IFAO

Workshop Overview

The Institut français d’archéologie orientale (Ifao) is pleased to announce a two-day joint papyrology workshop organized in collaboration with the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. This event marks the official launch of the new Ifao Papyrology Seminar series, which will be held on a monthly basis beginning in September 2025. The Seminar is coordinated by Khaled Younes, Laura Aguer, and Ahmad Nakshara and is the first of its kind to dedicate sustained scholarly attention to papyrology in the three ancient languages—Greek, Coptic, and Arabic.

Since its foundation in 1880, the Ifao has placed papyrology at the heart of its research agenda. The institute has played a pivotal role in the development of the discipline and in fostering the emergence of related fields, such as the archaeology of Late Antiquity and the study of administrative, legal, and social transformations in post-Pharaonic Egypt. The Ifao's long-standing engagement with documentary and literary papyri has contributed significantly to our understanding of the linguistic, cultural, and religious shifts that shaped Egyptian society from the Greco-Roman period through the early Islamic centuries.

By launching this seminar series, the Ifao reinforces its commitment to interdisciplinary and multilingual papyrological research and provides a platform for advanced training and scholarly exchange among Egyptian and international researchers. The present workshop, “Papyrology in Dialogue,” inaugurates the series by bringing together a group of Egyptian academics and ten advanced students from the University of Ljubljana for two days of lectures, practical sessions, and collaborative study.

The event will be followed by a three-day hands-on workshop focused specifically on Coptic documentary papyrology, offering extended training opportunities for Egyptian and Slovenian participants specializing in this area.

Instructors

• Laura Aguer (Ifao)
• Khaled Younes (University of Sadat City / Ifao)
• Maher Eissa (Fayoum University)
• Ahmad Nakshara (Ain Shams University / Ifao)
• Mohamed el-Maghrabi (Alexandria University)
• Farouk Bouaziz (University of Tunis / Ifao)

Keynote Speaker Jan Ciglenečki (University of Ljubljana)

Structure and Content

Day 1: Sunday, 5 October

Morning Session:

• Lectures introducing the origins and development of papyrology
• Overview of writing materials
• Survey of major papyrus collections worldwide
• Topics such as paleography, typologies of texts, dating methods, and archaeological contexts

Afternoon Session:

• Hands-on group work with original papyri from the Ifao collection
• Emphasis on reading, editing, and commentary under expert guidance

6:00 PM – Keynote Lecture by Dr. Jan Ciglenečki (University of Ljubljana)

Day 2: Monday, 6 October

Morning and Afternoon Sessions:

• Continuation of lectures and case studies
• Practical sessions with papyri, allowing further hands-on experience

Days 3–5:

Tuesday 7 October – Thursday 9 October (only Coptic)

A continuation of the workshop exclusively for participants in the Coptic papyrology stream, following the same two-session structure (morning lecture + afternoon practical session).

Target Audience

The workshop welcomes:

• University faculty and academic researchers
• Master’s and PhD students
• Inspectors, curators, and conservators from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities

Due to limited capacity, Egyptian participants will be selected through a competitive process. Successful applicants must demonstrate:

• Proficiency in English
• Working knowledge of an ancient language (Greek or Coptic)
• A strong background in the history of Egypt

Application Guidelines

Applications (in English) must include:

• A letter of motivation
• A curriculum vitae detailing academic training and professional experience

Deadline: 1 September 2025

Please send your application to the appropriate contact based on your area of interest:

Greek Papyrology: Laura Aguer – laguer@ifao.egnet.net

Coptic Papyrology: Ahmad Nakshara – ahmednakshara@gmail.com

Arabic Papyrology: Khaled Younes – Khaledyounes2100@yahoo.com

Additional Information:

Please note that the Ifao cannot provide accommodation for participants from outside Cairo. Applicants must confirm in their application that they will arrange their own lodging.

However, a limited number of grants are available for participants in the Coptic Papyrology sessions, supported by private donations. Interested applicants may inquire about financial support in their application.