Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) in Munich is one of the leading European universities, with a tradition reaching back more than 500 years. In 2012, the university established the Munich Graduate School for Ancient Studies ‘Distant Worlds’ with funding from the German Excellence Initiative. The Graduate School is an interdisciplinary research network bringing together LMU and research institutions in Munich to provide an optimal environment for disciplinary research and the promotion of junior academics in the field of ancient studies.