Group Minds in Ancient Narrative

Group Minds in Ancient Narrative GROUPMINDS is a research project funded by the European Union in the frame of ERC (European Research Council) Starting Grants (Grant Agreement No. 101115022).

02/09/2026

📢 New publication news from GROUPMINDS!

💫We are delighted to announce that Dr Byron Waldron, Postdoctoral Researcher in the ERC-funded project Group Minds in Ancient Narrative at the University of Cyprus, has had his article “Collective Minds in the Constantinian Panegyrici Latini, 307–321 CE” accepted for publication in the prestigious journal Greece & Rome.

📚The article explores how Roman panegyrists represented collective minds — the shared thoughts, emotions, beliefs, intentions, and desires of groups — in five speeches delivered during the reign of Constantine. It examines how imperial subjects, soldiers, and enemies are presented as collective agents, and how these representations contribute to narratives of imperial legitimacy, loyalty, military success, and political consensus.

âś…This research makes an important contribution to the broader aims of GROUPMINDS, extending our investigation of collective cognition into Roman imperial panegyric and highlighting the ways ancient authors used groups as thinking, feeling, and acting agents.

đź‘Ź Congratulations to Byron on this exciting publication achievement!

10/06/2026

✨ A memorable evening of intellectual exchange at the University of Cyprus!

🎓Our research project was honoured to welcome Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jonas Grethlein (University of Heidelberg), one of the world's leading scholars in Classical Studies and ancient narratology, for his lecture “Oikonomia: The Ancient Entanglements of Narrative Arrangement and Estate Management.”

🎓Prof. Grethlein's thought-provoking presentation explored the fascinating connections between storytelling, cognition, and the organisation of social and economic life in antiquity. The lecture sparked a lively discussion with active participation from students, researchers, and members of the public, demonstrating the enduring power of the Classics to inspire new ways of thinking about literature, society, and the human mind.

🎓We are deeply grateful to Prof. Grethlein for his inspiring lecture, generosity, and engagement with the Cypriot academic community. It was a privilege to host such a distinguished scholar, and we look forward to continuing our exchange of ideas and developing future collaborations.

🎓At Group Minds in Ancient Narrative, we remain committed to bringing internationally renowned scholars to Cyprus and fostering cutting-edge research at the intersection of Classics, narratology, and cognitive studies.

đź‘Ź Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to the stimulating discussion!đź‘Ź

🚨 Upcoming Lecture by Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jonas Grethlein (University of Heidelberg) at the University of Cyprus 🚨What do...
27/04/2026

🚨 Upcoming Lecture by Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jonas Grethlein (University of Heidelberg) at the University of Cyprus 🚨

What do storytelling and estate management have in common in the ancient world?

The ERC-funded project Group Minds in Ancient Narrative invites you to a fascinating lecture by Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jonas Grethlein (University of Heidelberg), one of the leading voices in modern Classical scholarship and a pioneer in bringing narrative theory and cognitive approaches into the study of ancient texts.

In his talk, “Oikonomia: The Ancient Entanglements of Narrative Arrangement and Estate Management,” Grethlein explores how ancient thinkers connected the way stories are structured with the way households and resources are organised—offering fresh insights into how meaning, thought, and even collective ways of thinking are shaped in literature.

đź“… Friday, 8 May 2026
đź•– 19:00
đź“Ť University of Cyprus, Social Facilities Centre (Room 018)
🎟️ Free entry | Registration required
đź“© Reserve your place by 2 May: [email protected]

Join us for an evening that brings together Classics, narrative, and cognition in a truly thought-provoking way.

For more info: https://www.ucy.ac.cy/groupminds/distinguished-lecture-by-prof-jonas-grethlein-university-of-heidelberg/

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Department Of Classics And Philosophy University Of Cyprus Department Office: 1 Eressou Street, First Floor
Nicosia
P.O.BOX20537CY-1678

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+35722893850

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