Myth, politics and gender discourses - readings, revisions and transformations of ancient gender thinking

What do ancient texts and images tell us about gender roles? What remains unsaid or is deliberately suppressed? How were bodies, power and gender constructed in antiquity and how have these narratives changed, been superimposed or reformed over the course of history? And how can we avoid projecting gender stereotypes of the 19th and 20th centuries back into antiquity?

To answer these questions, the interdisciplinary lecture series brings together changing perspectives from ancient history, classical philology and theology. The topics range from Cleopatra and Hellenistic queenship to gender-specific variants in biblical traditions and the portrayal of figures such as Penelope in ancient and modern literature. The lecture examines ancient body politics, stereotyping or stereotype-questioning readings as well as the cultural, religious and political mechanisms through which gender images were handed down, transformed or made invisible. It invites us to look at old texts and images from new perspectives and to critically reflect on how ideas of gender have grown historically and continue to have an effect today. And it sets itself the task of questioning our view of antiquity and its gender constructions.

The event is part of the GenderLectures and is organized by the GenderConceptGroup of TU Dresden in cooperation with the Chair of Ancient History, the Chair of Classical Philology and both Chairs of Biblical Theology. It is aimed at students from all departments and anyone interested in exploring gender discourses at the intersection of antiquity, reception and the present day.

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Event information

• Start: October 14, 2025
• Time: Tuesdays, 16:40-18:10 (6th DS)
• Location: W48 | 0.01 and online
• Registration: via OPAL or at
• Program and further information: here