Through
10/10
Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations
Who, What, Why: Zaid Tabaza on veganism in the Middle East
Who, What, Why: Zaid Tabaza on veganism in the Middle East
By tracing the evolution of this practice, Tabaza learned that in Jordan and Lebanon, the historical appeal of plant-based diets derived from their curative potential and wide availability.
‘The Changing Terrain of Religious Freedom’
‘The Changing Terrain of Religious Freedom’
This timely volume of essays edited by professors Heather J. Sharkey and Jeffrey Green explores theoretical, historical, and legal perspectives on religious freedom, while examining its meaning as an experience, value, and right.
Finding community in the Jewish High Holy Days
Finding community in the Jewish High Holy Days
Three cultural and academic leaders at Penn consider how a return to experiencing Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in person offered physical and spiritual healing.
The story the bowls tell
The story the bowls tell
In an ambitious new project, historian Simcha Gross and Harvard’s Rivka Elitzur-Leiman are studying hundreds of ancient incantation bowls housed at the Penn Museum. They hope to better understand the objects and eventually, build a database of all these bowls worldwide.
The ‘music’ of one poet’s words, translated
The ‘music’ of one poet’s words, translated
With help from her daughter, scholar Huda Fakhreddine published an English version of 30 poems for children written by her father in Arabic, paying tribute to their endearing and enduring subject matter and to the musicality and richness of their sound.
From the archives, a class on different communities of Jews in China
From the archives, a class on different communities of Jews in China
Kathryn Hellerstein created an opportunity for her first-year seminar students to study archival material from a collection donated to the Penn Libraries by her mentor, Israeli scholar Irene Eber.
Nationalism, American evangelicals, and conservatism
Nationalism, American evangelicals, and conservatism
Historians Anthea Butler and Heather J. Sharkey and political scientist Michele Margolis share their thoughts on the history of American evangelicals in politics, Trump’s appeal, and what it means for the future of the GOP.
‘A Revolution in Rhyme’
‘A Revolution in Rhyme’
While building the Persian language and studies program at Penn, Fatemeh Shams draws from the millennium-old Persian literary tradition to write a new book about poetry and politics in modern Iran. She will embark on her next book project during an upcoming fellowship in Berlin.
Alice Paul’s mysterious manuscript
Alice Paul’s mysterious manuscript
Heather J. Sharkey and three students transcribed a hand-written manuscript of the doctoral dissertation by Alice Paul, who earned her Ph.D. from Penn in 1912. As part of a virtual symposium, they joined John Pollack of the Libraries to discuss their efforts.
Middle East Film Festival highlights five directors from five countries
Middle East Film Festival highlights five directors from five countries
Transformed by the pandemic, this year’s festival featured a virtual dialogue with directors and watch-at-home film offerings.
In the News
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Why were young women poisoned in Iran?
In an Op-Ed, Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet of the School of Arts & Sciences says that recent attacks on Iranian women at schools represent a targeted campaign to enforce a new mode of gender segregation and political deprivation.
FULL STORY →
Associated Press
Ancient restaurant highlights Iraq’s archaeology renaissance
An international archaeological mission led by a Penn team has uncovered the remnants of what is believed to be a 5,000-year-old restaurant or tavern in the ancient city of Lagash in southern Iraq.
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Esquire
Raise a toast in honor of the world’s oldest known beerhall!
A team of researchers from Penn and the University of Pisa, led by Holly Pittman of the School of Arts & Sciences and the Penn Museum, have excavated a site in Iraq that could contain the oldest tavern ever discovered.
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The Washington Post
World’s oldest bar? Archaeologists find a nearly 5,000-year-old tavern
A team of researchers from Penn and the University of Pisa, led by Holly Pittman of the School of Arts & Sciences and the Penn Museum, have excavated a site in Iraq that could contain the oldest tavern ever discovered.
FULL STORY →
Artnet News
Archaeologists digging in Iraq have located the remains of a 5,000-year-old tavern—as well as a ‘beer recipe’
Holly Pittman of the School of Arts & Sciences and the Penn Museum and colleagues have uncovered the remains of a public eating space dated to 2700 B.C.E. in Lagash, an ancient city site in southern Iraq.
FULL STORY →
Times of India
Ancient refrigerator, beer recipe, and tavern among the latest discoveries at Lagash, Iraq
A team of archaeologists from Penn and the University of Pisa have discovered the remains of a 5,000-year-old tavern and an ancient beer recipe in the ruins of ancient Lagash in Iraq.
FULL STORY →