Religious Studies 735 (Spring 2009, Fall 2006) Papyrology -- PAGE UPDATED FREQUENTLY DURING TERM

Robert A. Kraft

 

 

Quicklinks:

Overview.-- This work-seminar will introduce participants to the study of ancient papyri (and associated materials), both documentary and literary, with a focus on Greek and Coptic materials, especially those housed in the University Library (PPennLibrary) and Museum (PPennMuseum) collections (also some exposure to Latin, Demotic, and Arabic). Hitherto unedited fragments will be available for possible publication, from the collections here at the University as well as elsewhere. There will also be an opportunity for hands-on work with small cartonnage fragments from the PPennKraft collection (conservation, separation, classification and decipherment). Ultimately, papyrology is best learned by doing, and fortunately current technology facilitates such possibilities.

 

Definitional Note -- "papyrology" has come to deal not only with the use of papyri as a medium for text and art, but also similar uses of other materials found in similar (often archaeological) circumstances, especially leather (parchment, vellum), as noted below under "Topics."

 

Topics will include:

Group Project Suggestions:


Some Basic Introductory Works:


Selected Electronic Resources:

Conservation Resources (thanks to Lynn Grant, Museum Conservator)

Paleographical Charts for Greek

From Viktor E. Gardthausen, Griechische Palaeographie (Leipzig: Veit & Comp, 2nd ed 1911-13; 1st ed of 1879 is online)

From Edward Maunde Thompson, An Introduction to Greek and Latin Palaeography (Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1912)

Some relatively larger practice pieces for decipherment and dating --

Miscellaneous Comments on the online Museum Collection Images (05se2006)

Some Comments drawn from old RAK Notes on the Museum Materials

 

The PPenn Latin Texts --there are only a few Latin texts in the Penn Papyri collections (for Latin cursive paelography, see Thompson's charts)

Working with Coptic texts (see the Hubler & Wright list and transcriptions)

Texts with Unidentified Writing

E16257 

E16411A (back is blank)

E16411B (does anything else seem unusual about this piece? back is blank)

E16411C (right/left margins seem peculiar; back is blank)

E16525 vellum, nothing visible on back

E16526 vellum, reused Hebrew manuscript

E16527 vellum, reused Hebrew manuscript

E16540 (several)

E16757

Possible Projects:

Transcribing and describing literary (and paraliterary) papyri:

PPenn Homer Fragments -- paleographical details, textual variations, diacritics, etc.

 

PPenn Other Identified Literary Fragments

PPenn Other Possibly Literary Unidentified Fragments (judging from the handwriting)

PPenn Biblical and Related: Greek

PPenn Biblical and Related: Coptic

PPenn Biblical and Related: Arabic [plus many Quranic fragments]

Article(s): "A Hitherto Unnoticed Document from the 18th year of Ptolemy III Euergetes (PPennMuseum E16542A) "

1. The Dating Formula of our E16542A Ptolemy III Euergetes (247/6-221 bce) papyrus: see Bevan on the Ptolemies and their dating formulas (especially chapter 6, on Ptolemy III, and 4.7, on religious formulae)

2. Transcription and Additional Notes


Working with Lists -- The PPenn collections preserve various items that appear to be lists of one sort or another. Often they contain references to various amounts (using standard symbols and numbers) on the right side. Here is a deciphered sample (=PTurner 47.1) and some obvious examples from our collections:

"A Greek List of Medicines? (PPennMuseum E16238)" [moved to this separate file]

Another List: with Personal and Place Names? (E 16299)

Written with the fibers, parts of two columns; mentions names of towns and people; "Roman Period."

The other side is badly damaged, with some traces of letters in a single column.

     column 2 (--)

01 E . . IKIOTopolis?[

02 AMWNELATOS[

03 OLYMPIADO.[

04 FOIBAMMWN .[  = personal name, widely attested

05 KWMHS OLO.[

06 . . NIANOS .[

07 KWMHS TH. [

08 F . .BAMMW[

09 . . OAD .[

10 . . OIFELO . [

11 . . . . IRIS[

12 KWMHS[

13 PEIROS .[  (or PATROS or TRA...)

14 KWMH. . [

15  . . . . .HS F[

16 . . . . . .]ANO.[

17           ]. .[    

Another List: Names and amounts? (E16760)

Written in three or more hands (at bottom), with check marks to the left

01 ISOX.S XRUSIOU

02 MENAS ....IDOU ^ AR6 OM TO AUTOU ...

03 SELPOU PARAPIWNOS ^A

04 ARIWN DIOSKOROY ^AR96

05 . . ARIWN ^D-

06     WQAS ^A

07      SEL . OUS ^?X

08            ]PIOS ^?

09
10

11

12

13

14

List of Furnishings (E03077 = PHib 978)

01 KERLARIA           ? KELLARION = cupboard

02 DIFROS B             seat/stool (2)

03 LIBANOQHKH    incense-box  

04 OSUPTRON         ? EISOPTRON = mirror

05 TUL[H                   mattress/cushion

06 K[

 

RELS735-401-09A Spring 2009 Classlist [7 for credit]

RELS735-401-06C Fall 2006 Classlist [10 for credit]

//end -- created 07au2006; latest update 03mr2009//