Characterizing Astrology
IN the
Medieval
Islamic World
P A R T I C I P A N T S
Jessica Andruss
University of ChicagoJoseina Rodriguez- Arribas
Friedrich-Alexander- Universität-Erlangen- Nürnberg
Mohamad Ballan
University of ChicagoGodefroid de Callataÿ
Université Catholique de LouvainFrancesca Chubb-Confer
University of ChicagoAlireza Doostdar
University of ChicagoNoah Gardiner
University of MichiganTeri Gee
Brigham Young University IdahoNora Jacobsen Ben Hammed
University of ChicagoEdmund Hayes
University of ChicagoAdrian Johns
University of ChicagoMatthew Melvin-Koushki
University of South CarolinaShandra Lamaute
University of ChicagoReimund Leicht
Hebrew UniversityRobert Morrison
Bowdoin CollegeEnrico Rafaelli
University of TorontoJames T. Robinson
University of ChicagoOrtal-Paz Saar
University of ChicagoElizabeth Sartell
University of ChicagoMarla Segol
SUNY University at Bufalo
Ahmet Tunç Şen
University of ChicagoYoni Shemesh
University of ChicagoDaniel Stolz
Northwestern University
Tuesday, May 12
3:00pm
Welcome Address Dean Margaret Mitchell
3:30pm
Keynote Lecture Reimund Leicht “Characterizing Astrology in the Arab-Muslim World”
Wednesday, May 13
9:25am
Opening Remarks Session One
Chair | Alireza Doostdar
9:30am
Matthew Melvin-Koushki “Conjuncting Astrology:
The Interrelation of the Mathematical Occult Sciences in the Premodern Persianate Tradition”
DISCUSSANT
Daniel Stolz
10:30am
Noah Gardiner
“Esotericist Astrology in A .hmad al-Būnī’s La .tā’if al- ishārāt fī al- .hurūf al-‘ulwīyāt”
DISCUSSANT
Francesca Chubb-Confer
11:30am
Open Questions
12:00pm
Break for Lunch
Session Two
Chair | Ortal-Paz Saar
1:15pm
Marla Segol “Astrology, Medicine, Microcosm and Magic:
The Mechanics of Theurgy in the Shiur Qomah, the Sefer Yetsirah, and their Interpreters”
DISCUSSANT
Shandra Lamaute
2:15pm
Enrico Rafaelli
“Astrology and Religion in the 9th-century Zoroastrian Texts”
DISCUSSANT
Edmund Hayes
3:15pm
Cofee Break
3:30pm
Joseina Rodriguez- Arribas
“At the Service of Divination:
Astrological Instruments and Astrological Techniques”
DISCUSSANT
Jessica Andruss
4:30pm
Open Questions
c o n f e r e n c e
Swift Hall 3rd loor Lecture Hall, 1025 E 58th St, Chicago, IL 60637
s c h e d u l e
Thursday, May 14
9:25am
Opening Remarks Session Three Chair | Adrian Johns
9:30am
Ahmet Tunç Şen
“An Ottoman Shaykh al-Islam in Support of Astrology:
Kemal Pashazade (d. 1534) and his Treatise on Talismans”
DISCUSSANT
Mohamad Ballan
10:30am
Teri Gee
“Astrology vs. Astronomy in Abu Ma‘shar’s Kitab al-Madkhal al-Kabir”
DISCUSSANT
Nora Jacobsen Ben Hammed
11:30am
Open Questions
12:00pm
Break for Lunch
Session Four
Chair | James T. Robinson
1:15pm
Robert Morrison
“Astrology as Jewish Philosophy”
DISCUSSANT
Yoni Shemesh
2:15pm
Godefroid de Callataÿ
“Why was Astrology so Important to the Authors of the Rasā’il Ikhwān al- .Safā’?”
DISCUSSANT
Elizabeth Sartell
3:15pm
Open Questions
3:45pm
Closing Remarks Shandra Lamaute Elizabeth Sartell
4:15pm
Reception
Swift Hall Common Room (irst loor)
S P O N S O R S
The Divinity School
Center for International Studies, Norman Wait Harris Fund Center for Middle Eastern Studies
Chicago Center for Jewish Studies
Dept of Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations Divinity Students Association
Division of the Humanities Franke Institute for the Humanities Graduate Council
Humanities Visiting Committee at The University of Chicago Islamic Studies Workshop
Jewish Studies Workshop The Martin Marty Center MEHAT Workshop
Morris Fishbein Center for the History of Science and Medicine Uncommon Fund
Organized by Divinity students Shandra Lamaute and Elizabeth Sartell; faculty sponsors Alireza Doostdar, Assistant Professor of Islamic Studies and the Anthropology of Religion, and James T.
Robinson, Associate Professor of the History of Judaism.
Conference website: https://divinity.uchicago.edu/
characterizing-astrology-medieval-islamic-world