Modules
Greek Papyrology: An Introduction (CLAM260)
| Staff | Dr Chiara Meccariello - |
|---|---|
| Credit Value | 15 |
| ECTS Value | 7.5 |
| NQF Level | 7 |
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Co-requisites | None |
| Duration of Module | Term 2: 11 weeks; |
Module aims
This module aims to:
- Introduce you to the field of papyrology, its methodologies and tools, potential and limitations, and ethical issues.
- Develop your skills for deciphering and contextualising papyri, and for using them in broader literary and historical studies.
- Explore the ways in which papyri allow us to understand facets of ancient culture and society that are difficult to glean through other types of sources.
- Develop your understanding of multiculturalism and diversity in the ancient world by analysing and contextualising the written products of individuals of different gender, ethnicity and social status living in Graeco-Egyptian towns.
ILO: Module-specific skills
- 1. Demonstrate knowledge of different types of texts on papyrus and their significance
- 2. Demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the provenance of papyri, the historical trajectory of the discipline and the related ethical implications
- 3. Analyse papyri as both artefacts and carriers of texts, and identify aspects of papyri that allow us to understand their contexts of production and use
- 4. Demonstrate understanding of the potential and limitations of reconstructing fragmentary texts
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
- 5. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the variety of sources we have for reconstructing antiquity and of the existence of specialist skills and methodologies for each type of source
- 6. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the importance of a holistic approach to antiquity in order to gain a more diverse view of ancient societies
ILO: Personal and key skills
- 7. Perform both detail-oriented and broader in-context analysis
- 8. Conduct independent research, organising findings in a coherent argument and presenting results clearly and effectively
- 9. Produce both individual and collaborative work within a specific timeframe
- 10. Demonstrate understanding of how uncertain and/or incomplete information can and cannot be used to produce knowledge
Syllabus plan
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that it will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Definition and scope of Papyrology
- History and ethics of the discipline
- Deciphering and transcribing papyri: methodologies, tools, new technologies
- Papyri in context: reading and writing in the ancient world
- Literary and sub-literary papyri: new texts, non-canonical texts, the contribution of papyri to textual criticism
- Documentary papyri as a window on ancient societies
Introductory lectures will be followed by practical work on individual papyri, with student-led oral presentations and the collaborative creation of a blog presenting a selection of papyri for school students and the general public.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | 135 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activities | 15 | Intensive seminar and reading group activity |
| Guided Independent Study | 135 | Students working independently and in groups preparing for seminars and essays |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral presentation of a papyrus | 10-minute presentation followed by discussion | 1-10 | Oral feedback in class from lecturer and peers |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blog post presenting a source or a set of sources | 20 | 500-700 words | 1-10 | Mark, written and oral comments |
| Essay | 80 | 4000 words | 1-10 | Mark, written and oral comments |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blog post presenting a source or a set of sources (500-700 words) | Blog post presenting a source or a set of sources (500-700 words) | 1-10 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Essay (4000 words) | Essay (4000 words) | 1-10 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral will occur if an overall mark of less than 50% is achieved. In this case, a supplementary mini essay will be assigned where appropriate. The mark for this will be taken into consideration of the final overall grade.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- R. S. Bagnall (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Papyrology, Oxford/New York 2009.
- R. S. Bagnall, Reading Papyri, Writing Ancient History(second edition), London 2019.
- J. Rowlandson, Women and society in Greek and Roman Egypt: A Sourcebook, Cambridge 1998.
- E. G. Turner, Greek Manuscripts of the Ancient World (second edition revised and enlarged by P. J. Parsons), London 1987.
- K. Vandorpe, A Companion to Greco-Roman and Late Antique Egypt, Hoboken 2019.
Module has an active ELE page?
Yes
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Available as distance learning?
No
Origin date
11/05/2022
Last revision date
27/04/2023
Key words search
Greece, Rome, Egypt, Papyrology