Lecture as part of the Ruperto Carola Lecture Series by Academy Member Prof. Dr. Joachim Quack (Institute of Egyptology, Heidelberg University) 

Against the backdrop of the climate crisis, war, a pandemic, and a radically changing world order, the question of the tension between endings and beginnings seems highly relevant. To what extent do catastrophes and crises not only pose a potential threat but can also mark the beginning of radical metamorphoses and new models of the world? How can we understand catastrophe as an opportunity—as a chance for a new beginning, for the rebirth of a different creation story? The questions posed by the Ruperto Carola lecture series touch upon our lived experiences across generations and cultures and serve as a starting point for bringing together, through various event formats (lectures, panel discussions, concerts, readings, and film screenings), to foster dialogue among scholars, public figures, and artists—both with one another and with a broad audience.

About the lecture: An Upside-Down World and Surviving Snakes: Dystopian and Apocalyptic Visions of the Future from Ancient Egypt

There are several texts from Ancient Egypt that foreshadow a dystopian future in somber tones. Massive climatic changes also play a role here, particularly the failure of the Nile to flood. What is striking, however, is a strong tendency toward schematism, which primarily depicts a simple and complete reversal of all conditions. The aim is to explore the extent to which a certain way of thinking can be detected here—one that is also evident in explicit religious texts in which the end of the world is announced or threatened.

Further information and program: www.uni-heidelberg.de/de/transfer/kommunikation/ruperto-carola-ringvorlesung

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