(PhD OR PD) Anchoring Religious Change in the Later Greek City

Work Package 11 of the Anchoring Innovation program, of which the envisaged research project will be part, focuses on the Greek cities from the onset of Roman rule to Late Antiquity (c 200 BC- 400 AD) and asks how they coped with religious change. From the onset of Roman rule until late antiquity, the religious cultures of the Greek world underwent significant changes. The Work Package investigates how changes in the religious sphere were anchored in older religious practices and traditional civic and social culture. Polytheism has often been seen as inherently tolerant and flexible in dealing with religious change but in how far was this really the case? Investigating the ways in which religious change came about allows us to investigate the social and political landscapes which made change possible.

What constituted change in the religious sphere? Where do we see changes occurring? Under what circumstances could change occur? Who were its agents and what were their strategies? What were the responses to new ideas and practices? How did authorities deal with religious deviance? How were new cults and their adherents - be they the followers of newly-founded cults within polytheism (e.g. Isis, Sarapis) or monotheists like Jews and Christians - integrated into the civic and social landscapes? How did various religious groups and communities live together?

We invite structured PhD / PD proposals (title, research question, scholarly background, aims, method, corpus) that focus on aspects of religious changes and its social and cultural ramifications in the (later) Greek city in the light of Anchoring Innovation. More information about the Anchoring Innovation research agenda of OIKOS can be found on the website (www.anchoringinnovation.nl), including an article by Ineke Sluiter, entitled “Anchoring Innovation: a Classical Research Agenda” (Anchoring Innovation: A Classical Research Agenda | European Review | Cambridge Core).

Topics may include (BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO): Religious markets and religious entrepreneurs; priesthood and religious personnel; Oracles and the spread of religious knowledge; changes in religious belief systems; notions of divine agency; Jewish and Christian communities in Greek cities; burial practices and kinship strategies; religious toleration; religious associations; the role of writing in religious change. We are particularly interested in proposals that combine epigraphic, archaeological and historical approaches.

University of Groningen, Faculty of Arts, Groningen Research Institute for the Study of Culture (ICOG).

PhD project, 4 years (1.0 FTE, 38 hrs per week), starting date to be agreed upon, with a preference for September 1, 2023. Initially the employee will receive a one-year contract, with extension for the following 36 months on condition of a positive evaluation. The appointment must lead to the completion of a PhD thesis. Salary range from € 2.541 to € 3.247 gross per month for a fulltime appointment (pay scale for PhDs, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities).

Groningen University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3%), training and career development. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. Please note that if the successful candidate is not already registered as living in the Netherlands, it is required that the candidate will officially relocate to the Netherlands on the starting date of the contract at the latest.

• Completion of a PhD thesis within the contract period;
• Participation in meetings of the project research group(s);
• Presentations of intermediate research results at workshops and conferences;
• Participation in the training program of the local (Groningen) Graduate School of Humanities and the National Research School in Classics (OIKOS);
• Active participation in the interfaculty research institute CRASIS;
• Some teaching in the second and third years of the appointment.

• A Research MA, MA or MPhil degree in Ancient History, Classics or other relevant field, held by the time of the application, with an MA thesis of high quality with a grade of at least 8.0 on a ten-point scale, or comparable assessment (if the degree is not yet held at the time of application, a statement by the applicant’s supervisor should confirm that it will be held by time of appointment).
• Well-developed research skills, including the ability to formulate relevant and creative research questions and hypotheses, descriptive and analytical skills, and a clear and persuasive style of writing;
• Excellent competence English, and relevant ancient languages as well as reading competence in French and German;
• Independent thinker, team player.

Postdoc project, 3 years (1.0 fte, 38 hrs per week), starting date to be agreed upon, with a preference for September 1, 2023. Initially the employee will receive a one-year contract, with extension for the following 2 years on condition of a positive evaluation. Salary range (depending on education and experience) of a minimum of € 3.974,- and a maximum of € 5.439,- (salary scale 11) gross per month for full-time employment, (pay scale for postdoctoral researchers, in accordance with the Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities). This includes medical and pension benefits. If desired, the position may be held part-time and thereby extended in length.

Groningen University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3%), training and career development. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. Please note that if the successful candidate is not already registered as living in the Netherlands, it is required that the candidate will officially relocate to the Netherlands on the starting date of the contract at the latest.

• Completion of a monograph or, alternatively, at least three substantial articles within the contract period;
• The organization of a workshop and/or a conference;
• Presenting papers at conferences, both in the Netherlands and internationally;
• Taking art in the life of the Classics Department at Groningen University and participating in the academic community of the national research school OIKOS and the wider Anchoring Innovation program;
• Some teaching (max 20%).

• A PhD in a relevant field (e.g., Classics, Ancient History, History), held by time of appointment;
• An excellent research and publication record in relation to stage of career;
• Excellent knowledge of ancient Greek;
• Experience with Greek epigraphy;
• Excellent command of English;
• A strong cooperative attitude;
• Organizational experience.

The Anchoring Innovation program is strongly committed to diversity within its team and especially welcomes applications from members of underrepresented groups.

Enquiries about the position can be addressed to Prof. dr Onno van Nijf (o.m.van.nijf@rug.nl). We have deliberately scheduled a long period between this announcement and the deadline for submission so that candidates have ample time to prepare their own versions of the projects outlined above. We know that the design of a good project takes time and effort. Do not hesitate to contact your prospective supervisor about this. Questions about the procedure can be directed to Dr Suzanne van de Liefvoort (anchoring@let.ru.nl).

In order to be admissible, applications must include the following information (in the same order), in one PDF file (not zipped):

• Cover letter;
• CV, including contact information of two referees;
• Transcript of records (i.e. a certified copy of your MA and BA courses and results);
• Research proposal of 1500 words. This does not include the bibliography and (if appropriate) an appendix containing a list of sources (together max. two pages A4);
• Copy of relevant diploma or statement by supervisor confirming that the applicant will hold the required degree at the time of appointment.