Memoria Romana

Ruhr-Universität Bochum

Max Planck International Research Prize in the Humanities


The Memoria Romana Project has been made possible by the Max Planck Research Award for International Cooperation to Prof. Karl Galinsky (University of Texas at Austin). The specified field is Gedächtnisgeschichte. Principal goals of the project, therefore, are:


1) to study, on a more comprehensive and integrated basis than previously, the role of memory in various aspects of Roman culture – e.g., literature (incl. historiography), art, architecture, religion, and social and political history AND


2) to do so by employing, testing, or critiquing some perspectives, methods, and impulses from current work on Gedächtnisgeschichte, and by engaging in a discourse with this direction in historical scholarship.


Proposals are welcome on a wide variety of topics that fall within these guidelines. Dissertation stipends generally are 1,100 EUR per month and will generally be awarded for one year; a detailed progress report is due before a possible renewal for a second year.

The maximum amount for research stipends is 3,000 EUR.


Applications for dissertation stipends should include the following documents:


• curriculum vitae

• copy of certificate of university degree, such as M.A., with final grade and attestation of admission to doctoral work

• outline of research proposal (ca. 1,500 words) , incl. projected time line of your work

• two letters of recommendation from scholars familiar with your work


Applications for research stipends should include the following documents:


• curriculum vitae, incl. list of publications

• outline of research proposal (no more than 1,000 words), incl. present status of the project, projected time line, and plans for publication

• a budget, detailing projected expenses

• two letters of recommendation of scholars familiar with your work


Applications will be accepted in the following languages: English, German, French, Italian, and Spanish.


IMPORTANT ADVICE: Projects need to demonstrate a SUBSTANTIVE connection with the role of cultural, social, or communicative memory (as opposed, e.g., to mere intertextuality or reception] in a given area or areas of Roman civilization. Please do not send descriptions of existing projects and throw in some mention of memory - that won't be enough. Demonstration of SPECIFIC engagement with some of the current scholarly literature on memory is another prerequisite. Applicants are strongly advised to discuss the proposals with Prof. Galinsky (galinsky@mail.utexas.edu) in adequate time before submitting the final application.


N.B. (1) Stipends will be awarded after each three-month deadline and funding for them may be exhausted before the final deadline. Earlier applications, therefore, are encouraged. (2) Junior scholars (up to 15 years after receiving the Ph.D.) will receive preference for research stipends, but more advanced scholars are eligible also.


Applications should be sent electronically to Mr. Johannes Gross (johannes.gross@rub.de). They can also be sent by regular mail to him at


Ruhr-Universität Bochum

Seminar für Klassische Philologie

Johannes Gross

GB 2/ 157

44780 Bochum


Please contact either Mr. Gross or Prof. Karl Galinsky (galinsky@mail.utexas.edu) for further information.


Last update: Sept. 23, 2011 (s_davies@mail.utexas.edu)

For educational and non-profit use only