This page contains links to a variety of educational resources for beginning students and scholars alike to learn about papyrology. It is hoped that these resources will be used by educators to introduce their students to the world of the papyri, and also that anyone with an interest in this subject will find in these resources interesting and informative introductory material. More about these resources...
These resources provide the next best thing to studying actual ancient documents, which is unfortunately not possible for the majority of students. While students of Latin or Greek will find opportunities here to read ancient texts via digital images, knowledge of these languages is not a prerequisite to using these resources. Most of these pages can be enjoyed by students with minimal familiarity with ancient civilizations.
Introductory Material
What is Papyrology?
And what does a papyrologist do? If you've never even heard the word "papyrology" before, this is the place to find out what it means and even how to pronounce it.
Ancient Writing Materials
Wood tablets, wax tablets, parchment, papyrus, potsherds and even paper were used as writing materials in ancient times. Here you can learn about the variety of ancient writing materials that can be found in the Michigan collection.
See Also
- Glossary of Papyrological Terms
- Useful Books
- Conservation of Papyri
- Greek Numbers, Dates, and Currency
- How Papyrus Was Made
- Educational Links
- Ancient Book Forms: the Codex and the Roll
- Where Do The Papyri Come From?
- The American Society of Papyrologists' Resolution Condemning the Illicit Trade in Papyri
Select Exhibits
Writing in Graeco-Roman Egypt
From birth certificates to magic spells, many things were written down in the ancient world. This informative exhibit features many photographs of objects and texts from the University of Michigan's holdings, used to illustrate the process and various uses of writing in ancient Egypt.
Papyrus Making 101
The art of papyrus making has been dead for a thousand years. Now, based on ancient methods, a local paper maker rediscovers the process of making a paper-like material from the stem of the papyrus plant. Follow along in this photo exhibit!
Education in Ancient Egypt
Ancient texts bring the educational system of Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt to life! See writing exercises, math projects, astronomical studies, copies of mythological poems, and more. You can also find information on teachers, schools, and apprencticeships.
Interactive Web Projects
Reading the Papyri
For students of all levels of Latin or Greek. This project gives you the chance to read a text from the Michigan collection. Never read an ancient papyrus before? No problem. Reading the Papyri guides you through every aspect of deciphering and translating the text.
Papyrus Puzzles
Fun for all students. Many papyri are discovered in a very fragmentary state. Working with these fragments can be a lot like solving a giant jigsaw puzzle.
