient Near East. That conference left a lasting impression and was later published in a volume edited by Jiří Prosecký through the Oriental Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences.

Much like in 1996, this year’s conference is jointly organized by two institutions: the Institute of Ancient Near Eastern Studies at the Faculty ofArts, Charles University and the Oriental Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences. I represent the university, while my colleague Sergio Alivernini leads the organizational efforts on behalf of the Oriental Institute. This collaboration has been essential from the very beginning. While Charles University oversees academic programs in Ancient Near Eastern studies, the Oriental Institute has long been the leading research body in the Czech Republic for philological research on the ancient Near East. The institute is part of the Czech Academy of Sciences and has played a central role in international research networks.

Charles University itself was founded in 1348 by Emperor Charles IV and is the oldest university in Central Europe. The Faculty of Arts, one of its founding faculties, has historically maintained strong ties to ancient Near Eastern and philological studies. Assyriology and Hittitology have been part of its academic profile since the early 20th century, thanks in large part to the work of Bedřich Hrozný.
Hrozný, a professor at Charles University, made a major contribution to the decipherment of Hittite, which he famously demonstrated to be an Indo-European language. His 1915 publication Die Sprache der Hethiter was a turning point for the study of Anatolia and Indo-European linguistics. He later served as rector of Charles University and remained deeply committed to the institutional development of ancient Near Eastern studies in Prague. He also contributed to the foundation of the Oriental Institute in 1922 as part of the newly established Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, linking university teaching with a dedicated research institution from the start. Today, his legacy is recognized through the university’s annual Bedřich Hrozný Prize for Creative Work, which honors outstanding scholarly achievements across disciplines.
The 70th Rencontre’s theme, From Cradle to Grave: Everyday Life in the Ancient Near East, reflects our collective interest in shifting the focus from elite and political narratives to the material and social realities of ordinary people. We are looking forward to hosting scholars from around the world here in Prague and continuing the long-standing tradition of the Rencontre as a space for serious research and open scholarly exchange.

How is Ancient Near Eastern Studies perceived at Charles University and in the Czech Republic more broadly?
Assyriology has a long and respected tradition at Charles University. Although it remains a small field in terms of student numbers, similar to many other countries, it is deeply embedded in the academic identity of the Faculty of Arts. This tradition began with Bedřich Hrozný and continues today through both our teaching and research activities.
Charles University remains the only university in the Czech Republic where students can study the ancient Near East through a structured academic program. The BA and MA study track Ancient Egypt and the Near East is jointly administered by the Institute of Ancient Near Eastern Studies and the Czech Institute of Egyptology. Students gain a broad interdisciplinary foundation, with a focus on language acquisition (Sumerian, Akkadian, Egyptian) as well as historical, cultural, and archaeological context. Many go on to pursue doctoral work in the Czech Republic or abroad. We also work in close collaboration with the Oriental Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, whose researchers are active in teaching and mentoring students at the Faculty of Arts.
In short, although the field is relatively small, the Czech Republic has a long-standing scholarly infrastructure for Near Eastern studies. Hosting the Rencontre this year is a way of highlighting that tradition and reinforcing our place within the international academic community. It’s also an opportunity to show that serious Assyriological work continues to be carried out here, and that we are committed to training the next generation of researchers.

How did this year’s Rencontre committee decide on the theme From Cradle to Grave. Everyday Life in the Ancient Near East?
The theme came about quite organically, through discussions among the members of the Organizing Committee. Many of us, regardless of our specific areas of expertise, are drawn to the study of daily life: how people lived, worked, interacted, and understood their place in the world. The title From Cradle to Grave captures this interest in the full spectrum of human experience in the ancient Near East.
At the same time, the theme reflects a deliberate shift in emphasis. In recent decades, much of the field has been shaped by questions of state formation, empire, and elite actors. These remain important, but we felt it was time to encourage research that foregrounds individuals and communities, social practices, household economies, and local traditions. This also balances the 1996 Rencontre in Prague, which centered on elite and intellectual culture.
We believe this theme opens up a wide range of possible contributions, from text-based investigations of labor, childhood, old age, illness, gender, and memory to archaeological case studies and anthropological approaches. It is a theme broad enough to foster interdisciplinary exchange while still providing a shared conceptual framework.

