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SASA volunteers are set to present at the upcoming American Schools of Overseas Research (ASOR) annual meeting taking place from November 20th through the 23rd. Among these volunteers, Frederick Winter's, one of SASA’s ambassadors, contributions stand out as he prepares to delve deep into the intricate relationship between popular art and perceived threats during the interaction of European Celts with the Hellenistic Kingdoms. Winter will not only share his insights during the conference but will also lead a workshop on "Repatriation in the Global Context - Georgian" and shed light on "Repatriation Complications: Giving It Back Isn’t Always Simple." This exploration of repatriation complexities adds a nuanced layer to the discourse surrounding cultural heritage. David Danzig, SASA’s Executive Director, will be presenting his analysis on “Babylonian traditional religious culture in Classical and Late Antiquity.” By shedding light on the continuities and transformations within this ancient civilization, Danzig's work contributes to a better understanding of the religious dynamics that shaped Babylonian society over time. Sarah Richardson, a team leader on our outreach team, will be showcasing her expertise in the archaeology of the Southern Levant at the ASOR conference. As both a chair and presenter, Richardson's contributions to the sessions are expected to bring depth and insight to the discussions. Her involvement in Archaeology of the Southern Levant I, II, and III highlights her commitment to amplifying academic discourse with her knowledge and experience.  Kate Minniti will be presenting on the Digging Up Data workshop at ASOR, focusing on "A Monstrous Compendium: A Database of Egyptian ‘Monsters’ in Video Games." This presentation will offer a unique perspective on how ancient themes are incorporated into modern media and cultural artifacts. As part of SASA’s commitment to education, there will be an opportunity to view our poster showcasing our innovative archaeogaming education programs for undergraduate level students throughout this three day conference. These programs have been made possible through the generous support of the National Endowment for the Humanities, highlighting SASA's dedication to fostering interest in ancient studies among the younger generation. SASA will also be holding a round table meeting on Thursday, November 21st, from 12:45-2 pm EST, with a focus on "Including Non-Academic Professionals and the Public in the Ancient Studies Community." The roundtable discussion will aim to explore pathways for maintaining engagement with individuals who have studied ancient studies and wish to stay connected to the intellectual community, regardless of their career paths. By fostering dialogue and sharing strategies for maintaining community and engagement, the round table seeks to build a network of support and learning for individuals passionate about ancient studies across various career paths. The roundtable will be hosted by the Executive Director of SASA, David Danzig, alongside organizational ambassadors, Barbara Porter, Chuck Jones, and Fred Winters. At SASA, we are dedicated to fostering connections within the ancient studies community, not only through our own initiatives but by collaborating with others who share our commitment to preserving and expanding access to knowledge. We believe that by working together, we can strengthen networks of support for and engagement with those passionate about ancient studies throughout their lives. We look forward to seeing you there and spreading awareness for ancient studies together!

Saving Ancient Studies Alliance (SASA) is proud to have been awarded an honorable mention in the NJCH Katz Prize for Humanities Outreach Projects in New Jersey. We are thrilled to have been recognized for our outstanding Archaeogaming Education Program, which has been developed with support by New Jersey Council for Humanities (NJCH). The NJCH Katz prize, established in celebration of the Council's 50th founding anniversary and in tribute to the esteemed scholar and longtime NJCH board member Stan Katz, aims to acknowledge and celebrate a New Jersey-based organization that has showcased notable commitment and influence in recent community-focused public humanities initiatives within the state. This prestigious award serves as a recognition of significant contributions to the public humanities landscape, reflecting dedication, impact, and meaningful engagement with diverse communities across New Jersey. Kickstarted with support from NJCH in 2021 and bolstered with additional funding in 2023, SASA has been dedicated to targeting middle school educational settings in New Jersey through the innovative concept of Archaeogaming, which involves using commercial video games as an educational tool to teach ancient history and cultures.  