Susanne Berndt Ersöz

My research is mainly dealing with the Eastern Mediterranean area and then in particular Asia Minor during the Iron Age. I am especially interested in various aspects of religion, history and art, which I have examined using both archaeological material and ancient texts. My doctoral thesis examined and analyzed the archaeological remains of Phrygian rock-cut sanctuaries, and was awarded the Prize for Outstanding Scholarly Work in 2005 by The Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities

From my work on the dissertation grew an interest to explore the expressions of religion and the interplay between religion and society, e.g. how religion was adapted or used for political purposes. I have led several research projects dealing with religion and society in the Eastern Mediterranean area during the Iron Age (ca 1000-300 BCE).

My research today is concentrated on two different topics, wall paintings and religion. I am responsible for the publication of a building with wall paintings from the Achaemenid period at Phrygian Gordion. My other research project is focused on religious castration during Antiquity. With this latter project my area of research has expanded both geographically and chronologically to also include the central Mediterranean area (Italy) and the entire Roman period.