DoSSE Project
@dosse-project.bsky.social
ERC-funded project on the sexual exploitation of people enslaved within the households of the greater Mediterranean world, AD 300-900. Hosted by
@uniofleicester
https://www.dosseproject.com
@uniofleicester
https://www.dosseproject.com
"IT IS AGREED AND MOST EVIDENT THAT ALL MASTERS ARE EVIL..."
So begins the speech of the slave character Pantomalus in the Querolus, the only extant late antique comedy.
It will feature in a slavery sourcebook that we are working on.
Read more in our newest blog post: tinyurl.com/zrmc4a6s
So begins the speech of the slave character Pantomalus in the Querolus, the only extant late antique comedy.
It will feature in a slavery sourcebook that we are working on.
Read more in our newest blog post: tinyurl.com/zrmc4a6s
October 30, 2025 at 2:45 PM
"IT IS AGREED AND MOST EVIDENT THAT ALL MASTERS ARE EVIL..."
So begins the speech of the slave character Pantomalus in the Querolus, the only extant late antique comedy.
It will feature in a slavery sourcebook that we are working on.
Read more in our newest blog post: tinyurl.com/zrmc4a6s
So begins the speech of the slave character Pantomalus in the Querolus, the only extant late antique comedy.
It will feature in a slavery sourcebook that we are working on.
Read more in our newest blog post: tinyurl.com/zrmc4a6s
New on the blog: 'Diverse Tales of Slaves, Sex, & Female Owners'
In this post, James explores how late antique sources show female masters exploiting the bodies of their slaves. It follows from the 'Elite Women and Systems of Dependency' workshop in Bonn.
Link: www.dosseproject.com/diverse-tale...
In this post, James explores how late antique sources show female masters exploiting the bodies of their slaves. It follows from the 'Elite Women and Systems of Dependency' workshop in Bonn.
Link: www.dosseproject.com/diverse-tale...
October 8, 2025 at 2:16 PM
New on the blog: 'Diverse Tales of Slaves, Sex, & Female Owners'
In this post, James explores how late antique sources show female masters exploiting the bodies of their slaves. It follows from the 'Elite Women and Systems of Dependency' workshop in Bonn.
Link: www.dosseproject.com/diverse-tale...
In this post, James explores how late antique sources show female masters exploiting the bodies of their slaves. It follows from the 'Elite Women and Systems of Dependency' workshop in Bonn.
Link: www.dosseproject.com/diverse-tale...
We are very pleased to share that Seth M. Stadel, a DoSSE project alumnus, has published a new article in the Journal of Late Antiquity, entitled 'The Legal Constructions of Christian Slavery in Fars at the End of Late Antiquity'!
Read it, Open Access, here: muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/articl...
Read it, Open Access, here: muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/articl...
September 8, 2025 at 8:38 PM
We are very pleased to share that Seth M. Stadel, a DoSSE project alumnus, has published a new article in the Journal of Late Antiquity, entitled 'The Legal Constructions of Christian Slavery in Fars at the End of Late Antiquity'!
Read it, Open Access, here: muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/articl...
Read it, Open Access, here: muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/articl...
New on the blog: 'The Life, Work and Death of Child Slaves in the Late Roman World'
A guest post by Eniko Toth
This is the next of our contributions from Classical Studies students from the University of Lincoln.
Link: www.dosseproject.com/the-life-wor...
A guest post by Eniko Toth
This is the next of our contributions from Classical Studies students from the University of Lincoln.
Link: www.dosseproject.com/the-life-wor...
September 2, 2025 at 9:26 AM
New on the blog: 'The Life, Work and Death of Child Slaves in the Late Roman World'
A guest post by Eniko Toth
This is the next of our contributions from Classical Studies students from the University of Lincoln.
Link: www.dosseproject.com/the-life-wor...
A guest post by Eniko Toth
This is the next of our contributions from Classical Studies students from the University of Lincoln.
Link: www.dosseproject.com/the-life-wor...
New on the blog: 'Art in Chains'
By Ellie Sadler
This is the first of our guest blog posts from third-year Classical Studies students at the University of Lincoln. Here, Ellie explores the presentation of enslaved people in Roman mosaics.
Link: www.dosseproject.com/art-in-chains/
By Ellie Sadler
This is the first of our guest blog posts from third-year Classical Studies students at the University of Lincoln. Here, Ellie explores the presentation of enslaved people in Roman mosaics.