Our program provides polished engaging videos and supplemental materials that cater to a wide range of students and teachers. By bridging the gap between the past and present in a creative way, SASA helps educators leverage media that resonate with young students to enhance their learning experience. Since 2023, our program has made a significant impact in classrooms not only in NJ but across the United States and abroad. We have developed six Archaeogaming modules (AEMs), each supporting a different lesson on ancient studies. And thanks to the success of our initiatives, SASA was recently awarded an NEH grant to further expand our reach to the undergraduate level. By offering free, easily accessible, and implementable materials, we support excellent and engaging teaching in underserved schools. The positive feedback we have received confirms that incorporating video game elements into education not only captures students' attention but also fosters familiarity and engagement. Our AEMs have successfully immersed thousands of students in learning about the ancient world, demonstrating the program's effectiveness in making ancient studies more accessible and inclusive. By nurturing communities of learning in schools, SASA is proud to provide educators with the tools to empower students to explore historical concepts with empathy, inclusivity, and a deeper understanding of different cultures. We are honored to be acknowledged for our commitment to advancing humanities and ancient studies in schools across New Jersey and beyond. Link to SASA's Honorable Mention: https://njhumanities.org/katz-prize/#morven

As a member of the SASA community, you may have heard whispers about our new and improved benefits for our supporters. As a non-profit organization, SASA is grateful for the support of our community who help us run our events and bring those already involved in the world of ancient studies together.   Because of the continued generosity of our community we wanted to change our benefits to make sure we are giving back to our community. Don’t worry! Existing members of the community who do not contribute financially are not going to lose out on the features you have gotten used to, the monthly newsletter and all educational levels will stay completely free and accessible to everyone.   To spice up the levels of support, we’re introducing ancient artisan giving levels. What does this mean? Well, each level that you are able to support, named after different artisanal bases, entitles you to different levels of benefits.  Here is the list of the new benefit tiers Starting with our Wood Carvers , supporting $5-$9.99 a month, will have their names listed on our patrons list and gain access to the Wood Carver donor events.  The next tier is the Stone Hewers , supporting with $10-$14.99 a month, who will have their names listed on our patrons list and access to this tier’s donor events, a 5% discount on SASA’s merchandise and downloadable backgrounds at no extra cost.  Our third level is the Bronzesmiths , who give $15-$24.99 a month, who receive their names listed on our patrons list and access to the Bronze smith donor events, a 10% discount on SASA’s merchandise and downloadable backgrounds at no extra cost.  The fourth tier is the Ironsmiths , giving $25-$49.99 a month, who receive their names listed on our patrons list and access to all of the  donor events, a 15% discount on SASA’s merchandise and downloadable backgrounds at no extra cost.  Next is the Silversmiths , supporting $50-$74.99 a month, who receive their names listed first on our patrons list and access to all of the donor events, a 15% discount on SASA’s merchandise, access to donor specific packages and a personalized thank you letter. They also receive exclusive access to Roundtable Discussions in which they can meet with our founder David Danzig to discuss thoughts and aspirations for Ancient Studies.  The final level of giving is the SASA League Member , who gives $75 onwards. Named after the historic Amphictyonic League formed by several Greek city-states sworn to protect the Delphic Oracle. In this giving level, you pledge to join SASA on its mission to protect Ancient Studies as an official league-member! You will receive a personalized letter of thanks from one of our leaders, firsthand access to all events, and the ability to work closely with our team in efforts to expand outreach. Your name and title at the top of the Patrons list on the Donation page. Also you’ll get access to a 20% discount on SASA merchandise and the donor packages in the Bazaar. As a sneak peek of some of these awesome donor exclusives here’s a few examples of what we will be hosting. From a pictionary night to a scavenger hunt, headline or headlie to a tabletop RPG, SASA’s new exclusive events have something for everyone. Whether you’re a donating SASA supporter or one of the valued members of our flourishing community who give their time to this cause, which has united us across the world, SASA would like to thank you for your ongoing support and hopes that you will continue to support us as we expand and are able to reach more people in our goal to make ancient studies accessible to all. See how you can become a SASA Supporter today! Want more information? Click here to find out what SASA does with your donations Click here for a book from our Book Club Events! Click here for The Bazar!

