Identity and Cultural Exchange in Ancient Cilicia: New Results and Future Perspectives, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, May 18–19, 2018

For centuries Cilicia was a region of transition and of cultural exchange. Its rich heritage is characterized by significant regional traditions, but also by influences from outside. In the last years, historians have reconsidered the vast quantity of written sources and epigraphical records, while remarkable progress has been made by archaeologists excavating in major cities but also in smaller settlements. Increasing attention is now paid to the rise of Christianity, especially to the development of the cult of saints. How were ideas from outside imported and adapted, and what role did travellers who crossed Cilicia on their way to the Near East play? What is the evidence for specific regional characteristics and Cilician identity, provided by archaeological research? What were the reasons for the emergence of the cult of local saints, and what made foreign saints attractive for veneration in Cilicia? The aim of this colloquium is to bring together scholars from various disciplines working on ancient Cilicia and to discuss recent results and future approaches.