Ancient World Seminar: Sofie Remijsen (University of Amsterdam) "The Introduction of Clock Time in the Hellenistic Era"

The second Ancient World Seminar of this academic year will take place on Tuesday, October 15. Dr. Sofie Remijsen from the University of Amsterdam will deliver a lecture titled: "The Introduction of Clock Time in the Hellenistic Era." The event will be held in the Courtroom of the Faculty of Religion, Culture and Society, from 16:15 to 17:30.

After the seminar, you are invited to join us for free drinks—no registration required. If you'd like to attend the networking dinner following the drinks (at your own expense), please register by sending an email to crasis.aws rug.nl. 

Abstract

By the mid-second century BC, clock time was widely known throughout the Greco-Roman world—from Rome to Bactria, and among people from rulers to men of modest means. The rapid diffusion of this concept is remarkable, as clock time represents an abstract and arbitrary way of organizing life. For centuries, people had lived without dividing the day into equal parts or relying on clocks to mark time. This lecture will delve into how the idea of clock time began to take shape in the late fourth century and how its usage spread effectively across a diverse and widespread population in the early Hellenistic period.

About the Speaker

Sofie Remijsen has been an Associate Professor of Ancient History at the University of Amsterdam since 2017. Her research primarily focuses on the culture and society of the Roman Empire, including Late Antiquity. She has a particular interest in sports and games, Egyptian papyri, calendars, and the use of time.