Bloomsbury Summer School

Fascinated by ancient civilisations?

Monday 17 to Friday 21 July

Course Director: Prof. Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones (University of Cardiff)

Monday 17 July

* 10:45 – 11:00
Students assemble in BSS Common Room, or log in to Zoom

11:00 – 11:30
BSS Director’s Welcome Address

11:30 – 13:00
1. Introduction: In Queen Esther’s garden

13:00 - 14:30
** Welcome Lunch in BSS Common Room (14:00 Short optional tour of UCL with the Director)

14:30 – 15:45
2. The Babylonian Exile

16:15 – 17:30
3. Composing the Bible in Exile

Tuesday 18 July

10:00 – 11:15
4. Cyrus the Great and Second Isaiah

11:45 – 13:00
5. The Book of Ezra

14:15 – 15:30
6. Yehud under Achaemenid Rule

16:00 – 17:15
7. The Book of Nehemiah

Wednesday 19 July

10:00 – 11:15
8. The Jewish Elephantine Community I: Passover letters

11:45 – 13:00
9. The Jewish Elephantine Community II: Troubled times

14:15 – 15:30
10. Esther: A problematic history

16:00 – 17:15
11. Reading Esther 1

Thursday 20 July

10:00 – 11:15
12. Reading Esther 2

11:45 – 13:00
13. Reading Esther 3

14:15 – 15:30
14. ** British Museum Visit

16:00 – 17:15
15. ** British Museum Visit

Friday 21 July

10:00 – 11:15
16. The Hidden Persians in the Hebrew Bible

11:45 – 13:00
17. Zion Theology of Trito Isaiah and Persian Imperialism

14:00 – 15:15
18. The Book of Daniel

15:45 – 17:15
19. Conclusions and Questions

17:15 – 19:00
End-of-Course Drinks Party with Online Social (you are welcome to invite guests)

* All times are London UK time; Zoom waiting room opens 15 minutes prior to the start.

** In-person participants only.

NB: Timetables, once published, are unlikely to change, but remain provisional until the first day of the course.