Eitner Lecture with M. D. Usher, "Journey to the West: Buddhists in Ancient Alexandria"

Reception: Stanford Archaeology Center (500-106). Appetizers and drinks provided from 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Talk description: The recent discovery of a Buddha statue in Berenike---the first West of Afghanistan---confirms the presence of Buddhists in Hellenistic Egypt. This talk argues that the Therapeutae, a monastic community of men and women described by Philo of Alexandria in On the Contemplative Life---long thought to be Jewish---were actually Buddhist. Short bio: M. D. Usher is the Lyman-Roberts Professor Classical Languages and Literature at the University of Vermont. He teaches and wri