Prospectus

nl en

Documentary Texts from Deir el-Medina and their social and cultural setting

Course
2024-2025

Admission requirements

Accessible for students admitted to (Research) MA Classics and Ancient Civilizations, track Egyptology, and proficient in Late Egyptian and hieratic.

Description

Intensive study of non-literary text sources and archaeological remains from the Deir el-Medina site (from circa 1550 to 1070 BC, the settlement of the workmen that constructed the royal tombs), together with discipline-relevant literature relating to these textual and archaeological sources. The treatment of a theme (social, economic, juridic or administrative) in the literature and the relevant hieratic text sources on papyri and ostraca will be subjected to critical evaluation. The electronic Deir el-Medina Database provides support in this. Each student will concentrate on a partial aspect of the central subject, and provides an oral and written report of literature and source research.

Course objectives

  • Learn how to use and evaluate primary source material and scholarly publications related to Deir el-Medina, mainly to its Ramesside documentary sources.

  • Being able to identify primary source material, and extract data, relevant to one’s research.

  • Effective use of The Deir el-Medina Database and other relevant (online) resources.

  • Being able to conduct a small-scale specialist research project.

Timetable

The timetables are available through My Timetable.

Mode of instruction

  • Common sessions: discussion of relevant literature and primary sources

  • Individual research of these

  • Oral presentation and discussion of individual research

  • Written paper (appr. 6,000 words excluding figures, tables, transcriptions etc.)

Assessment method

  • oral presentation 20%

  • written paper 80%

Weighing

The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average.

Resit

Should the final result be unsatisfactory, the paper is to be revised after consulation with the teacher. There is no resit for the oral presentation.

Exam review

Students will be invited to discuss the paper and oral presentation individually with the teacher, as soon as the results have been published.

Reading list

To be announced during the seminar.

Registration

Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.

Contact

  • For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.

  • For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Arsenaal.

Remarks

This course will only be taught with a sufficient number of participants.