Lecture: Prof. Stratis Papaioannou

 native of Trikala, Greece, Stratis Papaioannou studied Byzantine literature and culture at the University of Vienna (D.Phil. 2000). Papaioannou, who is a faculty member in Brown University since 2006, gave an enlightening speech about the reading habits of the Byzantines at the Byzantine Studies Research Center on May, 25. He argued that reading was not only the primary means of learning and education, which then led to social advancement, but also offered comfort, relief and entertainment. In his talk, Papaioannou shed new light on the place of reading and the ideal, imaginary, and real identities of the readers in Byzantine society by questioning the how, why, and who of reading.