On July 21st-22nd, 2024, SASA held its fourth annual virtual conference, Opening the Ancient world . This free, live-streamed conference brings together scholars from around the world to present where they may not otherwise have the chance and support independent researchers worldwide. Across the two days of live-streaming, with the help of SASA’s partners, 25 individual talks were held with a combined attendance of 24,000 people attending the conference. SASA was able to support a wide range of diversity in this audience with individuals tuning in across the world from Australia to India, France to the United States. This diversity extended through to education level and age with an age range of 13-60+ and education ranging from High School diplomas to PhDs.  The success of this event would not have been possible without the support of SASA’s partners. Each of these organizations; Digital Hammurabi, Voices of Ancient Egypt, World History Encyclopedia, World of Antiquity, Per-Hay Studio, History in 5 minutes, History with Kayleigh, and New Classicists have been crucial in their help advertising and streaming the conference. And, with the generous grant from the Wenner-Gren Foundation, SASA was able to reach a more diverse audience with the inclusion of live interpretation during the conference in both Spanish and Arabic. This year's theme was “Representations of the Past in Ancient and Modern Times,”  chosen to expand upon the growing idea of ‘the reception of the ancient world’. A discipline with its roots in the 1980s, ‘Reception Theory,’  which refers to the relationship between the ancient and modern and the extent to which the more modern ideas of the ancient are influenced by their own social constructs and content rather than the material from the ancient world itself. This conference aims to broaden the idea of reception, taking a step back from the Western and Colonial interpretations and towards a more universal understanding, achieving this with an interdisciplinary exploration of how different societies across time have interacted with their historical roots.  The 25 presenters SASA welcomed this year came from a variety of both scholarly adjacent and more separate backgrounds, all devoting a portion of their personal time to pursuing scholarship. The virtual nature of the conference allowed SASA to host speakers from across the world, with this year's conference supporting presenters from the United States, Canada, Sudan, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Italy, Jordan, Iran, India, and New Zealand. The conference was divided into 5 sessions, each providing insights on representations of the past through different periods of ancient and modern times and different cultures, including but not limited to Ancient Mayans, Indians, Greeks, Egyptians, Mesopotamians, Iranians, and Sudanese persons. The five sections were Modern Projects on the Past, Mythology and Religion Over Time, Kinship Narratives, Art and Aesthetics, and Recontextualizing Ancient Poetry.  The Keynote Speakers:   The three keynote speakers, Dr. Martha Tepepa Covarrubias, Dr. Laura Castro Royo and Dr. Marian Feldman, discussed topics in their presentations ranging from the changing portrayal of Achaemenid Culture in modern media, the shift in representations of the Maya and the reception of Akkadian period royal monuments in Mesopotamia.  Dr. Martha Tepepa Covarrubias:  a current professor at Western Connecticut State University who holds an MA in Cultural Anthropology from Columbia University (New York), as well as a PhD in Urban Environmental Studies from El Colegio de México (Mexico City).  Spoke on:  Shifting Representations of the Maya Dr. Laura Castro Royo:  an Art Historian with an MA in Medieval Studies from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and a PhD from the School of Art History and School of Modern Languages, University of St Andrews (Scotland). She is also the Director of the online public project ‘Las Plumas de Simurgh (Mesopotamia and Iran)’. Spoke on: Under the Shadow of the Huma: Representations of the Achaemenid Culture in Modern Media Prof. Marian Feldman:  Currently a professor at Johns Hopkins University who received a PhD in Art History at Harvard University in Near Eastern Art. Additionally, she holds the W.A. Collins Vickers Chair in Archaeology, a position she has held since 2018.  Spoke on: The Display and Reception of Akkadian Period (c. 2350-2150 BCE) Royal Monuments in Later Mesopotamian History Partners:  SASA were honored to have been supported this year by our partners who have made this conference possible. Digital Hammurabi ( Website , YouTube  )  Voices of Ancient Egypt ( Website )  World History Encyclopedia ( Website , YouTube , Instagram )     World of Antiquity ( YouTube )  Per-Hay Studio ( YouTube )  History in 5 minutes ( YouTube ) History with Kayleigh ( YouTube , Instagram ) New Classicists ( Website ) SASA would like to thank everyone who tuned in to this year's virtual conference and invites you to catch up on any sessions you have missed via the 2024 Virtual conference  playlist, to join us at next year's conference in the summer of 2025 and to check out our many free public events across the year.  Want to find out more? 2024 Conference Report: 2024 Opening the Ancient World Conference Report   Watch recordings of any of the sessions from the Virtual Conference:  2024 Virtual Conference

Through accessible and engaging history, SASA aims to reignite passions for ancient research. It would not be possible to achieve this goal without the work of our team members. We would like to take this moment to celebrate the work of Alexander Vandewalle who recently received his PhD. Alex lives in Belgium and has been co-leading the Achaeogaming Live team since 2021. .For the past three years, he’s been organizing, and executing the quasi-weekly livestreams on SASA's Twitch channel. He obtained a MA in Linguistics and Literature: Latin & Greek from Ghent University, and a MSc in Film Studies and Visual Culture from the University of Antwerp, where he wrote a thesis on the narrative coherence of the so-called 'cinematic universe' technique in contemporary superhero fiction. He started his PhD research at both of those universities in November 2020 and completed it in September 2024. His dissertation focused on the reception of Greco-Roman mythological characters in video games. Approaching the topic via the lens of characterization, which is the ascription of character traits to the textual entities that we call characters. The first stage of research conceptualized how something like characterization could operate in games, which resulted in a published framework of characterization cues in video games. This framework was applied to a corpus of Greco-Roman mythological video games, to show how different games use different methods or modes of mythology reception to characterize Greek gods and heroes. Alex examined how players participate in the characterization process, such as the choices players make and why. as well as different types of developer motivations that go into the design process of mythological characters. Starting his dissertation during the pandemic meant that online community was even more important for gaining a sense of community. The inherently digital nature of his research had already translated itself into a number of virtual environments with like-minded people. There was a struggle in finding the right balance between the ancient and modern aspects of the thesis: studying classical reception in video games means that you need to persuade those with backgrounds in game studies as well as those in the Classics. Convincing people that games are worthy of academic investigation was another challenge, since games have acquired a reputation for being a waste of time. Alex will be working with media that he finds compelling and has a broader relevance to our world. He enjoys combining the media he loves with sustained academic inquiry, and to explore what these media do, are, and mean in our society. He will be starting a three-year postdoc project that will allow him to work on these questions in depth. Alex started a database in 2020 ( www.paizomen.com ) that introduces its users to games set in ancient Greece and Rome, and he has a chapter coming out that details the study of the ancient world in video games to help readers get a grasp of the field. He is currently creating larger structures to support the study of games at his school. All of us at SASA wish Alexander the best of luck in his next endeavor's. And we'll be looking forward to seeing what he accomplishes next.

