Hermitage Readings Dedicated to the Memory of Academician B.B. Piotrovsky (1908-1990)

On13 February 2004 traditional scholarly readings were held in the Hermitage Theater dedicated to the memory of academician Boris Borisovich Piotrovsky (1908-1990).

Mikhail B. Piotrovsky, Director of the State Hermitage, opened the morning session with introductory remarks dealing with the museum's plans for development in the coming 10 years, on initial results of the reform in prices for entrance tickets and results from the first day of free admittance to the Hermitage, which took place on 4 February. He also spoke about the opening of the Hermitage exhibition center in Amsterdam with a show entitled 'Greek Gold' and the completion of reconstruction work on the Twenty Column Hall of the New Hermitage.

The presentations made by research staff of the Hermitage dealt with historical questions (Ancient East, Byzantium, Mongolia) as well as with specialized issues relevant to the museum such as stabilizing the microclimate in Hermitage premises. In her report 'Why did Etana rise to heaven?' based on the text of the 'Imperial List' dating from the start of the 2nd millennium B.C., Veronika K. Afanasieva gave her thoughts on the ideological aspects of 'flights on a powerful eagle' of Sumerian ruler Etana. Mariam M. Dandamaevaya's speech was devoted to the Asiatic 'ancestors' of the pictorial image of a double-headed eagle. Aleksandr M. Butyagin delivered preliminary information about a cache of electrum coins dating from the 5th century B.C. which was found by staff members of the State Hermitage's archeological expedition to a site near Kerch in August 2003.

In accordance with tradition, the staff of the Oriental Department presented the results of their investigations and identified the scholarly challenges which still await resolution. Aleksei G. Furasiev spoke about the trans-Caucasian campaigns of the Huns at the end of the 5th and start of the 4th centuries B.C. Vera N. Zalesskaya's report was dedicated to several liturgical functions of spoons in the time of early Byzantium. Mark G. Kramarovsky shed light on several questions in the history of the Juchids: "The Early Juchids. A Chronology and Problems of Cultural Genesis'. Kira F. Samosiuk talked about the dating of a painting from Hara-Hoto. At the conclusion of the conference participants heard Mikhail B. Piotrovsky's paper entitled 'Stalin Reads Piotrovsky.'

Introductory remarks being delivered by Director of the State Hermitage Mikhail B. Piotrovsky

A report by Yu.Yu. Piotrovsky

M.M. Dandamaeva reporting on the 'ancestors' of the double-headed eagle