The Alexander Romance in Persia and the East

organised by the Department of Classics and Ancient History and the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies
sponsored by The Soudavar Memorial Foundation

The University of Exeter, 26th - 29th July 2010

Introduction

The Alexander Romance, a fantastical history first composed in Greek in the Hellenistic period, became enormously influential on both eastern and western literature. It was translated into Syriac and Armenian in the fifth/sixth centuries CE, and thence entered Persian tradition, most notably in the Shahnameh and in Nizami's Iskandarnameh, as well as influencing the Qur'an and forming the basis of several Arabic Romances. Stories of Alexander in the Talmud led to the creation of several Jewish romances and also cross-fertilised the Arabic tradition. The western tradition started rather later with the Latin translation of the tenth century CE. This international conference sets out to explore issues and growth points in the study of the Greek Alexander Romance and its transformations in the Persian and Arab traditions, as well as aspects of the Hebrew tradition as it impinges on the Muslim world.

General Information:
http://huss.exeter.ac.uk/classics/conferences/alexander_romance/

Conference Programme:
http://huss.exeter.ac.uk/classics/conferences/alexander_romance/programme.pdf

For further information please contact:
Richard Stoneman
c/o Dept of Classics and Ancient History
University of Exeter
Amory Building
Rennes Drive
Exeter EX4 4RJ
UK
richard14stoneman@btinternet.com