On April 16th, 2024, Save Ancient Studies Alliance (SASA) was awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in their “Spotlight on Humanities in Higher Education” grant stream. The two-year award will be used to initiate the higher education tier of SASA’s Archaeogaming Education Program . Begun in 2021, this flagship program of SASA produces and helps implement Open Educational Resources that utilize the rich worlds of commercial video games with historical settings to help educators engage students in teaching about the ancient world. SASA has pioneered the adaptation for educational purposes of the fresh concept, “archaeogaming,” the exploration of video games for their historical content. This NEH award marks a huge milestone for SASA as an organization, and will help us impact introductory-level collegiate audiences across the country. Not only are we at SASA excited about this project, but the NEH itself touts our work in their press release  about all 238 grants awarded this April: “These grants will also create open educational ‘archaeogaming’ resources that use immersive footage from commercial video games accompanied by maps, photos, voiceovers, and other historical and instructional materials to teach middle school and undergraduate students about ancient history.” The funded project, directed by SASA Executive Director, David Danzig, and Archaeogaming Education Team Leader and Project Co-Director, Paige Brevick, will revise and update two of our Archaeogaming Education Modules, which currently are designed for middle school level, for use in undergraduate courses. The modules will be piloted in introductory Art History, Western Civilization, and World History courses at three underserved colleges - California State University - Stanislaus, Cisco College, and Salish Kootenai College. For the uninitiated, “archaeogaming” is a term coined by Andrew Reinhard in 2013 to explain how modern video games may be explored using archaeological techniques and terminology. Since then, this definition has expanded to include the educational use of video games to help learners explore archaeological ideas, as well as the history and culture of different populations, which appear in contemporary commercial video games. For example, the game Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey , reflects the life, art, and environment of ancient Greece, enabling players to experience the culture at a more personal level than a book or movie can provide. SASA has embraced the concept of archaeogaming in innovative ways, by creating a suite of Archaeogaming Education Modules on topics related to distinct ancient civilizations and their material culture. These modules use video game footage, paired with expert narration and supporting curricular materials, to engage and teach students about ancient studies topics in the classroom. SASA’s primary goal has always been to increase understanding and appreciation of ancient studies among audiences outside of academia, and this starts with history or social studies class in primary education. The mission of the Archaeogaming Education Program therefore, is to encourage students to draw connections between their own video gaming for fun and the body of knowledge held within those games. Our modules allow teachers to engage students where they are. The end result is a more interested and passionate ancient studies learner, who develops a greater appreciation for, and interest in, the deep past of global cultures. For this new initiative in undergraduate education, the same concept applies: students who play video games for fun will engage more readily with the content in the classroom that aligns with these games. Freshman college students, despite having gone through over a decade of education, may begin their college career having little interest in or knowledge of ancient studies, which may seem irrelevant to them. As today’s university students become more focused on how their studies will impact their pursuit of a career, they begin losing touch with the rich knowledge and deep human understandings of the past. By creating these modules with highly relatable content for the contemporary learner and in a plug-and-play style for professors of introductory humanities courses, SASA will provide and implement Open Educational Resources that bridge the gap between college-age students and ancient studies. This NEH funded project is the first step toward creating a complete set of supplemental Archaeogaming Education Modules to support undergraduate survey courses of Art History I, Western Civilization I, and World History I. Special thanks to our Grant Writing Team, particularly Daryl Bassin and Francesca Meneghetti, and SASA Ambassador Fred Winter, for their time and dedication. Learn more about SASA’s vision for archaeogaming in our Archaeogaming Program Overview , and in this introductory video . Free access is available to the current middle school modules via our Archaeogaming Education page .

