Julia’s presentation at Radboud University in Nijmegen

On 19 June, at the invitation of Dr Roald Dijkstra, Julia took part in the symposium "Epigrams for Eternity", held at Radboud University in Nijmegen to mark the publication of a new Dutch translation of the Damasan epigrams.

In her presentation, Julia explored the relationship between Furius Dionysius Filocalus—the calligrapher best known for his collaboration with Bishop Damasus—and members of the Roman clergy, particularly presbyters. Focusing on selected inscriptions written in the Filocalian script, she addressed two main points. First, she argued that, contrary to the prevailing communis opinio, Damasus did not hold exclusive access to Filocalus and his prestigious workshop. Second, she highlighted the value of these inscriptions as evidence for building interventions at martyrial cult sites, showing that such initiatives were, to a significant extent, carried out collegially, in close cooperation between the bishop of Rome and members of the local clergy.