Link: www.dosseproject.com/art-in-chains/
August 8, 2025 at 11:12 AM
New on the blog: 'Art in Chains'
By Ellie Sadler
This is the first of our guest blog posts from third-year Classical Studies students at the University of Lincoln. Here, Ellie explores the presentation of enslaved people in Roman mosaics.
Link: www.dosseproject.com/art-in-chains/
By Ellie Sadler
This is the first of our guest blog posts from third-year Classical Studies students at the University of Lincoln. Here, Ellie explores the presentation of enslaved people in Roman mosaics.
Link: www.dosseproject.com/art-in-chains/
The monument to Þorgerður brák – the enslaved nurse of Egil, who saved his life and was then murdered by his father – in Borgarnes, Iceland.
July 30, 2025 at 6:05 PM
The monument to Þorgerður brák – the enslaved nurse of Egil, who saved his life and was then murdered by his father – in Borgarnes, Iceland.
New on the blog: Teaching Slavery in Late Antiquity - a reflection
In a guest post, Jamie Wood (University of Lincoln) talks about his new undergraduate module on late antique slavery. We'll be publishing some of his students' work over the next few weeks.
www.dosseproject.com/teaching-sla...
In a guest post, Jamie Wood (University of Lincoln) talks about his new undergraduate module on late antique slavery. We'll be publishing some of his students' work over the next few weeks.
www.dosseproject.com/teaching-sla...
July 14, 2025 at 8:15 AM
New on the blog: Teaching Slavery in Late Antiquity - a reflection
In a guest post, Jamie Wood (University of Lincoln) talks about his new undergraduate module on late antique slavery. We'll be publishing some of his students' work over the next few weeks.
www.dosseproject.com/teaching-sla...
In a guest post, Jamie Wood (University of Lincoln) talks about his new undergraduate module on late antique slavery. We'll be publishing some of his students' work over the next few weeks.
www.dosseproject.com/teaching-sla...
Erin is presenting at the IMC tomorrow, alongside our Leicester colleague Jo Story:
July 7, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Erin is presenting at the IMC tomorrow, alongside our Leicester colleague Jo Story:
Heading to the IMC? Tomorrow Sheida will be presenting on 'Early Islamic Sexual Taboos: The Boundaries of Permissibility in al-Ṭabarī and al-Ṭabarānī's Narratives', as part of @beccagrose.bsky.social and Grace Stafford's panels on 'Sex Education and Late Antiquity'. 11:15-12:45, Esther Simpson 2.08
July 6, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Heading to the IMC? Tomorrow Sheida will be presenting on 'Early Islamic Sexual Taboos: The Boundaries of Permissibility in al-Ṭabarī and al-Ṭabarānī's Narratives', as part of @beccagrose.bsky.social and Grace Stafford's panels on 'Sex Education and Late Antiquity'. 11:15-12:45, Esther Simpson 2.08
For all the Syriac and patristic scholars out there - our research associate Sofia Puchkova has a new book out!
It's the first comprehensive study of Theodore of Mopsuestia's biblical interpretation in his Catechetical Homilies. She also shows how he incorporates Greco-Syrian liturgical imagery.
It's the first comprehensive study of Theodore of Mopsuestia's biblical interpretation in his Catechetical Homilies. She also shows how he incorporates Greco-Syrian liturgical imagery.
July 4, 2025 at 9:50 AM
For all the Syriac and patristic scholars out there - our research associate Sofia Puchkova has a new book out!
It's the first comprehensive study of Theodore of Mopsuestia's biblical interpretation in his Catechetical Homilies. She also shows how he incorporates Greco-Syrian liturgical imagery.
It's the first comprehensive study of Theodore of Mopsuestia's biblical interpretation in his Catechetical Homilies. She also shows how he incorporates Greco-Syrian liturgical imagery.
On Tues 17 June (17:00-18:00), our Leicester colleague Danielle Park will be giving an online public lecture on 'Anger, Shame and Politics in the Kingdom of Jerusalem: William of Tyre on King Fulk and Queen Melisinde'
Attendance is open for all via Teams:
ID: 352 938 628 958 8
Passcode: FV62CJ3d
Attendance is open for all via Teams:
ID: 352 938 628 958 8
Passcode: FV62CJ3d
June 13, 2025 at 8:13 AM
On Tues 17 June (17:00-18:00), our Leicester colleague Danielle Park will be giving an online public lecture on 'Anger, Shame and Politics in the Kingdom of Jerusalem: William of Tyre on King Fulk and Queen Melisinde'
Attendance is open for all via Teams:
ID: 352 938 628 958 8
Passcode: FV62CJ3d
Attendance is open for all via Teams:
ID: 352 938 628 958 8
Passcode: FV62CJ3d
Catch DoSSE project members at this year's IMC: Erin on the Merovingian Queen Balthild, a former slave (session 716); Sheida on Islamic sexual taboos (113), and sex education in Late Antiquity (413); and James on slaving by bandits (1304, our sponsored panel), and namelessness in texts (1403).
