Seen on the Classicists list:

FIRST CALL FOR PAPERS:
13th Unisa Classics Colloquium, 25-27 October 2012

THEME: ‘Ancient routes to happiness’

Proposals are hereby solicited for papers on the conference theme. The
theme is deliberately formulated in broad terms so as to encourage a wide range of approaches to and perspectives on ancient ‘happiness’ and variants. Apart from the obvious importance of eudaimonia as philosophical telos, the organising committee is interested in treatments of and assumptions regarding happiness in other sources from antiquity: religious, literary, historiographical, medical, epigraphical, etc. The Classics Colloquium focuses on Greco-Roman antiquity, but contributions from other ancient cultures are also welcome.

Please submit titles and abstracts of approximately 300 words to Philip
Bosman at bosmapr AT unisa.ac.za, as soon as possible but by the end of May 2012 at the latest.

The Unisa Classics Colloquium is hosted annually by the Department of
Classics and World Languages at the University of South Africa, Pretoria.

More on the conference
Convening in 2012 for the 13th time, the Unisa Classics Colloquium combines stimulating scholarship with a pleasant and intimate atmosphere. Over two and a half days, approximately 16 scholarly contributions from around the world are to be presented. The 50 minute slots provide ample time for discussion and valuable feedback. Parallel sessions are avoided in order to promote unity of focus in the conference, and delegates get to know each other properly.

Venue: The Muckleneuk Campus of the University of South Africa (UNISA) in Pretoria.

Dates: 25-27 October 2012.
We start on a Thursday morning, meaning that participants should arrive in
Pretoria on the 24st at the latest and only book a flight out from the
afternoon of the 27th, but preferably later.

Programme
A preliminary programme will be compiled from the received proposals and will be published on the Departmental website after the final date for
submissions. Previous conference programmes may be viewed at
http://www.unisa.ac.za/Default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=18743.

Conference Fee
More detail on the conference fee will follow at a later stage. As an
indication, the 2010 conference fee was $150, inclusive of transport and
meals during the conference. Postgraduates, other students and interested parties not able to claim back conference fees from their institutions should please contact the organizers for a discount.

Accommodation
During past conferences, guests stayed at the Brooklyn Guest Houses
(http://www.brooklynguesthouses.co.za/) situated in a leafy suburb close to
Unisa, the University of Pretoria, and the Brooklyn, Hillcrest and Hatfield
shopping centres. A discounted group booking for delegates is negotiated.

Excursions
We plan excursions to the Winex wine festival in Sandton (Johannesburg)
(http://www.sa-venues.com/events/gauteng/winex-wine-festival/) and after
the conference (the 28th) to the Pilanesberg Game Reserve
(http://pilanesberg-game-reserve.co.za/).

Publication of papers
Depending on quality, a collection of articles on the colloquium theme is
envisaged. Submitted papers are subject to a refereeing process. If you
would consider submitting your paper for publication, please indicate that to us via return mail for further guidelines on style.

Interesting item from the Local:

Scientists want to study samples of the world’s oldest wine, currently on display at the Historical Museum of the Palatinate in the western German city of Speyer. There’s just one problem: everyone’s afraid to open the bottle.

The glass bottle, thought to be at least 1,650 years old, was found in a Roman grave near Speyer in 1867 and put on display at the museum. Since then, it’s been handled extremely carefully, and been on display in the exact same spot in the museum for 100 years.

Museum directors fear that a moment’s carelessness could shatter the bottle, destroying its priceless content. Though scientists would like to test it to figure out exactly how old the wine is and where it comes from, as well as perhaps seeing how it tastes – cracking it open is out of the question.

“It’s not clear what would happen if air gets into the wine,” said Ludger Tekampe, who heads the department responsible for storing it.

There’s also the danger that, after all this time, it could have become poisonous, although scientists suspect the alcohol would not be dangerous, but just taste disgusting.

In any event, the ultra-old wine has survived a lot, including ancient drinkers, handling on its way to the museum, and two world wars, with nary a problem.

Tekampe said he hasn’t observed any changes in the wine or its container in his 25 years at the museum, the bottle appears to have been carefully constructed by the Romans to prevent the wine from decomposing.

“The content is remarkably stable,” Tekampe said.

Still he’s the only one who handles the bottle. Everyone else is just too afraid.

“I held the bottle in my hand twice during renovations. It was a strange feeling,” Tekampe said.

via: Museum scared to open ancient Roman wine(Local)

… the Museum of the Palatinate has a nice little collection of Roman things …

The History Girls: Ancient Roman Christmas. [Caroline Lawrence]

Spectator – The Magazine: Ancient and modern: In praise of barter. [Peter Jones]

Laudator Temporis Acti: Shepherd’s Offering and Prayer.