SASA's Archaeogaming Live Team  has some exciting games lined up for this fall and winter season. The team is led by Drs. Kate Minniti and Alex Vandewalle, who both love gaming and Ancient Studies. Currently, the team is streaming weekly on Friday at 5pm EDT on SASA’s Twitch channel , playing Age of Mythology: Retold  and recently played the demo for  Rogue Titan . Upcoming games include Achilles: Legends Untold  and Tchia . Alexander Vandewalle Kate Minniti Age of Mythology: Retold is a real-time strategy game developed by Forgotten Empires and World's Edge. You get to play as a mythological god from Greek, Egyptian, Norse, and Atlantean pantheons. All of these cultures co-exist together and are in a struggle for dominance, where you will fight to come out on top. The Archao-gaming team will be taking a look at how the game perceives the subject of mythology. They will also examine how the game differs from its 2002 predecessor. And will look at how the game crafts mythological storytelling. Achilles: Legends Untold  is an Action-Roleplaying game created by Dark Point Games. It focuses on the mythological hero Achilles as he performs quests for Hades. The game is set in Greece after the Trojan War. The Archao-gaming team will be taking a look at how the game perceives the ancient world, with special focus on the dark aesthetic commonly depicted in mythology games. They will also look at the gameplay mechanics, how soulslike games (games  that are similar to the video game Dark Souls). relate to the ancient world. There are also potential parallels/divergences with the epic cycle in the game. Tchia  is an Action-Adventure game set in a fictional archipelago inspired by New Caledonia, an island east of Australia. You play as a young girl who can possess the bodies of animals and inanimate objects. This ability is used to help find your father. For this game, the team will be looking into cultural heritage, representation of minority communities, and how representation differs between indie and AAA games.  Give the SASA Twitch a follow  to be alerted to when the team next goes live.

SASA is delighted to invite you to a spooktacular week of fun with our 2024 Halloween Bash! To celebrate our continued success and the change of the seasons, a signifier of death and rebirth in many ancient cultures, we have put together 8 unmissable days of free, fun and informative events. Taking place from the 24th to the 31st October, these events are perfect for those new to our mission and supporters more familiar with our work.  SASA’s Halloween Bash annually brings together elements of research and narratives from every facet of Ancient Studies in exploration of the strange and frightful. Skin Crawling stories hide beneath all of our cultures, past and present! Check out the  Halloween Bash Website   and RSVP now! SASA’s Halloween Bash annually brings together elements of research and narratives from every facet of Ancient Studies in exploration of the strange and frightful. Skin Crawling stories hide beneath all of our cultures, past and present! Check out the Halloween Bash Website   and RSVP now! The Halloween Bash is also the time of year that we look for SASA Supporters , recurring donors who help keep SASA and our many programs running. As we continue to impact more students and the public, we work toward our goal of revitalizing Ancient Studies as the new beacon of the humanities. Be a part of SASA  and help us bring together and grow the community of Ancient Studies people! Donations directly support SASA’s various projects focused on reviving ancient studies, such as Live Events, Archaeogaming Learning Modules, Open Access Database, Research on the Downward Trend, and much more! So, join us to explore the history of Halloween and the related festivals and figures from the ancient world. This year, we offer three live events, a raffle to win an exclusive meeting with a publisher, and a costume party! Interested? Here’s the full schedule of events ready for you to sink your teeth into!   Archeo-Gaming live, Friday October 25th, 2pm EST Join Dr. Kate Minniti, Alexander Vandewalle, Julie Levy, and David Serrano Lozano and special guest Dr. Briana Jackson as they explore Ancient Egyptian ruins, collect treasure, unravel mysteries and try to survive in Forewarned, navigating the horrors of the game and what the creators got wrong, got right and how we can learn from this.  Watch live on our Youtube  or Twitch ! Master Class; Magic, Monsters, and Miracles: The Saga of the People of Eyri, Sunday, October 27th, 11am EST   Explore the amazingly terrifying Eyrbyggja saga, written in the 13th century in Iceland. Old lore, pagan practices and Christian superstitions are mystically interwoven to create the perfect Halloween story with this master class led by Dr. Irina-Maria Manea.  RSVP for the Mater Class here! Watch live on our Youtube  or Twitch   Panel Discussion; Ancient undead,   Saturday, October 26th, 11am EST Panelists Dr. Irina Manea, Howard Williams, Brian Smith, Martine Diepenbroek and host Lauren Kubosch discuss the intricacies of the ancient ideas of death and the undead. Each of these expert panelists will help us explore questions like ‘How did Ancient people understand death and the undead?’ ‘Do you have a favorite story of the ancient undead?’ ‘What constitutes the “Undead” in ancient storytelling?’  and many more! RSVP for the Panel Discussion here!   Watch live on our Youtube  or Twitch   Win an Exclusive Meet and Greet with a leading Publisher!   