Admission requirements
A basic knowledge of the grammar of Sahidic Coptic and its vocabulary, for example after completion of the BA course Coptic 1.
Description
Coptic documentary (non-literary) texts, such as letters and official deeds, are important sources for the history of late-antique and early-Islamic Egypt. Particularly when they are linked to a specific urban or monastic site, they offer glimpses of social life at a local or regional level. Although many of these sources are written on papyrus, similar texts are also written on ostraca (pottery fragments, limestone flakes) or other media.
During this course, the student will read and study original documentary texts from photographs and learn to edit such sources according to the standards current in Coptic papyrology. As far as possible, these will be unpublished texts or texts in need of a new edition.
Course objectives
Knowledge and insights:
Good working knowledge of non-literary Coptic
Knowledge of the structure and contents of papyrus editions of Coptic documentary papyri
Knowledge of the printed and digital papyrological resources to be used for editing Coptic documentary papyri
Knowledge of the historical and cultural context of Coptic documentary texts
Skills:
The ability to independently decipher Coptic papyrus documents, with particular attention to the structure of the documents
The ability to independently detect and solve problems of reading, formulation, translation, interpretation and context
Presentation of a text including its problems in reading and interpretation
The ability to participate in the discussion of and provide constructive feedback to other editions and to evaluate the value of such feedback on one’s own work and incorporate it
The ability to write a complete papyrus edition following the latest papyrological guidelines and conventions, including material description, Coptic transcription, critical apparatus, translation and commentary.
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Seminar, once in two weeks.
Assessment method
Presentation(s) in class (40%)
Written paper(s) in the form of a papyrus edition (60%)
The requirements for MA and ResMA students are differentiated: ResMA students are expected to produce a final edition of (close to) publishable quality; MA students are expected to produce a final edition with all required elements in place based on existing literature, but that may still be in need of more thorough independent research.
Resit
Should the overall mark be unsatisfactory, the written paper is to be revised after consultation with the instructor.
Exam review
Students will be invited to discuss their papers individually with the instructor, as soon as the results have been published.
Reading list
To be announced in class.
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.
Registration À la carte education, Contract teaching and Exchange
Information for those interested in taking this course in context of À la carte education (without taking examinations), eg. about costs, registration and conditions.
Information for those interested in taking this course in context of Contract teaching (with taking examinations), eg. about costs, registration and conditions.
For the registration of exchange students contact Humanities International Office.
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.