The Carmen de Michelena Popular University has organized a conference in Tres Cantos focusing on the attire of deities from ancient Greece. The talk, to be held at the 21 Marzo Center within the Factoría Cultural, will be delivered by Alberto Bernabé Pajares, professor emeritus of Greek Philology at the Complutense University of Madrid.

Titled “The Red Carpet of Olympus. How Do Greek Gods Dress?”, the session will delve into a less-explored aspect of the classical world: the construction of the image of divine clothing in ancient Greece. The Greeks conceived their gods as anthropomorphic figures with idealized human traits, and their representation included their manner of dress.

The conference will analyze the principles guiding the image of divine attire, drawing from both literary sources, such as the poems of Homer, and artistic representations found in sculptures and ceramics. Key aspects to be examined include garments as luxurious versions of human clothing, offerings made to the gods, the functionality of attire according to the deity, the use of dress for seduction, as an identifying feature, and as a means of disguise.

This approach helps understand how clothing formed part of the symbolic language through which the Greeks interpreted their gods. The event is part of the cultural programming of the Carmen de Michelena Popular University and will take place on Thursday, May 28th, between 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM.