My colleague Valerie Gruenzel and I are delighted to host a three-day symposium on the topic of Character Groupings in Classical and Medieval Art and Literature at the University of St Andrews from 17-19 April 2026. The deadline for all abstracts has been extended to 1 February 2026.
https://chosen-symposium-2026.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/2025/10/27/call-for-papers/
We are hoping to bring together researchers who work on specific groupings of characters, such as the Nine Worthies, Seven Sages, Nine Worthy Women, and others. Since many of these groupings are oftentimes studied in isolation, the symposium will offer a chance to compare and contrast different groupings. We hope to facilitate discussions that explore questions such as how groupings develop, whether there are common denominators that enable such a development, and why some groupings are more popular and persistent than others.
The plenary lecture will be given by Professor Eva von Contzen, University of Freiburg.If discussions prove fruitful, a publication of selected proceedings is planned in a special issue of Anglia in order to encourage further study of individual groupings, as well as the concept and framework of groupings.We welcome proposals from postgraduate students, early career researchers, and established academics. Proposals can relate to (but are not limited to):
The origin, development, and uses of a specific grouping
A specific grouping, such as the Nine Worthies, Nine Worthy Women, Three Furies, Seven Sages, Three Sisters of Fate, Nine Muses, the Apostles, the douze pers (Charlemagne and Alexander cycles), the Knights of the Round Table, Norns, Saints
Catalogue traditions and their relations to groupings
Theoretical approaches to and frameworks for groupings and their development
The numerology on which groupings such as the Nine Worthies or Seven Sages are based onMedieval groupings and their classical influences
The processes of choosing individuals for a grouping
Proposals can be made for the following two formats:
20-minute paper: Please send a title and proposal of no more than 250, as well as a brief biography to chosen2026@st-andrews.ac.uk.
5-minute lightning talk: Please send a title and proposal of no more than 50 words, as well as a brief biography to chosen2026@st-andrews.ac.uk.
The lighting talks will be part of a networking event. It offers a chance for delegates to briefly present their (emerging) interests and to subsequently identify opportunities for discussion and collaboration.
The deadline for all abstracts has been extended to 1 February 2026.
