Lecture given by Prof. Yoav Rinon (Hebrew University of Jerusalem).
Date: 04 MARCH 2026 from 17:00 to 19:00
Event location: Aula Specola, Department of History and Cultures, Piazza San Giovanni in Monte 2, Bologna - In presence and online event
Type: Cluster 1 - Trauma and Memory
In opening their histories, Herodotus and Thucydides set out distinct but overlapping aims—memory for Herodotus, truth for Thucydides—yet both, in writing about the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars respectively, sought not only to preserve the recent past but also to offer enduring lessons for the future.
This double undertaking also applies to the conflict and violence in Gaza and Palestine/Israel. In addition to the difficulty of distinguishing between facts, half-truths, and lies, public debates also deny the existence of objective truth, embracing instead a plurality of subjective alternative truths, all equally legitimate and acceptable.
Prof Rinon reflects on the tasks of the historian in Israel today, calling attention to the role of the academy in general, and the Israeli academy in particular, regarding the consistent effort to protect memory and truth alike. His talk points out the ethical importance of defending the border that separates history from literature. Thus, he will offer some vistas on the role of historical memory and archives in bringing truth to light and fostering political change.