Dynamic Spaces: The Coan Sanctuary of Asclepius During Feast and Healing Ritual

• Applicant: Dr. Asja Müller
• Subject Area: Classical, Roman, Christian and Islamic Archaeology
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 531069983

The research project aims to analyse Hellenistic architecture (using the Asklepieion of Cos as an example) at a specific point in time (mid-2nd century BC) in terms of its interaction with the action and perception of human actors (external festival observers [theoroi]; locally based healing seekers) in two concrete ancient experiential situations (festival and healing ritual). The planned study focuses on Hellenism, since according to the findings of historical research, this period represents a key moment in the development of a new consciousness for the control of actor response. A digital model of the sacred complex, to be created from scratch, will serve as a heuristic instrument that (among others) includes these actors' bodies as avatars and is capable of simulating their specific patterns of movement and perception (serious gaming approach). At the end of the project, the result should not only be the knowledge of what kind of spatial constellations have been designed with regard to certain types of actors and actions; it is also decidedly a matter of developing explanatory models for the design of these processual spatial perception options that were tied to the respective types of actors and their actions (e.g. targeted movement and view guidance of the foreign festival observers as a means of controlling the aesthetic [external] effect of the festival). Thus, in addition to previous overarching conclusions on Hellenistic architecture, the diversity of ancient built space is to be considered more closely.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Professor Dr.-Ing. Martin Kim