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SAM Downtown – Saturday University Lecture Series
February 8, 2020 @ 2:00 am - 3:00 am PST
Saturday University Winter 2019
The Dragon and the Pearl: Explorations of a Eurasian Motif
Joel Walker / University of Washington
The art and literature of medieval Eurasia abound with stories of precious jewels guarded by monstrous serpents or dragons. This presentation will investigate iterations of this motif in the Syrian Christian tradition, including a famous stele from the Tang-dynasty capital of Xi’an in northern China and a silver reliquary fragment from Roman Syria. Taken together, these artworks reveal the powerful symbolism of pearls as markers of spiritual excellence.
About the Presenter
Joel Walker is the Lawrence J. Roseman Associate Professor of History at the University of Washington, where he also holds affiliate appointments in Classics, Comparative Religion, and Near Eastern Studies. A historian of the Ancient World and the early medieval Middle East, Professor Walker is a leading expert on the history of the East Syrian Christian communities of Mesopotamia, Iran, and Central Asia.
He has also been deeply involved in Silk Road Studies, including several previous collaborations with the Seattle Art Museum.
Please note: This event takes place at the Asian Art Museum. Live streaming of the lecture is available on a first-come-first-serve basis in the Alvord Board Room.
OTHER LECTURES IN THIS SERIES
Sat Feb 1
Rarities Fit for Kings: Ephemeral and Tangible Precious Goods in Sultanate India
Sat Feb 8
Woodwork and the Arts of Japan
Sat Feb 15
The Dragon and the Pearl: Explorations of a Eurasian Motif
Sat Feb 22
The Strange Case of the Castaway Princess and Other Stories of Japan in the Pacific
Sat Feb 29
Out of the Dark: Banned Books in China
Sat Mar 7
Marvelous Journey of Precious Objects: Chaekgeori, Korean Still-Life Painting
QUESTIONS? CONTACT US
Individual lecture tickets available at the door: $11, SAM members $7; free at the door for students with ID
Please arrive to your seat 10 minutes before the program starts, or your seat may be released.