Call for Papers

Anatolia, situated at the crossroads of millennia-old civilizations, has developed a rich body of healing knowledge and a multilayered culture of wellness. The ancient wisdom of this geography was further enriched from the eleventh century onward by the shamanic traditions, botanical knowledge, and healing rituals that the Turks brought from Central Asia, while the bridges of knowledge established between East and West via the Silk Road deepened this synthesis. The knowledge of celebrated Anatolian figures such as the physician Aretaeus of Cappadocia and the pharmacologist Dioscorides of Anazarbus (Cilicia), renowned in the ancient world for their work on disease and healing, converged with the teachings of Ibn Sina of Bukhara, whose emphasis on the profound relationship between nutrition and health reached Anatolia through the Silk Road. These exchanges profoundly shaped both medical practices and cultural life.

Healing practices extending from antiquity to the present have served as carriers not only of medical knowledge but also of belief systems, gender roles, ritual performances, and cultural memory. This deep-rooted wisdom, passed down from generation to generation, has filtered through the memories of successive generations to reach the present day, continuing to offer remedies for incurable ailments across these lands. Documenting the bearers of this knowledge, preserved for centuries through oral tradition, before they disappear, and transmitting it to future generations, constitutes one of the core objectives of the research project we are conducting alongside this symposium.

The contemporary cultural revival of traditional healing practices has brought the subject to the forefront of public and academic attention; however, this heightened interest has also given rise to approaches lacking historical depth, methodologically flawed, and disconnected from epistemological foundations. In this context, it is clear that Anatolia’s healing heritage can only be understood within an interdisciplinary academic framework, through rigorous scholarly inquiry, and from a multilayered methodological perspective.

Scope and Objectives

The symposium aims to explore the epistemological and practical dimensions of healing knowledge in Anatolia at the intersection of diverse disciplines, including Art History, Archaeology, History, Architecture, Literature, Gastronomy, Folklore, and Cultural Studies. The scope of inquiry focuses on key analytical themes such as visual culture, identity, image, and cultural continuity within the context of traditional healing practices. Additionally, one of the symposium’s objectives is to draw attention to the central role played by female healers, including saints, folk midwives, herbalists, and ritual practitioners, in the transmission of cultural heritage and knowledge.

While critically examining the cultural dynamics behind the popularization of traditional healing practices, the symposium aims to investigate the deep historical roots, visual and material culture dimensions, and methodological challenges of this field with scholarly rigor. The underlying premise is that this complex cultural heritage can only be grasped within the highest academic standards and through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Background

As a continuation of the work carried out at our Center, this symposium aims to expand the multidisciplinary framework of our previous workshop, “Traditional Healing in Anatolia: Plants, Talismans, Music, Art, Healers, and Ocaks” (For more information: [https://kam.kapadokya.edu.tr/anadoluda-geleneksel-sifacilik-temali-calistay/]). Independently, the ongoing research project on this subject at our Center offers a Culture-Arts platform that integrates academic discourse with artistic production and fieldwork.

Invitation to Participate

We invite researchers and academics working within the framework outlined above to participate with abstract submissions in the symposium entitled “Healing in Anatolian Culture,” to be organized by the Center for Cappadocian and Cultural Studies at the main campus of Cappadocia University in Mustafapaşa, on September 24-26, 2026.

The symposium languages are Turkish and English, and papers are accepted in both languages. Abstracts must be submitted by 22 May 2026 to sifainanatolia@kapadokya.edu.tr. Abstracts should be limited to 300 words and include a title and keywords. Accepted papers will be announced on 26 June 2026.

Submission and Registration

Authors of accepted papers are required to submit their full texts and complete their registration by 21 August 2026. Participation in the symposium is free of charge. Pre-registration is required.

Publication and Other Details

Papers will be considered for inclusion in a publication process following the symposium. Details will be communicated to participants.
For updates on the symposium program and other details, please visit the website: www.sifainanatolia.kapadokya.edu.tr