Summer, the Epicurean Festival of Senigallia brings the knowledge of pleasure to the beach

2024-07-13 14:00:26

Two days dedicated to finding happiness with the help of Epicurus’ words, the words of which for thousands of years are still in the prison of the burnt herculaneum. Also this year Epicurean Festival of Senigallia Every year in philosophy to the beach, not only as a fascinating subject of research for scholars, but also as a life on the way to find happiness, eschewing pain. Fourteen interventions with leading speakers on the international academic level, but also stand comedians, artists, photographers and simple enthusiasts, will accompany everyone in the famous Rotonda a Mare, on Tuesday 16 July and Wednesday 17 July.

Tuesday 16th will be dedicated to an “Epicuro Pop”: from 5.30pm to 8pm a series of meetings will be held, all with free entry, dedicated to happiness, friendship, but also to memory. In fact, he will be the first to speak Jürgen Hammerstaedtfrom the University of Cologne, you will remember David Constantprofessor of Classics and well-known American researcher. Federica Dolcemascolo, however, awarded with the Special mention in the Netoip Prize, will take a speech entitled “Friendship and social philosophy: the Epicurean perspective from the 4th to the 1st century. BC”; a theme that will also be taken up by Christos Yapizakis, of the Epicurean Garden of Athens, who will give a talk entitled “Pursuit of happiness, human rights: epicurean theory”. As follows, Massimiliano Capalbo, of the Epicurean Garden of Montauro, will bring Epicurus into the contemporary with the contribution “The Epicurean Garden, an oasis to stop the environmental, social and cultural desert”. Epicurus style Gianluca Esposito will show how it is possible to practice Epicurean philosophy every day with the contribution “Epicurus lived out, Epicurus’ teaching makes us happy today, even without realizing it”. The photographer will cover the first part of the first day Massimo Nesti and illustrator Davide Baldoni that will present their works, showing that Epicureanism is alive and still speaks to us through modern art.

At 9pm it starts again with the poet’s speech Milo De Angelis“Lucretius between wisdom and tempest” with readings by Viviana Nicodemus. A stand-up comedian will end the day with a smile Pippo Ricciardi with the exhibition “Hedonism and good drinking” which will show how laughter and irony are important elements of epicurean happiness.

The second day will be more educational and will take us on a journey among the papyri of Herculaneum, to see the invisible treasure hidden within their folds. The evening will open again at 5.30pm Jürgen Hammerstaedtwhich will present the Netoip prize, dedicated to the best studies on Epicurus, and then leave room for two winners, the second classified Leonardo Galli will take a speech entitled “Science and Wonder in Lucretius: a controversial relationship”, while winning first place Wim Nijs, will speak on the topic “Rare as a phoenix or common as a pig? Characteristics of the Epicurean philosopher in the teachings of Philodemus.

Gianluca Del Mastro, from the University of Campania, will present the theme of the Herculaneum papyri in the talk “Insight: from Epicurean philosophy to the work of the philosopher”; to finish the first part of the evening, at 8pm, will take the floor Claudio Vergara, of the University of Naples Federico II, which will deal with scientific progress and research, in the text “Challenge over time: the development and reading of the Herculaneum papyri before the digital revolution”.

The festival ends with two talks in the last session, from 9pm to 11pm: Marzia D’Angeloof the University of Naples Federico II, which will focus on research into the Herculaneum papyri, with the theme “Looking at restoration: putting back together what fire and time have tried to destroy”, and Federica Nicolardi, of the University of Naples Federico II, who will deal with what is still to be discovered about the Herculaneum papyri with the talk “The invisible revealed: The challenge of Vesuvius and the reading of the unopened papyri”. So it is an immersive experience both in a new generation of life, both as an object of advanced research in universities, and as food for thought for everyday happiness.