While the ancient world has often been narrated through the lens of dominant powers - political elites, literary canons, monumental art - recent research across the humanities and social sciences increasingly aims to restore the presence of those who stood at the margins: the enslaved, women, foreigners, subaltern communities, artisans, and others whose experiences were rarely preserved in traditional sources.

This conference encourages an interdisciplinary dialogue on how the traces of these silent actors can be identified, interpreted, and reimagined.

At the same time, silence may also describe the quieter spaces of the ancient world - the texts, artefacts, landscapes, or practices that have long remained underexplored or methodologically elusive. These forms of silence may emerge from gaps in documentation, from the fragmentary nature of material culture, or from interpretative habits that have privileged certain narratives over others. By confronting these absences, scholars can give visibility to aspects of antiquity that fall outside conventional historiographical frameworks.

The conference thus welcomes contributions that engage with silence in its many dimensions: as a historical reality, a metaphor for invisibility, or a challenge to our modes of inquiry. Whether approached through new readings of textual traditions, reassessments of material or visual culture, or theoretical reflections on how knowledge of the past is constructed, participants are invited to consider how the unspoken, the fragmentary, and the overlooked can become powerful sources of insight. “From Silence to Speech” ultimately seeks to foster a conversation that reimagines the boundaries of what can be heard, recovered, and understood within the ancient world.

The 2026 edition of the Annual Meeting of Postgraduates in Ancient History will be held at the University of Salento in Lecce (Italy) from 27th to 29th May 2026. While the conference will be held in hybrid format, participants are warmly encouraged to attend in person, as it will foster richer discussion and networking among participants.

The call is primarily addressed to doctoral candidates, recent PhD graduates, and early-career researchers, offering them an opportunity to share their work and engage in interdisciplinary dialogue.

Proposals are welcome in English, Italian, Spanish, and French.

To propose a paper, please submit an abstract of no more than 300 words to ampahconference@gmail.com by January 11th 2026. The submission should include your name, institutional affiliation, research area, and preferred mode of attendance (online or in person). Applicants will be notified of the committee’s decision by January 31st 2026.

The Organizing Commitee
Cesare Iezzi
Elena Urso