Dr. Max Ritter
Email: ritterm@uni-mainz.de
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Seit September 2024 Asst. Prof. (Adiunkt) an der Schlesischen Universität Katowice (Uniwersytetu Śląskiego w Katowicach, Instytut Literaturoznawstwa) - webpage
Max Ritter read Byzantine studies and Classical archaeology at Freie Universität Berlin and National Kapodistrian University Athens, before moving on to JGU Mainz. After working on the economics of Byzantine pilgrimage in his PhD (defended in 2017, published as a monograph in 2019), his research revolved around Constantinople’s building culture and Procopius’ writings in the sixth century. This has yielded one monograph, one edited volume and several articles, and he continues to work on the topic. To that end, he has spent fellowships at Boğaziçi University (2022) and ANAMED (2023–2024) in Istanbul.
Most recently his research shifted towards Byzantine concepts of nature, notably focusing on marine environments, to contribute a comprehensive understanding of Byzantium as a seafaring culture. As his interest lies also in material culture and public outreach, he is participates in archaeological work in Komana (Türkiye) and is involved in the curation of a museum exhibition in Ayia Napa (Cyprus).
Understanding the cultural complexity of Byzantium is Ritter’s aspiration, which encompasses its economy, culture, and material aspects. Accordingly, he strives to contribute to various domains within the cultural history of Late Antiquity to the Middle Byzantine period (fifth–twelfth century).
Research interests:
Byzantine pilgrimage, economic history of Byzantium, Byzantine building culture, late antique and Byzantine historiography, Byzantine Paphlagonia and Pontos, History of Venetian Cyprus