Enter from October 1st - October 31st Are you interested in Humanities and Classics Publishing? SASA is offering 5 lucky winners a unique chance to connect with a leading figure in academic publishing! By participating in our Publishers Meet-and-Greet Raffle this Halloween, you can win an exclusive one-on-one conversation with Brandon Jones, Managing Editor of Arion: A Journal of Humanities and the Classics. ​ How to Enter  Your donations support our mission, and you’ll have the chance to win big! 1 Entry for $15 5 Entries for $60 – Boost your chances with multiple entries! Special Bonus: Become a recurring donor during the Halloween Bash, and get 2 free entries! Monthly donors are critical to SASA’s mission and will be recognized as key supporters of ancient studies. Buy your ticket here!   Costume Contest: A Ball for the Gods,   Thursday, October 31st, 6pm - 8pm EST Are you ready to step back into history and haunt the night at SASA's Halloween Costume Ball! Whether you're channeling an ancient spirit or reviving a legendary figure, we want to see your most creative and spooky costumes. Free and open to all, this is your chance to join a community of history lovers and show off your Halloween spirit with haunting tunes, fun games, and lively celebrations as we dance, play, and enjoy the spooky spirit of the season! Caught your fancy? Enter online by completing a Costume Contest Entry Form  or email HalloweenBash@saveancientstudies.org  from October 24th to 31st to submit your photo entry, including your name and email address so we can contact you if you’re spooky enough to win!  Or join us for the Costume Ball! Celebrate with us on October 31, from 6-8 PM EDT on Zoom where the winners will be announced during the last 20 minutes of the Ball and via email. Our judges will score you on creativity and originality, adherence to the theme, presentation and accuracy, so to be in with a chance of winning one of our ‘Best Of’ categories with a prize of up to $25, get ready and get scary!  Prizes Sent via Email: Winners will be notified by email and will receive their Visa gift cards directly. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to blend history with Halloween! RSVP now  and start planning your costume. We can’t wait to see what you come up with! Don't forget to RSVP for the Zoom call or you may be faced with an unexpected scare and not be able to show off your hard work! We’re looking forward to sharing a scare with you this year!

SASA is delighted to announce that we will be continuing our Summer Reading Groups into the Summer of 2024, with a number of new features. Our Reading Groups are free to anyone interested in the topic and provide a forum to engage with ancient texts in English translation in the context of a discussion group with like-minded individuals from around the world. Thanks to the generous grant from the Delmas Foundation, SASA presents a wide range of excellent groups this summer, all for free! We are joined by a team of fantastic leaders who will facilitate 19 reading groups across a breadth of fascinating subjects in the Ancient World, offering students of all levels, backgrounds, and support networks an opportunity to dive into the study of the past with a subject expert.  Topics are from many locales in the ancient world, from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. Through discussion of texts and ancient history, topical issues of antiquity and today, participants will engage with the past in rich and vibrant ways that apply to modern contexts. This summer, our Reading Groups will be of three types: one-time Master Classes 3-Week Reading Groups 5-Week Continuing Education Reading Groups The new format of Continuing Education Groups is specially designed for teachers to count toward their continuing education units (CEUs) required for licensure renewal in all states of the US. For more information about the CE Groups, please see our event listings, and feel free to contact our Continuing Education Team Leader, Kara Brown . Groups are spread out over the course of the summer, falling between June 11 and August 27, 2024. All groups are free to attend. RSVP NOW! Master Classes “Norse Myth in the Poetic Edda” Dr. Irina Manea (Verdandi Skuld) Tuesday, June 25 @ 2pm EDT “Reading Tolkien in the Ancients” Dr. Lillian Céspedes González Friday, July 19 @ 12pm “Why the Flavians Matter: Power, Images, and Legacy” Dalida Agri Wednesday, July 24 @ 11am "Herodotus in Egypt: a Greek in a Land of Wonders” Dr. Kate Minniti Sunday, August 11 @ 2pm “Uluburun: Secrets of a Bronze Age Shipwreck” James Dean Parnau Tuesday, August 27 @ 3pm 3-Week Reading Groups “Origins: Studies in the Cosmogony of the Ancient Near East” Alistair Robertson Tuesdays @ 11 am, June 11 - 25 “Peripheries: Religious Dissent and Conflict in Antiquity. The Case of Christian Communities in the Sasanian Empire” Aitor Boada-Benito Wednesdays @ 1 pm, June 12 - 26 “Entrances and Exits: Erotic Ascent and Descent in Plato’s Symposium” Tuhin Bhattacharjee Tuesdays @ 11am, July 2 - 16 “Mesopotamian Anti-Witchcraft Rituals” Raquel Robbins Fridays @ 1 pm, July 12 - 26 “Art and Environment in the Ancient Mediterranean” Alice Clinch Wednesdays @ 11am, July 17 - 31 “Talking Donkeys: Smart Ass Fables from 1st Century Rome” Bethany Abelseth Tuesdays @ 4 pm, July 23 - August 6th “The Milindapañha: A Conversation Between a Greek King and an Indian Buddhist Sage” Edward A. S. Ross Thursdays @ 11 am, July 25th - August 8th “Horror in the Ancient World” Kenneth Connally Thursdays @ 2 pm, August 8 - 22 5-Week Continuing Education Reading Groups “Pakal’s Legacy: The Boy King of Palenque and His Mythical Narratives” Catherine Nuckols (Mesoamerican Studies Online) Thursdays @ 3 pm, June 13 - July 11 “Imperial Encounters: Material Culture under Roman Rule in Egypt” Louise O'Brien Saturdays @ 11 am, June 15 - July 13 “DiscOdyssey - An Ancient Voyage Through Modern Sounds” John Hayden Saturdays @ 5pm, June 15 - July 13 “Sexuality and Power in the Ancient World” Yentl Love Mondays @ 11 am, June 17 - July 15 “Decoding the Past: A Guide to Reading Archaeological Maps” Habiba Hussein El-Tayeb Thursday @ 10 am, June 27 - July 25 “Teaching Ancient Egypt” Paige Brevick Fridays @  9 am, July 12 - August 9

