The principal objective of this research area was to reconstruct the perception and representation of spaces in ancient cultures. The research was carried out on the basis of archaeological remains and findings, texts and images. This included the examination of how spaces, spatial relations, movements and directions are perceived and imagined, how they are represented in various media and to what extent spatial perception, experience and representation affect the knowledge of spaces. This in turn is followed by the question how this knowledge decisively influences spatial perception, experience and representation. The research of this area integrated the disciplines of literary studies and linguistics as well as archaeology. The graduate group “Languages” as well as a junior professor were key constituents of the area which was organized in four research groups.