The Excellence Cluster Topoi examines the formation and transformation of space and knowledge in ancient civilizations. Topoi is the joint responsibility of the Freie Universität Berlin and the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Partner institutions are the Berlin Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the German Archeological Institute, the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science and the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation. Furthermore Topoi is interlinked with several university institutes as well as other institutions. For further information see www.topoi.org. Selected titles from the series will be freely accessible in digital form on the Internet at the date of print publication. The series regards itself as a pilot project on how to combine open access with the support of professional publishers in the publication of current research. See press release June 23rd, 2009 .