We invite paper proposals for a panel on Symmetrical Structures and Patterns in Islamic Architecture, Poetry, and Imagination, for the 13th Congress of the Society for the Interdisciplinary Study of Symmetry. The congress is scheduled to take place August 22-29, 2025, at the Orthodox Academy of Crete.
Papers in the panel will be allotted 20 minutes, plus discussion. See below for a description of the panel and further details, including preparation of the abstract.
Persian and Islamic lands witnessed an intense flourishing of art, architecture, mathematics, science and poetry beginning in the 9th century. From the poetry of Ferdowsi, Farrokhi Sistani, and Gorgani to the monuments of Bukhara, Isfahan, and Maragha, poetic, artistic, and architectural forms emerged that would become predominant throughout the Islamic world. At the same time, the translation and advancement of scientific, philosophical, and mathematical thought shaped an ‘Islamic Golden Age.’ Ghaznavid palaces were filled with poets and inscribed with poetry. Likewise, the Seljuk courts attracted literati and learned men of diverse backgrounds, who contributed to a vibrant intellectual environment.
In response to this rich cultural flourishing from the 9th-12th centuries, we envision an experimental gathering of scholars trained in different disciplines to provide interpretive insights and diverse perspectives on the use and significance of imagination in the arts and discourses of the pre-Mongol Islamic world. Papers will explore lines of thought that are literal, mathematical, and metaphorical with a view towards understanding how imagination figures in the articulation of worlds beyond that of the tangible.
This panel focuses on the symmetries of intricate geometric patterns executed in cut and glazed bricks on monuments in Iran and neighboring regions, considered in relation to Qur’anic passages and contemporary poetry. In particular, study of Nezami’s Haft Paykar, a literary masterpiece of enormous complexity and imagination, explores its architectural references and geometric structures. Together we raise questions for the interpretation of patterns in spatial and imaginative realms.
CONFERENCE COSTS (for your calculation and planning)
Airfare to/from Chania, Crete, Greece
Visa, if needed
Registration fee (before June 30) 350€, accompanying persons@ 100€
Conference fee (includes accommodation at the Orthodox Academy of Crete [room and full board], 8/22-29/2025) - Double room 1170€ per person; Single room 1480€ per person
For more detailed information, click here.
ABSTRACTS
There is a specific format required for submitted abstracts. A template is provided click here.
TIMELINE
May 1, 2025 - abstracts to bier.carol@gmail.com and charleshowley1@g.ucla.edu
May 4, 2025 - panel proposal with approved abstracts to conference organizers
June 1, 2025 - notification of acceptance of panel/abstracts
Jun 30, 2025 - payments due (by wire transfer) for conference registration and booking
Please note that conference registration and booking fees are non-refundable.
Carol Bier, Research Scholar, Center for Islamic Studies, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley CA
Charlotte Howley, PhD Student, Iranian Studies, University of California - Los Angeles CA
