Retracing Connections and the Swedish Institute at Athens are presenting an online research dialogue with
Fotini Kondyli (Virginia/Patras)
moderated by Milan Vukašinović (Uppsala)

 on the topic of

Layers of Urban History: From Modern to Byzantine Athens through the Athenian Agora Excavations Archives

Can modern urban experiences shape the way we understand Byzantine cities? In this dialogue, we will discuss  the impact of modern urban experiences on the interpretation of Byzantine Athens, drawing from archaeological records and contemporary socio-economic phenomena. In doing so I follow two distinct story lines. Through an examination of the Athenian Agora Excavations Archives, Fotini Kondyli discusses how the excavation and recording of the Byzantine layers at the Agora informed narratives about Athens’ post-classical life and urban development. I then turn to contemporary experiences such as Greece’s economic crisis and Athens’ bottom-up urban projects in the crisis aftermath to highlight the relevance of contemporary experiences in enriching our understanding of Byzantine Athens’ spatial configuration and urban dynamics.

The Dialogue takes place online via Zoom on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at 18.00 (Athens).

Register here.