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Classical Archaeology

 

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Call for Applications: Neukirch Awards for Outstanding Academic Research

The Dr. Dieter and Sigrun Neukirch Foundation supports outstanding academic research, particularly doctoral dissertations as well as Master's theses and theses submitted as part of German state examination degree programs, in the fields of: Classical Archaeology, Classical Languages, and Geography at JLU.

The Dr. Dieter and Sigrun Neukirch Award may only be granted to members and affiliates of Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU). Work submitted by former members of the university may also be considered, provided that it was completed during their time at JLU Giessen.

At the time of application, the research work must be fully completed and should generally not be more than one year old.

Applications are now being accepted. The application deadline is 31 August 2026. The awards will be presented at the Academic Ceremony at the end of November 2026. Further information on the application procedure can be found here.

 

Epic Fails – Tragic Heroes, Antiheroes, and Ambivalent Figures

When we think of ancient myths, the images that usually come to mind are those of radiant heroes and all-powerful gods. Yet a closer look reveals a far more complex and shadowy world: one populated by tragic figures, antiheroes, and monsters against their will. Many of these stories are, in fact, stories of different kinds of failure.
The exhibition explores the great moments of such “epic fails” in three thematic sections:

Hubris and self-inflicted downfall – when arrogance, overconfidence, or the pursuit of power paves the way to ruin.
Loss of control and emotional extremes – when love, passion, hatred, or madness unleash their destructive force.
Inescapable fate – when even the greatest heroes cannot evade the downfall destined for them.

The Special Exhibition Epic Fails invites visitors to rediscover well-known myths as stories about transgression, defeat, and the ambivalence of heroism.