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<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Dear all,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The Helsinki Research on the Ancient World (HelRAW)
<span style="color:black">seminar series continues with Kirsi Simpanen on March 1<sup>st</sup>, with her talk</span><span style="color:red">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">“The Dragon Under the Shadow of the Cross - The <i>
Draco</i> Standard in the Late Empire”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB">Abstract: </span></b><span lang="EN-GB">The anguiform
<i>Draco</i> standard was unique among Roman military emblems both because of its appearance and because of its history. Originally an enemy emblem, the Romans adopted it into their cavalry during the second century CE, and it reached its peak of popularity
in the fourth century when it was used as a standard of the cohort and as a personal emblem of the emperor. During the same period of time, Christianity, known for its negative attitude towards snakes, was gaining ground in Rome and was finally made the official
religion of the empire. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">In this paper I will trace the phases of the standard during the late empire in light of literary and artistic sources. I will also examine how the standard was perceived by the Christians and how it was able to survive
in their service despite of its negative symbolism. If anything, ambiguity is the factor that defines the innermost essence of the serpent, and the same ambiguity is visible in the way
<i>Draco</i> was perceived in its last phases.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US">When: </span></b><span lang="EN-US">March 1<sup>st</sup>, 2021 at 17:15<br>
<b>Where:</b> On Zoom: </span><a href="https://helsinki.zoom.us/j/66982851659?pwd=V1pLbmZjQ3crbHI1UlJSeEpjT01DZz09"><span lang="EN-US">https://helsinki.zoom.us/j/66982851659?pwd=V1pLbmZjQ3crbHI1UlJSeEpjT01DZz09</span></a><span lang="EN-US"><br>
Meeting ID: 669 8285 1659<br>
Passcode: 184718<br>
<b>Event page:</b> <a href="https://www.helsinki.fi/en/news/language-culture/online-helraw-kirsi-simpanen-1.3.2021">
https://www.helsinki.fi/en/news/language-culture/online-helraw-kirsi-simpanen-1.3.2021</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB">About the speaker:</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Constantia",serif">
</span><span lang="EN-GB">Kirsi Simpanen is a PhD student at the University of Helsinki. Her research interests include the Roman army and its military standards, and human-animal relations in Graeco-Roman antiquity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black">The event is a part of an interdisciplinary seminar series titled Helsinki Research on the Ancient World. This monthly seminar operates under the aegis of the PapyGreek (</span><a href="https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/digital-grammar-of-greek-documentary-papyri" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US">https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/digital-grammar-of-greek-documentary-papyri</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black">)
and SpaceLaw (</span><a href="http://www.spacelaw.fi" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US">www.spacelaw.fi</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black">) projects. It is co-organized by Marja Vierros, Anna-Maria Wilskman and Kaius Tuori. The seminar is open
for all.<br>
<br>
Welcome!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-fareast-language:FI">Mirkka Koskimäki<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-fareast-language:FI"><a href="mailto:mirkka.koskimaki@helsinki.fi"><span lang="EN-US">mirkka.koskimaki@helsinki.fi</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-fareast-language:FI"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-fareast-language:FI">+358504679565
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-fareast-language:FI">Tutkimusavustaja / Research assistant<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-fareast-language:FI">Law, Governance and Space: Questioning the Foundations of the Republican Tradition (</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-fareast-language:FI"><a href="http://www.spacelaw.fi/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US">www.spacelaw.fi</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-fareast-language:FI">)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;mso-fareast-language:FI">Siltavuorenpenger 1 A, huone / room 323<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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