Welcome to RAIA2025 International Conference

 

We are delighted to welcome you to Timișoara for the Second International Conference of RAIA (Romanian Archaeological Institute in Athens) — Greeks and Hyperboreans: Cultural Interactions between the Eastern Mediterranean Basin and the Populations from the Pontic Steppe and Temperate Europe (8^th century BC–4^th century AD) — hosted by the West University of Timișoara on 9–11 October 2025. The conference will take place in the main building of the Institute for Advanced Environmental Research (ICAM), a short walk from the city centre.

West University of Timișoara is the principal higher-education and research hub in Western Romania and a dynamic partner for international scholarship across the humanities and sciences. It is one of the three sponsoring universities of the Romanian Archaeological Institute in Athens (RAIA), together with the University of Bucharest and “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași—a landmark initiative for Romanian archaeology.

Our theme — Greeks and Hyperboreans — invites contributors to take a fresh look at long-distance encounters across the Mediterranean, Black Sea and into temperate Europe: the movement of goods and technologies, the circulation of images and ideas, and the social practices that connected communities over centuries. Across two days of papers and discussion (10–11 October 2025), we look forward to lively, evidence-driven debate and new collaborations.

Timișoara is one of Europe’s most engaging cultural cities, named European Capital of Culture 2023 and widely recognised for its vibrant arts scene and spirit of openness. While you are here, we encourage you to explore Timișoara’s museums and public spaces. Registered participants enjoy complimentary admission to the Banat National Museum and the Timișoara Art Museum on presentation of their conference badge (during regular opening hours on conference days).

On behalf of the organisers, we wish you a warm welcome to Timișoara and an inspiring conference.