This summer school, organized by the Austrian National Library, will provide an introduction to Pahlavi papyrology within its larger context in the fields of Iranian and Sasanian Studies, Ancient History and Papyrology in general.

Classes will be taught on the decipherment of literary as well as documentary hands, on the Sitz im Leben of both kinds of manuscripts, and their relationship to other forms of textual and archaeological evidence. Each student will be given an unpublished manuscript from different collections to work on as a practice exercise.

The intention is to offer a mixture of taught classes and workshops in which students can learn to appreciate the manifold information which the different kinds of manuscripts provide, as well as to getting acquainted with a wide range of questions raised by the papyrological material. The programme will offer insights into the late antique and early Muslim cultures of Egypt and elsewhere.

The programme will also include visits to the Papyrus Museum of the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, and to the Numismatic holdings of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Students with an interest in Pahlavi papyrology are invited to participate, whether they already have experience in the subject or not.

The main teachers of the course will be: Michael Alram (Wien), Carlo Cereti (Rom), Philippe Gignoux (Paris) und Dieter Weber (Berlin).

The course will begin on Sunday afternoon, 20th September, and will end on Friday evening, 25th September 2009.

A fee of € 250 includes accommodation in a university Hall of Residence.

The number of places is restricted to 15. Classes will be taught in English. A solid knowledge of the Pahlavi language will be required.

Applications should contain

1. Curriculum Vitae; and
2. two references from teachers, who should also comment on the applicant’s Pahlavi language skills.

The deadline for the submission of final applications will be the end of March 2009. Successful applicants will be informed by mid April 2009.

Please send applications to:

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Cornelia Römer
Direktorin der Papyrussammlung und des Papyrusmuseums
Österreichische Nationalbibliothek
Josefsplatz 1
A–1015 Wien
Austria

tel.: + 43 1 53 410 323

fax: + 43 1 53 410 395

e-mail: cornelia.roemer@onb.ac.at