Organisation and Contacts:
Clara Deshayes-Labelle Administrative manager contact@fab-antique.fr
Olivier Delouis MFO Associate Researcher olivier.delouis@mfo.ac.uk
The École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE–PSL, est. 1868) is a French graduate and research institution specializing in advanced studies and original research in the humanities, social sciences, life and earth sciences, and the study of religions. It is part of the Université PSL (Paris Sciences et Lettres) cluster.
The programme “Making Antiquity: Constructions and Representations of Times Past” (“Les Fabriques de l’antique”, or “FAn”), supported by PSL and steered by the EPHE, is an interdisciplinary research initiative that brings together scholars from several French institutions around major scientific and cultural themes, fostering innovative collaboration across disciplines. Unique within the French academic landscape, FAn explores the formation of collective identities, cultural memories, and conceptions of historicity in ancient societies across all cultural areas and historical periods.
From March 23 to 27, 2026, an intensive Spring School at the Maison française d’Oxford (MFO) will bring together French Master’s and doctoral students for an immersive exploration of the FAn project along three main themes:
Theme 1 (March 24): Constructions of time – measuring, organizing, and experiencing temporalities
Theme 2 (March 25): Constructions of the past – representations and uses of ancient times
Theme 3 (March 26): The linguistic shaping of the world – languages and scripts as historical objects
Mornings will feature lectures and discussions between researchers and participants followed by a lunch at the MFO. Afternoons will offer hands-on workshops at the Ashmolean Museum, the Bodleian Library, and the History of Science Museum in Oxford.
Scientific committee:
Olivier Delouis, Byzantine studies (CNRS, MFO)
Vincent Eltschinger, Buddhist studies (EPHE-PSL)
Matthieu Husson, History of astronomy (Laboratoire Temps Espace, Observatoire de Paris-PSL)
Vassa Kontouma, Dean of Religious studies, History of Orthodoxy (EPHE-PSL)
Daniel Petit, Baltic and Indo-European linguistics (ENS-PSL et EPHE-PSL)
Andréas Stauder, Egyptology (EPHE-PSL)
Stéphane Van Damme, History of sciences (Maison française d’Oxford, director)