May 21, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Catch DoSSE project members at this year's IMC: Erin on the Merovingian Queen Balthild, a former slave (session 716); Sheida on Islamic sexual taboos (113), and sex education in Late Antiquity (413); and James on slaving by bandits (1304, our sponsored panel), and namelessness in texts (1403).
James has helped organise four panels for the IMC, featuring @rorynaismith.bsky.social on shady deals in the Fens; Roy Flechner on redistribution & the Papacy; Bronwen Neil on monks & prostitution; @relicsclerics.bsky.social on priests & bankers - and much more besides, including a panel on slaving.
May 21, 2025 at 4:45 PM
James has helped organise four panels for the IMC, featuring @rorynaismith.bsky.social on shady deals in the Fens; Roy Flechner on redistribution & the Papacy; Bronwen Neil on monks & prostitution; @relicsclerics.bsky.social on priests & bankers - and much more besides, including a panel on slaving.
Very pleased to announce that Broderick Haldane-Unwin (Oxford) will be joining our panel at IMC 2025 on the 'Ethics of Slaving', with a paper entitled 'Captivity and Credit: Gregory the Great and the Cost of Liberation in Late Antique Italy' (in place of Julia Winnebeck, who sadly cannot make it).
May 14, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Very pleased to announce that Broderick Haldane-Unwin (Oxford) will be joining our panel at IMC 2025 on the 'Ethics of Slaving', with a paper entitled 'Captivity and Credit: Gregory the Great and the Cost of Liberation in Late Antique Italy' (in place of Julia Winnebeck, who sadly cannot make it).
PUBLIC LECTURE - 20 MAY
We are very pleased to announce the second of our guest lectures this year. Niall Ó Súilleabháin (Université de Poitiers) will be giving a paper on 'Family, Household and Servitude in Medieval France (AD 900 – 1100)'.
Attend in-person in Leicester or virtually over Teams.
We are very pleased to announce the second of our guest lectures this year. Niall Ó Súilleabháin (Université de Poitiers) will be giving a paper on 'Family, Household and Servitude in Medieval France (AD 900 – 1100)'.
Attend in-person in Leicester or virtually over Teams.
May 7, 2025 at 10:11 AM
PUBLIC LECTURE - 20 MAY
We are very pleased to announce the second of our guest lectures this year. Niall Ó Súilleabháin (Université de Poitiers) will be giving a paper on 'Family, Household and Servitude in Medieval France (AD 900 – 1100)'.
Attend in-person in Leicester or virtually over Teams.
We are very pleased to announce the second of our guest lectures this year. Niall Ó Súilleabháin (Université de Poitiers) will be giving a paper on 'Family, Household and Servitude in Medieval France (AD 900 – 1100)'.
Attend in-person in Leicester or virtually over Teams.
It's just under one week until Andriy Danylenko's visit to Leicester from Pace University, NY to give a public lecture on the language spoken by Slavic slaves in medieval Islamic polities. Attend in person or virtually over Teams - details on the poster.
#medievalsky #islamicstudies
#medievalsky #islamicstudies
April 24, 2025 at 9:31 AM
It's just under one week until Andriy Danylenko's visit to Leicester from Pace University, NY to give a public lecture on the language spoken by Slavic slaves in medieval Islamic polities. Attend in person or virtually over Teams - details on the poster.
#medievalsky #islamicstudies
#medievalsky #islamicstudies
CALL FOR PAPERS - Manumission in the Islamicate World
Conference Date: 22 Apr 2026
Location: University of Leicester, UK, in partnership with the Markfield Institute
Please submit a 300-word abstract for consideration to events@mihe.ac.uk, along with your full name and bio by 31 May 2025.
Conference Date: 22 Apr 2026
Location: University of Leicester, UK, in partnership with the Markfield Institute
Please submit a 300-word abstract for consideration to events@mihe.ac.uk, along with your full name and bio by 31 May 2025.
April 10, 2025 at 7:14 AM
CALL FOR PAPERS - Manumission in the Islamicate World
Conference Date: 22 Apr 2026
Location: University of Leicester, UK, in partnership with the Markfield Institute
Please submit a 300-word abstract for consideration to events@mihe.ac.uk, along with your full name and bio by 31 May 2025.
