Telephone number:	+31 (0)71 527 2566
E-Mail:	e.klok@hum.leidenuniv.nl
Faculty / Department:	Faculteit der Geesteswetenschappen, Leids Instituut Godsdienstwetenschappen
Office Address:	Witte Singel-complex Matthias de Vrieshof 1 2311 BZ Leiden Room number 1.02a

---

Galilee: landscape of imagination. Galilee as a literary construction in the New Testament

The hypothesis of the research is that the use of space in the gospels can only be understood in the context of classical historiography. Classical authors use space not merely as a background to a story but as an important means to express ideology.

Els Klok is a PhD-student in the field of the New Testament. Her research is titled: Galilee: landscape of imagination. Galilee as a literary construction in the New Testament. The hypothesis of the research is that the use of space in the gospels can only be understood in the context of classical historiography. Classical authors use space not merely as a background to a story but as an important means to express ideology. Further, it must be assumed that space plays an important role for groups in constituting collective memory and creating identity.  In the Gospels space has both functions: it serves theology and creates identity. Case studies of classical works will clarify the potential functions of space in classical writings; these insights will be applied to the gospels. In the stories about Jesus Galilee has a central place, therefore this research focuses on Galilee.