Fantastic Fountains and Where to Find Them: A Comparative Analysis on Fountains in Byzantium and the Islamicate World, lecture by Federica A. Broilo (University of Urbino “Carlo Bo”), Byzantium at Ankara Fall-Winter Seminar Series 2021/22 via Zoom, December 16, 2021

Tracking the circulation and exchange of models, technology, and ideas in the Mediterranean during the Middle Ages makes easier the comparison between cultural systems that, although very different, were not kept in sealed boxes. This is undoubtedly the case of zoomorphic fountains in Byzantium and the Islamicate Mediterranean. Much has been written on the history of fountains from many different perspectives, and the literature on the subject is varied and comprehensive. This contribution employs different sources never used before for the study of fountains and their zoomorphic fountain heads, such as the tales from the Arabian Nights and other fantastic narratives, in a double attempt to present a fresh perspective on the subject and to determine if such literature should be used by art historians in their research.

Federica A. Broilo is a specialist on comparative art histories. She is a lecturer of Islamic art for the Department of Communication Sciences, Humanities and International Studies of at the University of Urbino “Carlo Bo”.

The Byzantine Seminar Series “Byzantium at Ankara” is organized and hosted in collaboration by the Department of History at Bilkent University and the Department of History of Art at Hacettepe University. It is organized by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sercan Yandim (Hacettepe University) and Asst. Prof. Dr. Luca Zavagno (Bilkent University).

All the sessions will be broadcasted via Zoom. Pre-registration at byzantiumatankara@hotmail.com is required.