Papyrology

The Papyrology course, which is tailored for beginners, has as main educational aim the introduction to the study of literary and documentary texts transmitted on papyrus and parchment (and other writing materials) and the understanding of the importance of these texts within the broader context of the primary sources (both literary and documentary) that are exploited in the study of the ancient world.

Knowledge: the student learns the methods for reading and analysing the texts transmitted on papyrus and other writing materials as well as the methods for extracting from these texts pieces of information that are relevant for the knowledge of historical events, the development of economic and social structures, political institutions and ideologies, everyday life and cultural and literary phenomena concerning the regions of the ancient Mediterranean during the span of time going from the 4th century BC to late antiquity.
Skills: students acquire the palaeographical knowledge that is necessary for deciphering the texts using digital images of the original papyrus fragments, in order to be able to reconstruct, interpret and contextualize them. In other words, they learn not only to use already published editions of texts transmitted on papyrus or other writing materials with a critical approach, but also to prepare themselves an edition working on digital images.