Conference Date: 22 Apr 2026
Location: University of Leicester, UK, in partnership with the Markfield Institute
Please submit a 300-word abstract for consideration to events@mihe.ac.uk, along with your full name and bio by 31 May 2025.
*PUBLIC LECTURE*
On 30 April, Prof Andriy Danylenko (Pace University, NY) will be giving a public lecture on 'The Slavic Slaves in al-Andalus & Ifrīqīyah: A Case of Linguistic Hybridization in the Late First Millennium', hosted by the DoSSE project & the University of Leicester.
Details below ⬇️
On 30 April, Prof Andriy Danylenko (Pace University, NY) will be giving a public lecture on 'The Slavic Slaves in al-Andalus & Ifrīqīyah: A Case of Linguistic Hybridization in the Late First Millennium', hosted by the DoSSE project & the University of Leicester.
Details below ⬇️
April 8, 2025 at 9:00 AM
*PUBLIC LECTURE*
On 30 April, Prof Andriy Danylenko (Pace University, NY) will be giving a public lecture on 'The Slavic Slaves in al-Andalus & Ifrīqīyah: A Case of Linguistic Hybridization in the Late First Millennium', hosted by the DoSSE project & the University of Leicester.
Details below ⬇️
On 30 April, Prof Andriy Danylenko (Pace University, NY) will be giving a public lecture on 'The Slavic Slaves in al-Andalus & Ifrīqīyah: A Case of Linguistic Hybridization in the Late First Millennium', hosted by the DoSSE project & the University of Leicester.
Details below ⬇️
But Lilia did not tell this dream to her mistress. On Theodorus' advice, she told Eugenia a different story: that she had had a vision of a beautiful stallion and mare, and a little beautiful foal, "walking in the house of my masters."
After hearing this, Eugenia relayed it to Idacius.
After hearing this, Eugenia relayed it to Idacius.
April 4, 2025 at 2:18 PM
But Lilia did not tell this dream to her mistress. On Theodorus' advice, she told Eugenia a different story: that she had had a vision of a beautiful stallion and mare, and a little beautiful foal, "walking in the house of my masters."
After hearing this, Eugenia relayed it to Idacius.
After hearing this, Eugenia relayed it to Idacius.
Eugenia ordered Lilia to tell her what she dreamed after having sex with Theodorus, "since what newlyweds see on their first night is believed to be truth."
That night, Lilia did indeed have a dream. She dreamed of "a tree bursting out from her belly's navel, so tall that it penetrated the clouds."
That night, Lilia did indeed have a dream. She dreamed of "a tree bursting out from her belly's navel, so tall that it penetrated the clouds."
April 4, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Eugenia ordered Lilia to tell her what she dreamed after having sex with Theodorus, "since what newlyweds see on their first night is believed to be truth."
That night, Lilia did indeed have a dream. She dreamed of "a tree bursting out from her belly's navel, so tall that it penetrated the clouds."
That night, Lilia did indeed have a dream. She dreamed of "a tree bursting out from her belly's navel, so tall that it penetrated the clouds."
#DidYouKnow that Theodoric the Great, ruler of the Ostrogoths (c. 475-526), was the son of two slaves?
Well, he probably wasn't really... But he was according to the 7th century Merovingian Chronicle of Fredegar. It's a story -at least in Fredegar's telling- of love, deceit, dreams, & tall trees...
Well, he probably wasn't really... But he was according to the 7th century Merovingian Chronicle of Fredegar. It's a story -at least in Fredegar's telling- of love, deceit, dreams, & tall trees...
April 4, 2025 at 2:18 PM
#DidYouKnow that Theodoric the Great, ruler of the Ostrogoths (c. 475-526), was the son of two slaves?
Well, he probably wasn't really... But he was according to the 7th century Merovingian Chronicle of Fredegar. It's a story -at least in Fredegar's telling- of love, deceit, dreams, & tall trees...
Well, he probably wasn't really... But he was according to the 7th century Merovingian Chronicle of Fredegar. It's a story -at least in Fredegar's telling- of love, deceit, dreams, & tall trees...
Daniel will be researching the position of slaves in the Sasanian Persian Empire, considering how their treatment and the complex laws surrounding property and sexuality impacted both their position in Iranian society and the practices of other communities around them (most notably the Romans).
March 23, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Daniel will be researching the position of slaves in the Sasanian Persian Empire, considering how their treatment and the complex laws surrounding property and sexuality impacted both their position in Iranian society and the practices of other communities around them (most notably the Romans).