Since human beings first looked up at the heavens, the stars and other celestial bodies have played a crucial role in how people have made sense of the cosmos, their societies and the bodies they inhabit. This year's biennial celebration of Popular Culture and the Deep Past (PCDP) centers on the topic of “Star Gazing: Astrology and Astronomy in the Medieval and Renaissance Imagination.”
As in past years, this event will feature a scholarly conference with papers, round tables and keynote lectures by prominent scholars, nested within a Renaissance-faire-like carnival featuring exhibits, gaming, contests, live demonstrations and activities of all kinds.
This event encourages participants to blur the boundary between what is too easily characterized as an older worldview based in astrology and other superstitions, and the apparently more rational and proto-scientific worldview of astronomy that championed empirical observation along with new techniques and instruments. It will be fascinating to learn how these two systems overlapped and informed one another both in practice and across a range of representations like art and literature. Astrological beliefs and practices live on into the present and still shape the way many of us see reality.
We will host paper presentations from faculty, graduate students and others that address any and all aspects of astronomy and astrology in medieval and early modern cultures.
Topics include representations of astronomy and astrology in elite and popular media, both past and present; the social, cultural, economic, gendered and political contexts of astronomy and astrology; the material and spatial artifacts associated with astronomy and astrology; the relationship of modern and historical theories and practices relating to astronomy and astrology.
The PCDP conference generally holds paper presentations on the Friday of the event (April 10). Additional presentations may be scheduled in tandem with Saturday's mini Renaissance Fair (April 11) that will otherwise feature a variety of exhibitions, demonstrations, performances and hands-on activities.
This event is free, open to the public and welcoming to everyone. Registration is not necessary to attend these events. Zoom link is coming soon.
Exhibitors
- Department of Astronomy with old telescopes and Galileoscopes
- Astrolabes (Swinneys)
- Astronomical Society Student Organization
- Traditional spinning/weaving (Sharon Mech)
- Traditional tea, herbs, and medicine (Shawn Schulte, pending)
- Days of Knights
- Order of the Cardinal
- College of St. Brutus
Performers/Presenters
- 2 Astrolabe Practical Exercises (R. Swinney)
- Confused Greenies
- Ohio School of Falconry
- College of St. Brutus combat demo
- Order of the Cardinal swordfight foam demo and instruction
- History of tarot and astrology (Kiana Hardy-Butler)
- Cosplay (pending)
- Chemistry Demo Lab
Small-group poetry reading (Rebecca Roberts)
Tentative Schedule
Friday, April 10
Paper presentations, via Zoom
Welcome Remarks
10:00 - 10:15 a.m.
Panel Session 1
10:15 - 11:45 a.m. - Moderator: TBA
Z. I. Mahmud, “Giants of the Earth, Stars of the Mind: Brobdingnag’s Reimagined Cosmos”
Nicolae-Alexandru Virastau (Adam Mickiewicz University, Poland), “Calculating Providence: Jean Thenaud and Court Astrology for Louise of Savoy and Francis I (1514-1533)”
Abhishek Rao (Alliance University, India), “Architecture as Astral Instrument: Temples and Their Reflection on the Built Environment as Cosmological Devices in India”
Lunch Break
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Panel Session 2
12:45 - 2:15 p.m. - Moderator: Chris Highley (OSU Dept. of English; Director, Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies)
Lorenz Hindrichsen (Copenhagen International School, Denmark), “Leveraging Pandemic Fears: Instrumentalizing Astrology in Chaucer’s The Miller’s Tale”
Mario Valori, “Cute Procedure under A Mapped Sky: Sailor Moon, Mahou Shōjo, and Popular Star Knowledge”
Matthew McDaniel (Westminster Seminary California), “The Harmonization of the World: Raphael Eglinus’ (1559–1622) Celestial Theosophy”
Chloe Burns (Binghamton University), “Celestial and Corporeal Embodiment in Purgatorio 25”
Afternoon Break
2:15 - 2:30 p.m.
Panel Session 3
2:30 - 4:00 p.m. - Moderator: TBA
Scott Ennis (Independent Scholar), “Planetary Laments: Galileo, Pistis Sophia, and the Volta of the Spheres”
Mackenzie Tomlinson (Oklahoma State University), “Astronomical Imagery and Disorder in the Henry IV Plays”
Simon “Zach” Zahaykevitz (Baylor University), “Christian Astrology in Augustine’s Confessions and Herbert’s 'Holy Scriptures' (I) and (II)”
Keynote
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
OSU Faculty Club, 181 Oval Dr S, Columbus, OH 43210
Piers Brown (Kenyon College), "The New Astronomy and the Scientific Revolution: Donne's Schemes and Kuhn's Paradigms"
Film and Stargazing
8:00 - 9:30 p.m.
