Angels and Mankind: Nature, Role and Function of Celestial Beings in

Near Eastern and Islamic Traditions

International conference, Orient-Institut Beirut (OIB), Lebanon

2-4 July 2015

Angels appear in Near Eastern and Islamic traditions as transcendental messengers in different contexts.
While there are a number of studies about angels in different religious traditions, the entanglement of
Islamic developments with regard to earlier religious substrates has been studied only rudimentarily.
The conference seeks to investigate the multiple concepts and the evolution of Near Eastern and
especially Islamic conceptions of nature, role and function of angelic beings by focusing on theological,
literary, visual and material representations from pre-Islamic to contemporary times.
A point of focus of the conference will be to trace the persistence and inspiring features of religious,
literary and artistic expressions in Near Eastern and Islamic traditions. The aim of this conference is to
provide, and promote, an interdisciplinary forum for scholars investigating issues that may include, but
are not limited to, the following topics:

A. Physiology of Heavenly Beings

a. Nature, form and matter (substance) of angels
b. Gender of angels
c. Definition of human nature with reference to angelic nature
B. Topography and Hierarchical Scheme of the Heavenly Host
a. Authority, legitimation and organization of angels
b. Cosmic functions of angels
c. Liminality of the angelic world
C. Mission, Vocation and Agency of Angels
a. Relationship and interaction of the angelic world with God and His earthly
creations
b. Angels as divine emissaries and mediator figures of divine knowledge between
the transient and the immanent sphere
c. Distinguishing features of angels and human beings

D. Visual and Textual Evolution: Angelic Nomenclature and Iconography

a. Angelic creatures as signifiers of earlier religious substrates
b. Supernatural, nonhuman characteristics in visions and manifestations of angels
c. Imagination of the angels in the social reality of the supernatural

Proposals that take an inter- and cross-disciplinary approach to the study of angelology will be
especially welcome. Papers should be 25 minutes in length and will be followed by a 20-minute Q&A
session. Please send a title and abstracts of no more than 350 words as word.doc to
angelology@orient-institut.org
Deadline for abstracts: 25th April 2015
It is intended to introduce the conference with a keynote-lecture focusing on comparative elements of
the conceptualization of angels as celestial beings from a comparative perspective.

We plan to publish the proceedings of this conference.