Reading a Scroll from an Ancient Library
This lecture deals with Berlin Papyrus P. 13447, an Aramaic scroll from 5th century BCE Egypt, discovered in early 20th century excavations.
Reading a Scroll from an Ancient Library: A Case from Persian-period Egypt
Christine Mitchell, St Andrew's College
CMRS Colloquium, 19 September 2019
Talk begins at 4:30 pm
Shannon Library, St Thomas More College
This lecture deals with Berlin Papyrus P. 13447, an Aramaic scroll from 5th century BCE Egypt, discovered in the early 20th century excavations at Elephantine. There are two texts on this scroll: a well-known Persian royal inscription on the recto and part of the verso, and a series of memoranda on the remaining verso. Scholarship has only considered the two texts as individual texts, but in this lecture I consider the interrelationship of the two texts and the physical object of the scroll. Ultimately this scroll teaches us something about Persian-period scribal practices, scribal education, and the library of texts held by the Judaean colony.
Christine Mitchell is Professor of Hebrew Scriptures, St. Andrew's College.
This free lecture is part of the Classical, Medieval, and Renaissance Studies Colloquium. All are welcome. For more information contact cmrs.director@usask.ca.