12870 - Papyrology (1)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will have acquired the tools for reading, annotating, dating and interpreting papyrus texts of the graeco-roman period. They will be able to: - explain original documents and describe and discuss the main issues concerning public institutions, society, private and public relations in Egypt during the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods, as well as implications of the periodization question. - contextualize documents by relating them to the main problems and themes of Papyrology as an academic subject, and employ some of the main methodological tools to interpret literary and documentary papyri dating to the Ptolemaic, Roman and Byzantine periods; - apply with accuracy retrieval methods and tools (including digital repositories) for locating parallel texts and secondary bibliography; - employ the tools needed for cataloguing, preserving and communicating to the public the historical relevance of the papyrus heritage.

Course contents

The course offers an introduction to the discipline of papyrology and its methodologies, including its definition, historiography, and the history of excavations. It will also cover descriptions of the most significant archaeological sites in Egypt and beyond.

A special focus will be placed on writing materials, their relation to text typologies, and bibliological aspects such as writing formats, layout (mise en page), inks, and writing styles. This section will conclude with an introduction to the “Leiden System” of editorial conventions used in papyrological editions.

The second part of the course will focus on the reading and interpretation of papyri relevant to the administrative, social, economic, and cultural history of Greco-Roman Egypt. Special attention will be given to the criteria of describing, dating and understanding the texts. During this phase, students will be introduced to the main bibliographical and digital tools in papyrological research.

Readings/Bibliography

Individual study:

1. N. Reggiani, Papirologia. La cultura scrittoria dell’Egitto greco-romano [Papyrotheke. Studi e Testi di Papirologia e Cultura Scrittoria Antica, vol. 5], Parma, Athenaeum Edizioni Universitarie — Chapters I–V and three chapters chosen from VI–XV.

2. A. K. Bowman, Egypt after the Pharaohs, Oxford, OUP, 1986 (at least 2 chapters from chapters 2–7)

3. Students will be expected to answer questions on the original texts presented in the lectures. These texts, along with translation and commentary (in Italian, German, French, or English, depending on the original edition), will be made available on VIRTUALE. All texts will be translated and discussed in the lectures.

Students unable to attend classes must prepare the full content of items 1 and 2 (the entirety of Bowman’s book) and a selection of texts agreed upon with the professor.

Teaching methods

The course consists primarily of lectures and practical exercises, with particular emphasis on working with texts using modern digital tools.

Assessment methods

An oral examination will evaluate students’ ability to analyze and interpret original sources for historical reconstruction—political, administrative, economic, social, cultural, and literary history) based on the texts discussed in class.

There are seven examination sessions scheduled throughout the academic year, held in February, March, April, May, July, September, and November.

Intermediate tests may be offered to assess learning progress and may contribute to the final grade.

Evaluation Criteria:

Excellence – Awarded to students who:

• Demonstrate the ability to independently analyze documents and relate them to major issues in the discipline and historical context.
• Present results with precision, using appropriate disciplinary language, showing deep understanding of the historical context and autonomy in the interpretation of sources.
• Use research tools effectively, including on unfamiliar materials not discussed in class.

Good / Satisfactory – Awarded to student who will show:

• Show the ability to analyze documents discussed in class and demonstrate understanding of key themes in the discipline.
• Express themselves clearly and demonstrate awareness of appropriate methodologies.
• Use research tools independently in familiar contexts.

Sufficient / Pass - Minimum requirements include:

• Describing major themes related to institutions, society, and relationships in Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine Egypt.
• Interpreting texts using the basic methodology presented in class.
• Applying fundamental tools for contextual reconstruction.
• Express themselves with correct language.
• Communicating with generally correct language and basic tool usage.

Failure will result from serious deficiencies in knowledge of the literature or inability to analyze the texts.

Teaching tools

Literature in printed and digital form, PowerPoint presentations, and images of papyri (made available in VIRTUALE), as well as specialized databases.

Students with learning disorders or disabilities are encouraged to contact the relevant university office responsible as soon as possible:

https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students .

Requests for accommodations must be submitted at least 15 days before the exam date. The professor will evaluate the proposed accommodations considering the course objectives.

Office hours

See the website of Fabian Lothar Walter Reiter