Introduction to Papyrology 2900-HAMC-EL-K2-IPAP
This course offers an introduction to the study of ancient papyri with special attention to Greek documents from Egypt from Hellenistic to early Islamic period (roughly the fourth century BCE to the eighth century CE). Students will learn what kinds of papyrological texts survive from antiquity and how their study can contribute to our understanding of Greco-Roman and Egyptian history, society and culture. Participants will also be introduced to the skills necessary for editing a papyrus and will have the opportunity to examine unpublished texts.
Type of course
Prerequisites (description)
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Students will develop an understanding of the culture of Greco-Roman Egypt through close engagement with the written sources of its material culture. They will learn about the methodologies and tools of papyrology, including the main papyrological databases (papyri.info, Trismegistos.org, etc.), how to navigate secondary literature in the field, how to read, use, and criticize, a papyrological text edition, and how to contextualize papyri. Students will also improve their ancient Greek language skills and gain basic palaeographic skills through close readings of documents of ancient everyday life.
Assessment criteria
Students will be asked to discuss and comment on assigned readings in class, prepare short written assignments, and present basic research on specific topics in the field of papyrology (such as a family archive).
No more than 3 absences in the semester are allowed. Absences 2 and 3 may result in additional assignments.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: