This conference, held on 6-8 October 2025 in Córdoba, Spain, provided a space for reflection on the work of Plutarch, a foundational author in ancient literature who explored, through his Parallel Lives and Moralia, concepts of change, identity and otherness.
Team member Travis Niles presented on «The Alterations of the Soul in the Myth of Thespesius (De sera 563B–568A).»
The following abstract outlines the topic of his presentation: «Perhaps the most searing images of the alterations suffered by the soul in the Myth of Thespesius are those of souls undergoing punishment, where they are branded, dipped into molten lakes, and forcibly bent out of shape. However, these are not the only modifications of the soul that Plutarch presents to us here. This paper will investigate the various changes undergone by the human soul after it has left the body and will draw inferences concerning Plutarch’s view of the soul and what moral-philosophical points he might be seeking to illustrate through this myth.»
For more information about the conference please visit: https://sites.google.com/view/uco-plutarco/home