Course
OIKOS Crash Course in Greek Palaeography 2026
- Date
- Tuesday 26 May 2026 - Wednesday 27 May 2026
- Address
-
University Library
Witte Singel 27
2311 BG Leiden
The ERC project Ancient Corrections (AnCor) organizes a two-day course in Greek palaeography within the Research School OIKOS in collaboration with the Leiden University Centre for Arts in Society, Leiden Papyrological Institute, Leiden University Library and the Greek department of Ghent University. The course is intended for MA, ResMA and doctoral students in the areas of Classics, Ancient History, Ancient Civilizations and Medieval studies with a good command of Greek. It offers a chronological introduction into Greek palaeography from the Hellenistic period until the end of the Middle Ages and is specifically aimed at acquiring practical skills for research involving literary and documentary papyri and/or manuscripts. This course gives the unique opportunity to practice reading on original papyri and manuscripts from the collection of the Leiden Papyrological Institute and the special collections of the Leiden University Library.
Programme
The course is set up as an intensive two-day seminar. Four lectures by specialists in the field give a chronological overview of the development of Greek handwriting, each followed by a practice session reading relevant extracts from papyri and manuscripts in smaller groups under the supervision of young researchers. After each practice session, there is the opportunity to see a selection of original papyri and manuscripts presented by scholars with firsthand experience working with these objects.
Tuesday, 26 May 2026
09:00-9:15 Introduction to the course
09:15-9:45 Introduction to papyrology – Dr. Serena Causo
09:45-11:00 Lecture on papyri of the Ptolemaic and Roman period – Dr. Joanne Stolk
11:00-11:30 Coffee break
11:30-12:30 Reading practice with papyri of the Ptolemaic and Roman period
12:30-13:00 Display of papyri in the Leiden Papyrological Institute
13:00-14:00 Lunch break
14:00-15:15 Lecture on papyri of the Byzantine period – Dr. Yasmine Amory
15:15-15:45 Coffee break
15:45-16:45 Reading practice with papyri of the Byzantine period
16:45-17:15 Display of papyri in the Leiden Papyrological Institute
19:00 Dinner
The practice and display sessions are taught by Dr. Yasmine Amory, Dr. Serena Causo, Dr. Joanne Stolk, Despina Borcea MA, Irene Chioni MA and Elise Hoekstra BA.
Wednesday, 27 May 2026
09:00-9:30 Introduction to codicology – Dr. Grigory Vorobyev
09:30-10:45 Lecture on Byzantine book scripts: From the first codices to the eleventh century – Prof. dr. Floris Bernard
10:45-11:15 Coffee break
11:15-12:15 Reading practice with Byzantine book scripts
12:15-12:45 Display of Byzantine books in the Leiden University Library
12:45-13:30 Lunch break
13:30-14:45 Lecture on Byzantine book scripts: The Comnenian and Palaeologan periods – Prof. dr. Andrea Cuomo
14:45-15:15 Coffee break
15:15-16:15 Reading practice with Byzantine book scripts
16:15-16:45 Display of Byzantine books in the Leiden University Library
The practice and display sessions are taught by Prof. dr. Paolo Scattolin, Dr. Juan Bautista Juan-López, Dr. Divna Manolova, Dr. Francesca Samori, Dr. Grigory Vorobyev, Kyriaki Giannikou MA and Eleonora Lauro MA.
Practical information
The study load is the equivalent of 2 ECTS (2x28 hours). Participants will be asked to read secondary literature in preparation for the seminar (distributed several weeks before the course). Extra material will be handed out during the course in order to continue to improve your reading skills afterwards.
There are no fees for participation in this course. Lunches on both days and dinner on the first day are provided free of charge. Travel costs and accommodation in Leiden are at your own expense.
Registration
Please register by sending an e-mail with a short motivation (max. 250 words, including your background, research interests and why you would like to follow this course) to j.v.stolk@hum.leidenuniv.nl. Priority is given to OIKOS MA and doctoral students and those who did not have the opportunity to follow course(s) on palaeography before. Registration closes by the final deadline of March 1st, 2026. Successful applicants will be notified soon afterwards.