Special issues of Papyrology
| Title | Ειδικά θέματα Παπυρολογίας / Special issues of Papyrology |
| Code | ΠΠΑ633 |
| Faculty | Philosophy |
| School | Philology |
| Cycle / Level | 2nd / Postgraduate |
| Teaching Period | Winter/Spring |
| Common | Yes |
| Status | Active |
| Course ID | 600024037 |
Programme of Study: VYZANTINĪS FILOLOGIAS KAI PAPYROLOGIAS-PALAIOGRAFIAS
Registered students: 4
| Orientation | Attendance Type | Semester | Year | ECTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vyzantinī Filología | Elective Courses | Winter/Spring | - | 15 |
| Papyrología-Palaiografía | Compulsory Course | Winter/Spring | - | 15 |
| Academic Year | 2025 – 2026 |
| Class Period | Winter |
| Faculty Instructors |
|
| Weekly Hours | 3 |
| Total Hours | 39 |
| Class ID | 600252593
|
Course Type 2021
Specialization / Direction
Mode of Delivery
- Face to face
Digital Course Content
- e-Study Guide https://qa.auth.gr/en/class/1/600252593
Erasmus
The course is also offered to exchange programme students.
Language of Instruction
- Greek (Instruction, Examination)
Learning Outcomes
The aim of the course is to provide students with specialized knowledge about the so-called "magical" scrolls of the Roman and Byzantine periods and to familiarize them with the origins and development of magical literature (in the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods), as well as with the relations of the authors of these texts with the Egyptian priesthood (initially) and Christianity (later). The main aspects of the course are the methodology of reading and studying the papyrus fragments, the transcription, categorisation and theoretical study of the scripts that appear mainly during the Roman and Byzantine periods, the editing of the papyri, their possible inclusion in archival collections and their use for the study of the literature, religion and, in general, the culture of Egypt and the Greco-Roman East. Emphasis is also placed on literary and non-literary sources preserved in other writing media (ostraca, tablets, etc.) from the wider eastern Mediterranean region.
Upon successful completion of the course, students are expected to:
Know the methodology of reading and studying "magical" texts preserved primarily on papyrus and secondarily on other writing media.
Identify the epigraphic and biblical scripts and categorize them according to their specific characteristics.
Be familiar with papyrus editing.
Be able to integrate 'magic' scrolls into archival collections.
Evaluate the various literary and religious or social information that can be obtained through the study of papyri.
General Competences
- Apply knowledge in practice
- Retrieve, analyse and synthesise data and information, with the use of necessary technologies
- Work autonomously
- Work in teams
- Work in an international context
- Work in an interdisciplinary team
- Generate new research ideas
- Appreciate diversity and multiculturality
- Advance free, creative and causative thinking
Course Content (Syllabus)
The aim of the course is the study of "magical" texts preserved on scrolls and other writing media from the Roman and Byzantine periods. The course includes:
- Introductory information on the science of papyrology, codicological observations, dating and origin of papyri.
- Introduction to the reading and transcription of papyrus fragments, to editorial (symbols) and to basic rules of editing.
- Use of computers in editing, databases (papyri.info, HGV, CEDOPAL, Trismegistos, Leuven Database of Ancient Books, etc.).
- Types of scripts and palaeographical commentary on papyri.
- Review of the papyrological editions, corrections,
- Use of papyrological dictionaries and other studies.
Magical handbooks belonging to the famous "Magical Library of Thebes" (2nd to 4th century AD) are presented and studied in detail, as well as "activated" texts from later periods (up to the 10th century AD).
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Keywords
papyri, magical handbooks, religion, magic, cross-cultural influences
Educational Material Types
- Notes
- Slide presentations
- Multimedia
- Interactive excersises
- Book
Use of Information and Communication Technologies
Use of ICT
- Use of ICT in Course Teaching
- Use of ICT in Communication with Students
- Use of ICT in Student Assessment
Course Organization
| Activities | Workload | ECTS | Individual | Teamwork | Erasmus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 39 | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Reading Assigment | 150 | ✓ | |||
| Project | 60 | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Written assigments | 171 | ✓ | |||
| Total | 420 |
Student Assessment
Description
Participation in the course 20%.
Short paper presentations 40%.
Final written assignment 40%. It is noted that the students' workload is particularly increased because a large percentage of the secondary literature is in foreign languages.
Student Assessment methods
- Written Assignment (Summative)
- Performance / Staging (Summative)
- Report (Formative)
Bibliography
Course Bibliography (Eudoxus)
• Ast, R./Jördens, A./Sarri, A. (2015), “Papyrus”, in: T. Meier/M.R. Ott/R. Sauer (eds.), Materiale Textkulturen: Konzepte – Materialien – Praktiken, Berlin, 307–321.
• Bagnall, R.S. (ed.) (2009), The Oxford Handbook of Papyrology, Oxford/New York.
• Betz, H.D. (ed.), The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation, Including the Demotic Spells, Chicago 19922.
• Clarysse, W. (2009), “Egyptian Religion and Magic in the Papyri”, in: Bagnall 2009, 561–589.
• Faraone, C.A./Torallas Tovar, S. (eds.), Greek and Egyptian Magical Formularies: Text and Translation, vol. I, Berkeley, CA, 2022.
• Frankfurter, D. (ed.) (2019a), Guide to the Study of Ancient Magic, Leiden/Boston.
• Muñoz Delgado, L. (2001) Léxico de magia y religión en los papiros mágicos griegos. Diccionario Griego-Español. Anejo V. Madrid.
• Preisendanz, K. (ed.), Papyri Graecae Magicae. Die griechischen Zauberpapyri, 2 vols., Leipzig 1928–1931 (revised by A. Henrichs, Stuttgart 1973–1974).
• Daniel, R.W./Maltomini, F., Supplementum Magicum, 2 vols., Papyrologica Coloniensia 16.1–2, Opladen 1990–1992.
Additional bibliography for study
• Ankarloo, B./Clark, S. (eds.) (1999), Witchcraft and Magic in Europe. Vol. II: Ancient Greece and Rome, London.
• Asirvatham, S.R./Pache, C.O./Watrous, J. (eds.) (2001), Between Magic and Religion: Interdisciplinary Studies in Ancient Mediterranean Religion and Society, Lanham, MD.
• Brashear, W.M. (1995), “The Greek Magical Papyri: An Introduction and Survey, Annotated Bibliography (1928–1994)”, in: ANRW ΙΙ 18.5, 3380–3684.
• Meyer, M.W./Mirecki, P. (eds.) (1995), Ancient Magic and Ritual Power, Leiden/Boston.
• Meyer, M.W./Smith, R. (eds.) (1994), Ancient Christian Magic: Coptic Texts of Ritual Power, San Francisco.
• Skinner, S. (2014), Techniques of Graeco-Egyptian Magic, Singapore.
Last Update
10-04-2025
