If you’ve ever wondered how ancient gods were named - or how those names reveal hidden layers of belief, power, and identity across cultures - you’re in for a treat. The Mapping Ancient Polytheisms (MAP) project is launching its very first “Divine Onomastics News” (DON 1) online workshop, scheduled for January 19, 2026. This isn’t just another academic webinar. It’s the beginning of a bold, collaborative experiment in real-time scholarly exchange - one that invites researchers from around the globe to share unpublished findings, fresh interpretations, and emerging methodologies in the field of divine onomastics: the study of the names of gods.
🌐 What Is MAP?
Before we dive into the event, let’s talk about the powerhouse behind it: Mapping Ancient Polytheisms (MAP). MAP is an ambitious, long-term research initiative aimed at compiling and analyzing divine names from across the ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern worlds. Their database already contains over 27,000 divine onomastic sequences - and they’re not stopping there. By 2026, they aim to achieve near-exhaustive coverage of known divine names, while continuously updating their records with new inscriptions, readings, and bibliographic references.
Think of it as a “Wikipedia meets peer-reviewed archaeology” project - but focused exclusively on the sacred names that shaped ancient religious landscapes. And yes, they’re doing this with the help of an international network of colleagues, whom they gratefully acknowledge as indispensable to their documentary mission.
🎯 What’s Happening at DON 1?
Starting in 2026, MAP will host an annual online workshop dedicated to sharing new developments in divine onomastics - with a special focus on the Greek and Semitic spheres, though other cultural areas are welcome too.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Short, punchy presentations (just 20 minutes each)
- Presentations can be in French, English, German, Italian, or Spanish
- Topics? Anything fresh: an unpublished inscription, a new reading of a divine name, a novel interpretation, or even a new tool or methodology you’re developing
The best part? No publication pressure. This isn’t a conference where you need to have a polished paper ready. It’s a space to share work-in-progress, test ideas, and get feedback from peers - all while contributing to the collective growth of the field.
📬 How to Get Involved
Want to present? You’re invited!
Send your proposal to: 📧 corinne.bonnet@sns.it or sylvain.lebreton@univ-tlse2.fr
Your submission should include:
- A provisional title
- A brief summary (2–3 lines) describing your topic
Deadline: December 20, 2025
That’s right - there’s still time to prepare something brilliant.
- Université Toulouse – Jean Jaurès (France)
- Scuola Normale Superiore (Italy)
These are not just logos on a poster—they represent deep expertise in classical studies, ancient religions, and digital humanities.
📣 Final Thoughts
The launch of DON 1 signals more than just a new workshop - it marks the beginning of a new kind of scholarly community. One that values speed, openness, and shared discovery over rigid hierarchies and delayed publication. So if you’re working on anything related to divine names—whether from Greece, Mesopotamia, Canaan, Egypt, or beyond - don’t sit this one out. Submit your idea. Join the conversation. Be part of the future of divine onomastics.
We’ll see you online on January 19, 2026.
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