Conference « All they lack is speech »

From October 24 to 26, 2024, an international conference titled “All They Lack is Speech: Sounds, Cries, and Voices of Animals in Ancient and Medieval Cultures,” organized by the Institute of Research and History of Texts (IRHT), will take place in Paris. This conference invites researchers from various disciplines to explore how the sounds produced by animals were perceived and interpreted in ancient and medieval societies.

Animal Sounds: A Cultural and Religious Significance

In ancient civilizations, animal sounds were not just natural noises; they held symbolic and religious meaning. Whether in ritual contexts or observed in nature, animal cries played a central role in divinatory practices, rituals, and mythology. For instance, the cries of birds were often used in augury practices in Greece and Rome to predict the future. Similarly, the roars of wild animals such as lions or tigers could symbolize divine power or authority.

The significance of these sounds went beyond mere observation. Often perceived as forms of divine communication, these cries could convey messages to humans or reveal hidden omens. Conference speakers will analyze textual, artistic, and religious interpretations of these animal voices.

Main Research Areas

The Animal as an Intermediary Between Worlds: In many ancient cultures, animals were seen as mediators between the human world and the divine. The cries of birds, wolves, or snakes were often viewed as divine signs, adding a mystical dimension to natural sounds.

Literary and Artistic Representations: Animals and their voices were frequently represented in literature and the arts. Researchers will discuss the importance of these representations in mythological texts, epic narratives, and religious works. The anthropomorphic dimensions of these depictions, where animals are often given speech or a human voice, will also be explored.

Animal Voices and Political Power: In Roman narratives, animal cries could symbolize sovereignty or military strength. Animals were often used to legitimize political authority, as seen in stories of lions roaring in honor of emperors or ravens accompanying victorious conquerors.

Sounds and Religious Rituals: The use of animal sounds in religious ceremonies and sacred practices will be another central theme. In antiquity, certain animal cries were seen as sacred expressions, embodying the presence of deities or the will of higher forces.

An Interdisciplinary Approach

This conference will stand out due to its interdisciplinary approach, involving historians, anthropologists, philologists, and acoustics experts. The goal is to better understand how animal voices, far from being mere natural sounds, were interpreted, codified, and integrated into complex belief systems. This cross-disciplinary method will allow participants to explore how these voices shaped the conception of animality and humanity through the ages.

Contemporary Relevance

Although the conference will focus on historical periods, discussions will also address the current relevance of these interpretations. In the context of today’s ecological crisis and the redefinition of our relationship with animals, revisiting these ancient representations could offer new perspectives on sound ecology and how we perceive and understand animal sounds today.

This conference promises to be a deep and innovative exploration of the central place of animals and their voices in ancient cultures while opening new avenues for reflection in the modern world.

Do you think that animal sounds in our contemporary societies can still hold symbolic meanings, as they did in antiquity?

Source(s) : Irht.cnrs.fr

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16/10/2024