We are delighted to invite you to the Save Ancient Studies Alliance (SASA) Virtual Conference 2024; an intellectually stimulating event that will explore the theme “Representations of the Past in Ancient and Modern Times.”  This free public conference, set to take place on Sunday July 21st  and Monday 22nd, 2024 @10am , promises a wealth of knowledge and discussion from leading experts in ancient history. The event will be livestreamed on SASA’s YouTube , Facebook , Twitter , and Twitch , with chat functions enabling real-time interaction and questions. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Wenner-Gren Foundation, this conference will also feature live translations in English, Arabic, and Spanish, ensuring accessibility for a global audience.   Presenters will be able to present in their native tongues, and presentations spoken in English will be interpreted into those languages.  With this conference, it is our goal to encourage dialogue and initiatives related to public engagement and academic inclusivity and by hosting an open conference accessible to all, we hope to foster a shared community centered around our mutual admiration for ancient studies. This year's theme, “Representations of the Past in Ancient and Modern Times” , delves into the portrayal of history throughout different eras. While recent discussions have primarily focused on how the past is perceived in connection to Western colonialism and contemporary media, this conference aims to broaden the scope to encompass a more universal perspective on cultural representations of the past. Through adopting an interdisciplinary approach through the lens of ancient studies, we aim to explore how societies across time have interpreted and adopted their deep historical roots, emphasizing the cultural construction of history as a shared human experience.  Keynote Speakers Our conference will feature presentations from three renowned scholars: Dr. Martha Tepepa Covarrubias ; a current professor at Western Connecticut State University who holds an MA in Cultural Anthropology from Columbia University (New York), as well as a PhD in Urban Environmental Studies from El Colegio de México (Mexico City). Dr. Laura Castro Royo ; an art historian who boasts an MA in Medieval Studies from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid as well as a PhD from the School of Art History and School of Modern Languages, University of St Andrews (Scotland). She is also the Director of the online public project ‘Las Plumas de Simurgh (Mesopotamia  and Iran)’. Prof. Marian Feldman ; a current professor at Johns Hopkins University who received a Ph.D. in art history at Harvard University in ancient Near Eastern Art. Additionally, she holds the W.H. Collins Vickers Chair in Archaeology, a position she has been in since 2018. Previous Conferences SASA has a rich tradition of hosting annual virtual conferences that prove to foster intellectual exchange and collaboration. Here is the list of our three most recent conferences: 2023 : This conference centralized on the topic of ‘ Discovery, Science, and Technology in the Ancient World - Traditions and Innovations ’, which examined technological advancements and scientific discoveries of ancient civilizations, emphasizing their enduring legacies and innovative practices. 2022 : Revolving around the topic ‘ Who Has the Power? - Leaders and Leadership in the Ancient World ’, our 2022 conference delved into the political and social power structures of ancient societies. 2021 : Focusing on the fields of ‘ Religion, History, & Culture ’, this year’s conference presented a comprehensive exploration of the interplay between religion, historical events, and cultural expressions across different societies and epochs. Our Partners We are honoured to collaborate with the following organizations and individuals in order to reach a wider audience and enhance the depth and breadth of our conference, providing many platforms for scholarly discourse: World History Encyclopedia ( Youtube , Website , Instagram ) Digital Hammurabi ( Youtube , Website ) Per Hay Studio ( Website , Youtube ) New Classicists ( Facebook ) History with Kayleigh ( Youtube , Instagram ) Archthot ( Tiktok ) World of Antiquity ( Youtube ) Kaelyn Grace Apple ( Website , Youtube ) Ollie Bye ( Youtube ) Join Us! In order to participate in this enriching experience, make sure to RSVP for the conference; offered in these three languages:  English , Español , المؤتمر Mark your calendars for July 21st  & 22nd 2024 , and join a global community dedicated to understanding how the past is represented in both ancient and modern contexts. Whether you are a scholar, student, or enthusiast, the SASA Virtual Conference (2024) promises to be an enriching and engaging experience. Stay connected with us for updates and additional information through our social media channels on YouTube , Instagram ,  Facebook , and our official SASA page . We look forward to your participation and the stimulating discussions that lie ahead! Lastly, please check out our conference schedule  to see where our keynote presentations will take place and when.

