Call for Papers: International Symposium on Healing in Anatolian Culture, Cappadocia

We invite researchers and academics working within the framework outlined below to participate with abstract submissions in the symposium entitled “Healing in Anatolian Culture,” to be organized by the Center for Cappadocian and Cultural Studies at the main campus of Cappadocia University in Mustafapaşa, on September 24-26, 2026.

The symposium languages are Turkish and English, and papers are accepted in both languages. Abstracts must be submitted by 22 May 2026 to sifainanatolia@kapadokya.edu.tr. Abstracts should be limited to 300 words and include a title and keywords. Accepted papers will be announced on 26 June 2026. Papers will be considered for inclusion in a publication process following the symposium. Details will be communicated to participants.

For updates on the symposium program and other details, please visit the website: www.sifainanatolia.kapadokya.edu.tr

Scope:

The symposium aims to explore the epistemological and practical dimensions of healing knowledge in Anatolia at the intersection of diverse disciplines, including Art History, Archaeology, History, Architecture, Literature, Gastronomy, Folklore, and Cultural Studies. The scope of inquiry focuses on key analytical themes such as visual culture, identity, image, and cultural continuity within the context of traditional healing practices. Additionally, one of the symposium’s objectives is to draw attention to the central role played by female healers, including saints, folk midwives, herbalists, and ritual practitioners, in the transmission of cultural heritage and knowledge.

While critically examining the cultural dynamics behind the popularization of traditional healing practices, the symposium aims to investigate the deep historical roots, visual and material culture dimensions, and methodological challenges of this field with scholarly rigor. The underlying premise is that this complex cultural heritage can only be grasped within the highest academic standards and through interdisciplinary collaboration.

The symposium welcomes contributions on the following topics:

·       Healing knowledge and institutions in the Ancient, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman periods

·       Healing in textual and visual culture

·       The role of women in healing knowledge and practice

·       Talismans, amulets, and healing objects

·       Healing spaces and sacred sites

·       Folk medicine, ocaks, and traditional healing practices

·       Healing rituals and practices

·       Ethnobotany and plant knowledge

·       Healing narratives: myth, legend, and literature

·       Food culture and healing: historical perspectives

·       The contemporary revival of traditional healing: a critical perspective

·       The relationship between healing and medicine