And what about the keynote speakers?
This year’s Rencontre features three keynote speakers whose work aligns closely with the theme From Cradle to Grave: Everyday Life in the Ancient Near East. Each of them brings a unique perspective on how ancient societies functioned on a day-to-day level, across different regions and historical periods.
Manuel Molina, Research Professor at the Institute of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Languages and Cultures of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in Madrid, is a leading expert on the Ur III period. His research into administrative and legal texts provides a detailed understanding of economic and bureaucratic practices in third-millennium BCE Mesopotamia. He also directs the Database of Neo-Sumerian Texts, which offers open access to more than 100,000 cuneiform tablets and remains a fundamental tool for scholars working in the field.
Marc Van De Mieroop, Miriam Champion Professor of History at Columbia University, is well known for his contributions to the social, economic, and intellectual history of the ancient Near East. His recent publications, including Before and After Babel, examine how writing systems functioned within imperial structures and how they shaped everyday experiences. His work consistently emphasizes the interplay between texts, power, and the social realities of ancient communities.
Shana Zaia, Assistant Professor of Ancient History at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, focuses on the Neo-Assyrian Empire and brings a fresh perspective on royal ideology, religious practices, and the roles of cultic personnel. Her research highlights how imperial and religious institutions were sustained by individuals whose daily lives are often overlooked in traditional narratives.
Together, these speakers will offer a broad and insightful exploration of everyday life in the ancient Near East, addressing themes that range from economic administration and intellectual culture to religion and social identity. Their contributions promise to enrich the discussion and provide a deeper understanding of the people behind the texts and monuments.

What are some other highlights from this year’s program?
This year’s program is marked by the unusually high number and diversity of specialized workshops. These workshops cover a broad range of topics and regions, offering participants the opportunity to explore focused research questions in smaller group settings. Themes include daily life in Uruk during the first millennium BCE, the religious and economic landscapes of Mesopotamian temple economies, scribal activity in wartime, and the geography of Late Bronze Age Anatolia.
The structure of the program allows not only for traditional paper sessions but also for more interactive and exploratory formats. These include discussions based on newly published or even unpublished material, interdisciplinary panels, and sessions that integrate archaeological, textual, and theoretical approaches.
In addition to the scholarly workshops, we are also offering a practical session designed for researchers interested in applying for European Research Council (ERC) grants. This workshop will provide guidance on proposal development, structuring large-scale projects, and navigating the application process. We hope it will be particularly useful to early-career scholars who are building their academic careers in an increasingly competitive research environment.
Altogether, the variety and depth of the program reflect the vitality of the field and the diverse methodologies that are currently shaping Near Eastern studies.

What has been the easiest and the most challenging aspect of organizing this year’s conference?
It’s hard to say what has been the easiest or most difficult part, especially since the conference is still to come. Organizing an event of this scale involves many interconnected tasks, from managing submissions and communications, to handling logistics and coordinating across institutions.
What has made the process workable is the clear division of labor among the Organizing Committee members and the strong support we’ve received from our students. Our BA and MA students have taken on a wide range of responsibilities, including preparing materials, assisting with online systems, and helping with onsite arrangements. Their contribution has been essential and reflects the collaborative spirit we’ve tried to build around the event.
The complexity is real, but so is the commitment from everyone involved. Without that, it simply would not be possible to bring the conference together.

And finally, what do you hope attendees will take away from the conference?
We hope that attendees leave with fresh ideas, meaningful conversations, and new or renewed professional connections. One of the strengths of the Rencontre is that it brings together scholars from different parts of the world and from different stages of their careers. It’s an opportunity to present work, but also to engage in discussion, ask questions, and get feedback in a collegial setting.
We also hope participants enjoy their time in Prague. The city has a long academic tradition, a distinctive architectural character, and a strong cultural atmosphere. We’ve selected venues that reflect this background and that are located in the historical center, making it easy to explore the city between sessions.
Above all, we want our guests to feel welcome and supported. We are doing our best to make sure the conference runs smoothly and that everyone attending feels they are part of a productive, inclusive, and intellectually engaging environment.

 

For more information about this year’s Rencontre, please visit: https://rai70.ff.cuni.cz

 For more information about the Institute of Ancient Near Eastern Studies at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University, please visit: https://uspv.ff.cuni.cz/en

 For more information about the Oriental Institute at the Czech Academy of Sciences, please visit: https://orient.cas.cz/en

 Interview by Pavla Rosenstein