Doctor Nikos Kokkinos
Nationality: United Kingdom
Year: 2002
Subject Area: Arts and Humanities
Website: Visit (opens in a new window)An international ‘double’ conference held at the British Museum (17-19 April 2001), explored recent progress in our understanding of the history and archaeology of the Herodian dynasty in Syro-Palestine and of the Nabataeans in Arabia from the Hellenistic to the Roman period (third century BCE to first century CE). No such conference had previously been attempted, given the magnitude of the subject in bringing together two consequential worlds, and given the political divisions of today. The event, of which I was the principal organiser, received much acclaim not only in presenting the work of over 40 foremost experts from some ten countries, but also for its acute topicality and even foresight in view of the unfortunate events in the following September. It was the first time that such an academic meeting looked together at the background of the two neighbouring peoples as fascinating and complex as the Jews and the Arabs. It was also the first time that an international conference took place in the Clore Education Centre which is part of the newly-built Great Court of the British Museum opened by the Queen in December 2000. The substantial gathering (over 200 participants) succeeded its goal of exchanging wisdom while celebrating historical knowledge at the outset of the 21st century. The next task was the editing and publishing of the proceedings, and it was here that the Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation generously stepped in. The scholarship which I was awarded for the period 2002-2004 made it possible to work on and prepare the various papers for the press. Two illustrated volumes (or nearly 1000 printed pages) are about to be published by Franz Steiner Verlag of Stuttgart.