Arne Slettebak Planetarium
5033 Smith Lab, 174 W 18th Ave, Columbus, OH 43210
First, we will watch a full-dome planetarium film: Two Small Pieces of Glass is a 23-minute movie tracing the history of the telescope. The plot follows two teenagers at a star party who learn how Galileo’s 400-year-old spyglass (using two small pieces of glass) evolved into modern, powerful observatories like the Hubble Space Telescope.
Observation: following the film, we will take a look at the night sky.
Saturday, April 11
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Metro Early College High School
420 E 19th Ave.
Columbus, OH 43201
(Free breakfast and lunch for all attendees!)
Welcome/Reception
9:00 - 9:30 a.m.
Panel Session 4, in-person and via Zoom
9:30 - 11:00 a.m. Moderator: Di Wang (OSU Dept. of History; Graduate Research Associate, Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies)
Emanuela Taccola and Filippo Battistoni (University of Pisa, Italy), “Capturing the Sun: A Roman Ivory Sundial as a Miniature Map of Time and Society”
Michael Tucker (The Ohio State University), “Echo Location: Distances to Galactic Supernovae from ASAS-SN Light Echoes and 3D Dust Maps”
Dan Mills (Kennesaw State University), “Astrology and Physiognomy in Ficino and Pico”
Panel Session 5, in-person and via Zoom
9:30 - 11:00 a.m. - Moderator: Henry Misa (OSU Dept. of History)
David Swinney, "A Practical Introduction to Chaucer's Astronomy"
Richard Swinney, "Medieval Medical Astrology"
Panel Session 6, in-person and via Zoom
1:00 - 2:30 p.m. - Moderator: Merve Savaş (OSU Dept. of History)
Samuel Stevens (The Ohio State University), “Astrology as a Tool of Statecraft: Astrological Knowledge during the Reign of Sultan Murad III”
Jessica Mundy (Texas Christian University), “‘A Sparkle of That Light’: Hester Pulter and the Stardust Myth”
Rebecca Roberts, “Hester Pulter: Celestial Grief”
Panel Discussion
3:00 - 4:00 p.m. - Moderator: Chris Highley (OSU Dept. of English; Director, Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies)
Michelle Wibbelsman (The Ohio State University) and Sarah Hinkelman (The Ohio History Connection)
Demonstrations / Performances
Falconry! Theatre performances! Medieval combat! Complete schedule coming soon.
9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Showcase Tabling for Exhibitions, Performances, Presentations, and Makerspace
10:30 - 11 a.m. Alchemy
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Astrolabe Workshop 1
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Ohio School of Falconry
2:00 - 2:30 p.m. Alchemy
3:00 - 4:00 p.m. Astrolabe Workshop 2
Keynote
4:00 - 5:00 p.m. - Introduction by Ellen Arnold (The Ohio State University)
Michael Ryan (University of New Mexico), "On Stargazers and Charlatans"
Reception
Hampton Lodging Info
Guests may call 614-559-2000 and request a room using group code 91G or OSU Popular Culture and the Deep Past block.
Or
Go to their website (works the same as the group code).
Dates: April 9-12, 2026. At the top of the reservation page, there is an "edit stay" button if guests need to make any modifications.
Individuals have 48 hours prior to arrival to cancel without penalty.
Cutoff date is Thursday, March 19, 2026. Any unused rooms will go back to the general public at this time.
Metro Parking & Driving Directions
Metro Early College High School is located close to campus at 420 E 19th Ave. A CABS bus stop is nearby: take the East Residential Cabs bus, the nearest stop is the 18th Ave. stop on N. 4th St. COTA bus routes can be found on their trip planner page. The school has ample parking in lots to the east and north of the school.
The Humanities Institute and its related centers host a wide range of events, from intense discussions of works in progress to cutting-edge presentations from world-known scholars, artists, activists and everything in between.
We value in-person engagement at our events as we strive to amplify the energy in the room. To submit an accommodation request, please send your request to Nick Spitulski, spitulski.1@osu.edu