Presentation
The Centre for the Analysis of the Religious Rhetoric of Antiquity (Centre d'analyse des rhétoriques religieuses de l'Antiquité – CARRA), which was founded in 1994, is the University of Strasbourg's research unit for ancient languages and literature (Latin, Greek and Hebrew). It is the support unit for the entire Bachelor's, Master's and Doctorate (LMD) programme, and is responsible for introducing students to research at Master's and Doctorate level. Its scientific objective, which is unique in France and abroad, is the study of "the religious rhetoric of antiquity", i.e. of language in its relationship with the divine and the sacred, forms of expression addressed to the gods, and different ways of expressing religious consciousness and feeling. It stands at the intersection of two key fields: rhetoric and religion. It breaks new ground by showing that there is a rhetorical dimension to religion, and that the study of this dimension leads to a new understanding of both ancient religions and rhetoric. The linguistic skills of CARRA's members enable them to work directly with texts from a dual perspective: philological (palaeography, ecdotics and translation) and literary. This dual approach thus opens up historical, theological and philosophical questions, enhancing our knowledge of ancient religious facts while providing keys to understanding today's world.
Research topics
Religious discourse in the Greco-Roman world
In this programme, studies on polytheism focus on the relationship between religion and power, or on discourses promoting and defending paganism in the face of the rise of Christianity during the Roman Empire (Philostratus, the Historia Augusta, etc.). Research on monotheistic discourses focuses, on the one hand, on Jewish scripture, and on the other, on Christian apologetic texts grappling with paganism and/or Judaism (studies on Tertullian, Pseudo-Hegesippus, etc.)
Rhetorical theories and practices in the Greco-Roman world
This programme explores Greek and Latin rhetorical theories and practices from three angles: rhetoric and conviviality in the tradition of table talk (banquet literature); the study of ancient declamation, particularly that of Pseudo-Quintilian and Calpurnius Flaccus; editing, translation and commentary on the speeches of Aelius Aristides.
Transmission and reception of ancient knowledge and culture
This theme focuses first on the "tools" used to transmit knowledge in antiquity, the development of writing in the Near East, the problems of translating Hebrew names into Latin and the symbolic languages that convey culture. It then examines the transmission of scientific culture (Roman encyclopaedism, ancient bestiaries, etc.) and literary culture (the Christian interpretation of Virgil, etc.) to Rome. Finally, it is concerned with the perception of Antiquity in the Rhine Valley in the humanist and modern eras (the "Nietzsche the philologist" project, in particular). This research work comes together in a cross-disciplinary seminar devoted to the practice and challenges of translating ancient texts.
Major events, projects and works
- Publication of numerous volumes with Editions Brepols
- Communications, guest lectures, publications of articles and books
- Seminars and lectures at the University of Strasbourg
- Defences of theses and Authorisations to Supervise Research (HDR)
- International partnerships and cotutelles (binational doctorates)with Athens, Freiburg im Breisgau, Milan, Naples, Palermo, Quebec, Tübingen, Tunis, and soon, Dakar and Sofia
Works
- Parution de l'ouvrage dirigé par A. Molinier Arbo, C. Notter et J.-L Vix, Figures exemplaires de pouvoir sous l’Empire dans la littérature gréco-romaine. Turnhout, Brepols, 2023.
- Parution de l'édition-traduction commentée de F. Guillaumont et Y. Lehmann, Cicéron. De la divination II, Paris, Les Belles Lettres, 2023
- Parution de l'édition-traduction commentée de J. M. André, F. Guillaumont et G. Freyburger, Cicéron. De la divination I, Paris, Les Belles Lettres, 2022
- Paru de l'ouvrage dirigé par M. Langlois et E. Eshel, The Scribe in the Biblical World: A Bridge Between Scripts, Languages and Cultures. Beihefte Zur Zeitschrift Für Die Alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 547. Berlin, De Gruyter, 2023
- Parution de l'ouvrage de J. Goeken, Boire sous l'œil de Gorgias. Un commentaire rhétorique du Banquet de Platon et du Banquet de Xénophon, Turnhout, Brepols, 2022
- Parution de l'ouvrage de L. Pernot, La fièvre des urnes. 2500 ans de passions électorales, Paris, éd. de l’Observatoire, 2022
- Parution de l'ouvrage de L. Pernot, Confluences de la philosophie et de la rhétorique grecques, Paris, Vrin (Textes et traditions, 34), 2022
- Parution de l'ouvrage dirigé par C. Notter, M. Pfaff-Reydellet, Segetis certa fides meae. Hommages offerts à Gérard Freyburger, Recherches sur les Rhétoriques Religieuses, 31, Turnhout, Brepols, 2021
- Parution de l'ouvrage dirigé par F. Chapot, La destruction de Jérusalem : lectures, représentations et enjeux entre Antiquité et Moyen Âge, JAOC 19, Turnhout, Brepols, 2020.
Events (2024-2025)
- Organisation of the 55th Congress of the Association des Professeurs de Langues Anciennes de l'Enseignement Supérieur (APLAES) in Strasbourg (13-15 June, 2024)
- Summer School on Animals in Antiquity (2-5 September, 2024)
- Organisation of the Congrès de l'Association Guillaume Budé in Strasbourg (19-21 June, 2025)
