Course

OIKOS Crash Course in Greek Palaeography 2026

Date: Tuesday 26 May 2026 - Wednesday 27 May 2026
Location: 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.