Under the motto “Democracy thrives. Diversity connects.”, Münster celebrated NRW Day from 28 to 30 August. 
Several GKM members shared insights into their research on the “Science Mile” and “Dialogue & Diversity” stages. Egyptologist Angelika Lohwasser, ancient historian Patrick Sänger, and Old Testament scholar Oliver Dyma presented their research in the open-air lecture hall. Saskia Erhardt and Torben Schreiber reported on their excavations in Artaxata (Armenia), while Ludger Hiepel contributed several times to discussions on interreligious dialogue.
At the GKM tent, visitors could also get a glimpse of the Campus of Theology and Religious Studies, which will also become the GKM’s future home.

In July, a German-Turkish research team surveyed the Ararat ice cap at an altitude of over 5,000 metres for the first time, thereby investigating a previously unexplored glacier. The aim of the expedition is to tap into a unique archive of climate and cultural history, which is increasingly under threat from advancing climate change.
The measurement data collected show that Mount Ararat could provide valuable insights into climate change and the history of early civilisations in the Middle East.

How can space be studied, and which current theoretical debates shape the field? These questions were at the heart of this semester’s “THINKING inside the BOX” workshop. Students from AKOEM and researchers from the GKM came together to discuss their ongoing research projects, bringing archaeological, historical, theological, and philological perspectives into an interdisciplinary dialogue.
A particular highlight was the lecture “What Time Does This Space Have? Reflections on Time and Space at the Panathenaia in Athens” by Stefan Feuser (University of Bonn). In the subsequent masterclass and workshop sessions, participants explored these approaches in greater depth and related them to their own research projects.
The lively discussions demonstrated the value of interdisciplinary exchange and the new perspectives it can generate. Following its successful debut, “THINKING inside the BOX” will continue as a recurring format.

What happens when biblical texts are translated into the realm of visual art? What new perspectives, interpretations, and possibilities for meaning emerge in the process? And how do these visual interpretations shape our understanding of the biblical texts?
This interdisciplinary seminar introduced students to the methodological foundations for engaging with both biblical texts and works of visual art. Selected passages from the Old and New Testaments were explored through exegetical analysis and examined in relation to questions of culture, religion, and their reception in the visual arts.
A particular highlight was the excursion to Cologne, where participants visited the Museum Schnütgen and the Wallraf-Richartz Museum. The diverse collection of objects provided rich starting points for discussion. During the semester break, one of these works will be examined in greater depth as part of the seminar's ongoing work.

For more than 100 years, researchers had assumed that the rulers of the ancient Assyrian Empire in the Near East were listed in full in a royal list. Ancient Near Eastern scholars Dr Alexander Edmonds (University of Münster) and Prof. Dr Eckart Frahm (Yale University) have now been able to prove that there were three further kings who had been almost completely erased from history. The illustration shows the fragment of a cuneiform tablet inscribed with a royal grant from 762 B.C.E., issued in the name of a newly discovered Tiglath-pileser, 
Alexander Edmonds also discusses his discovery in our podcast episode NADAW 30 "How does a state become an empire?".   

On Friday 10 July, from 4 pm to midnight, Pferdgasse will be transformed into a vibrant hub for art, culture and science. The Archaeological Museum, the Bible Museum, the Geomuseum, the LWL Museum of Art and Culture and the Westfälischer Kunstverein will all be opening their doors. Visitors can look forward to a varied programme featuring music, performances and food and drink.
A particular highlight are the “Rundlauf” tours: they set off every half hour from 5.30 pm at the LWL Museum of Art and Culture. Taking part in the Rundlauf costs four euros. You can book via the LWL Museum of Art and Culture’s ticket shop or at the museum ticket office

We cordially invite you to the Evening of Field Projects, where we will present the findings of the Münster field research projects carried out in 2025/2026.

Time: Wednesday, 24 June, 6:15 pm
Venue: F4, Fürstenberghaus, Domplatz 20-22, Münster

Programme

Do you have questions about our Master's programme in Ancient Cultures of the Eastern Mediterranean (AKOEM) or about how to apply?
Join us at one of our information sessions:
18 June, 6:15 pm – online via Zoom
Meeting ID: 647 6428 7142 | Passcode: AKOEM
29 June, 6:15 pm – Room F 041, Fürstenberghaus.

GKM is involved in the development of the international master’s programme “Conservation and Restoration Sciences (CORES)”. On 5 May, the University of Genoa officially presented the programme to the public for the first time during a press conference. The degree programme brings together five partner universities within the Ulysseus European University alliance to strengthen international collaboration in the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage. The application phase for the 2027/2028 academic year is expected to begin in early 2027.

On Monday, 18 May 2026, a discussion took place at the University of Münster’s Archaeological Museum as part of the “Diversity Dialogues in Classical Studies” series, featuring Prof. Dr Sabine Huy and Prof. Dr Patrick Sänger on the topic of “Otherness in Antiquity”. 
They discussed perceptions, attributions and concepts in antiquity. The introduction was given by Prof. Dr Eva Krems, and the event was organised by Prof. Dr Hans Beck.
The student moderators were Ann-Kathrin Wolfsheimer and David Westerkamp (Master AKOEM).

The University of Münster has once again earned top marks in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.
Theology and Religious Studies: 20th worldwide
Classics and Ancient History: ranked in the 51–150 group globally
Nationally, these subjects rank among the top ten. The rankings, published by the British education provider Quacquarelli Symonds, are based on academic and employer reputation surveys and citation counts, covering over 1,900 universities worldwide.
These results underline Münster’s strong international standing—making it an attractive destination for students around the globe.

Prof. Dr. Oren Tal and Prof. Dr. Achim Lichtenberger share a long-standing collaboration: the two archaeologists have known each other for over 20 years and have been working closely together for the past seven. This successful partnership is also reflected in the fact that Achim Lichtenberger, Chair of Classical Archaeology, successfully nominated Oren Tal for the Alexander von Humboldt Research Award.
Oren Tal is a recognized expert on the connections of the Hellenistic period in the southern Levant and the preceding Persian era. In the summer semester of 2026, he will be teaching and conducting research at the University of Münster. Following Professor Miguel Versluys, the GKM is now welcoming another award-winning scholar—a valuable gain for both students and research alike.