SASA is proud to announce the long-awaited establishment of our Mentorship Program! Led by our very own Mentorship Team, the new Mentorship Program is targeted at high school and undergraduate students who wish to pursue, or further their current journey of higher education in Ancient Studies. The principal goal of this program is to ultimately empower our mentees by assisting them in making conscious choices regarding their education and career path. Our program aims to supplement those of educational institutions, through the provenly effective cohort model (Schunk and Mullen, 2013). This model of dividing mentees into cohorts is meant to help them participate more meaningfully and with purpose. Activities include and are not limited to peer discussions, career advice, and one-on-one meetings with mentors, all in remote monthly sessions. Mentors of the program will be thoroughly vetted members of various fields relating to Ancient Studies. As the program aims to address the concerns of a diverse range of individuals and questions, such as international students and admissions concerns, the mentors will reflect that range. Furthermore, as the mentors in the program are also provided with inter-networking opportunities, they will not just be individual tutors, but members of a community who are working towards a common goal. At SASA, we recognize that successful participation in a mentoring relationship requires willingness and a lot of practice. By providing our mentees with an additional way to learn about Ancient Studies disciplines and academia, we aim to see them become proactive and put learned skills into application. In line with our commitment to increasing accessibility to Ancient Studies, our mentoring program is designed to be accessible to all. Participation in the program is free. Are you interested in becoming a Mentor? Becoming a mentor in our program can be a great way to connect with younger students, give back to the community, and gain experience in mentoring practices. We welcome mentors with a Bachelor's degree in any discipline related to Ancient Studies who are passionate about outreach and mentoring and are willing to comply with the program's regulations. For the time being we are unable to offer financial compensation for mentors, hence this is an unpaid position. Stay tuned for further details! Please contact Agnieszka Arcisz with any questions at aarcisz@saveancientstudies.org .

Through accessible and engaging history, SASA aims to reignite passions for ancient research. It would not be possible to achieve this goal without the work of our team members. One member of our Outreach Team, Khaled Khalil, who volunteers as an Arabic translator, is starting his Master's program. We got a chance to speak with him about it. As a member of the Outreach team, Khaled has used his skills in Arabic translation to help bring initiatives and institutions interested in working in Ancient Studies. He also now works as an Arabic translator, translating invitations, parts of the website, and more. Perspective has been a big hurdle when translating ancient studies topics to the Arabic-speaking world. There are differences in things like terminology, which must be accounted for. Defining terminology and helping bridge the gap between academics and initiatives between the Arabic- and non-Arabic-speaking worlds will be vital to improving outreach. His efforts have been essential in increasing outreach to Arabic speaking countries. He helped with virtual conference prep, by providing a live Arabic translation.  Khaled has an educational background in Architectural Engineering. After graduating, he worked in graphic design studios as a freelance designer and researcher. Other research projects he's participated in include a project with Sonic Spaces that explored how sound can affect every aspect of our lives socially or spatially.  Now, he's working on his master's in Landscape Architecture at the University of Greenwich in London. He hopes to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between the environment and ourselves. He also wants to gain more experience in research, and a greater knowledge of things like sustainability, landscape design, and inclusion. Social infrastructure has not only a social component but a spatial one as well. Khaled is hoping to figure out how integrations or marginalized communities can participate or affect the landscape. Khaled has a chapter coming out in a book that is about how home can in certain contexts turn into a liminal space rather than a cozy place.  Khaled hopes to one day have his own studio where he can focus on his own projects. He also wants to help make our world a more livable place, including our cities. One day he would like to have a place where people from all backgrounds can participate in helping solve the problems we have across the world. He sees a positive future ahead for the relationship between Ancient Studies and Landscape/Architecture. What was the process in creating a sense of place in ancient studies, how was it dealt with socially and technically? People have for centuries given a lot of meaning to objects and places. As a member of SASA Khaled hopes to explore these by increasing initiatives and helping in research and translation. We at SASA wish Khaled great success with his Master's program!