Medicine, Health and Safety in the Ancient Near East
19-23 July 2027 // Sofia
It is our great pleasure to announce that the next RAI will be devoted to Babylonian medicine and healing arts in general. We invite all scholars who plan to participate to consider how their areas of expertise can contribute to the theme of “Medicine, Health, and Safety in the Ancient Near East.” By bringing together the widest range of perspectives from texts and iconography, reflecting both human and divine spheres (including managing daily life, predicting the future, warding off ghosts and demons, visiting the doctor) we can produce a conference that does justice to and illustrates the role of medicine and healing in ancient Near Eastern societies.
Circulars
1. Circular: Call for Workshops – 30 September 2026
Workshop Submission – 1 October 2026 – Deadline 10 November 2026
(Acceptance/Rejection – until 10 December 2026)
2. Circular: List of Accepted Workshops + Call for Paper & Poster Submissions – 15 December 2026
Paper & Poster Submissions – 15 December 2026 – Deadline 10 February 2027
(Acceptance/Rejection – until 1 March 2027)
3. Circular: Call for Registration – 1 March 2027
For more information see section News.
Registration
| Early Bird ? 1 March – 31 March 2027 | Regular ? 1 April – 30 April 2027 | Late ? 1 May – 30 May 2027 | |
| IAA Members | €170 | €200 | €220 |
| IAA Student | €80 | €90 | €110 |
| Regular (non-IAA) | €200 | €230 | €250 |
| Student (non-IAA) | €100 | €110 | €130 |
| Accompanying | €100 | €150 | €170 |
Early Bird: 1 March – 31 March 2027
Regular: 1 April – 30 April 2027
Late: 1 May – 30 May 2027
Registration opens on 1 March 2027 with an early bird rate available until 31 March 2027. Regular rates apply from 1 April to 30 April 2027, and late registration will be open from 1 May to 30 May 2027. Please note that accepted speakers must complete their registration by 30 May 2027.
Members of the International Association for Assyriology (IAA) and students enrolled in BA, MA, or PhD programmes are eligible for discounted registration fees.
Programme
The conference programme will be announced on 15 June 2027.
If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].
Keynote Speakers
Prof. Mark Geller
Mark has introduced teamwork into Babylonian medicine: BabMed, NinMed, and now BabPharmacy.
Dr. Irving Finkel
In addition to being a British Museum ashipu, Irving is the best-known purveyor of cuneiform to the entire world.
Dr. Annie Attia
Annie is a practicing ophthalmologist and co-editor of the Journal des Médecines Cunéiformes.
Organisers & Partners
Organising Committee
• Assist. Prof. Strahil Panayotov (Bulgarian Academy of Sciences & Sofia University)
• Assist. Prof. Kiril Mladenov (Sofia University)
• Prof. Simeon Evstatiev (Head of the Department of Arabic and Semitic Studies, Sofia University)
• Prof. Dilyana Boteva-Boyanova (Sofia University)
• Assoc. Prof. Nadya Filipova (Director of the Institute of Historical Studies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences)
• Prof. Diana Mishkova (Director of the Centre for Advanced Study Sofia)
• Dr. Dimiter Dimov (Centre for Advanced Study Sofia)
• Assoc. Prof. Mariana Malinova (New Bulgarian University)
• Assoc. Prof. Maya Vassileva (New Bulgarian University)
• Assist. Prof. Kabalan Moukarzel (Sofia University)
Practical Information
Conference Location
The General Track and all Workshop sessions will take place in the main building of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, 15 Tzar Osvoboditel Blvd., 1504 Sofia.
There is a Metro stop at the University. Entry is through the main entrance and the entrances of the south and north wings of the building.
Accessibility
For participants with special accessibility needs, it is recommended to use the south or north wing entrances. Elevators are available on each floor.
For participants with special accessibility needs, it is recommended to use the south or north wing entrances. Elevators are available on each floor.
Conference rooms are distributed across multiple floors. Their locations are indicated in the conference programme. Tables for coffee breaks and booksellers will be located in the corridors next to the stairs, also in the Great Foyer below the Aula. Restroom facilities are available on every floor.
Presentation Guidelines
All speakers have a 20-minute time limit for their presentation, followed by 10 minutes for discussion.
All speakers have a 20-minute time limit for their presentation, followed by 10 minutes for discussion.
All sessions and events will take place in person only.
Public Transportation
The fastest and easiest way to reach the city center is to take the metro line at Sofia Airport Terminal 2.
There is only one metro line — the yellow line, number 4 — and only one direction from the airport, so there is no possibility of making a mistake.
The names of the two stations located in the city center are “Sofia University” and “Serdika”. The travel lasts approximately 20 minutes.
There are also taxis and buses (lines 84 and 184), but traveling by road may take considerably longer.
Airport → Centre
Metro Line 4
Journey
c. 20 minutes
One-way ticket
€0.80
Central stops
Sofia University
Serdika