Logo
Webinar Initiative in ISLAMIC MATERIAL CULTURE
Webinar Initiative inISLAMIC MATERIAL CULTURE

Photo: © S.Heidemann

Webinars and Lecture Series

Arabic Papyrus Letters (1st-4th/ 7th to 10th Cent.): Style and Phraseology

Khaled Younes

 

Prof. Dr. Khaled Younes, University of Sadat City
Webinar application necessary, apply before March 30, 2025
Monday, 6:00 - 8:00 PM (Central European Time); time might be changed, if all participants agree.
Starting: 23 April to 25 July 2025; no teaching on 9 June.

Why attending a papyrological webinar?
Letter writing played a pivotal role in communication across vast distances in ancient societies, serving as a bridge for both personal and official correspondence. In the Early Islamic period, particularly in Egypt, documentary letters written in Arabic constitute a substantial part of the surviving papyrus collections, providing invaluable insight into the lives of their authors. These letters, predominantly dating from the 3rd-4th/9th-10th centuries, offer a unique glimpse into the social, cultural, and administrative functions of letters. They reveal not only personal exchanges during joyful and sorrowful events but also shed light on practical matters like methods of delivery and the distances between correspondents. Through these letters, historians and scholars can reconstruct the rhythms of everyday life in Early Islamic societies, understand communication networks, and explore the technicalities of the postal systems and other logistical aspects of letter-sending during that era.

In this webinar, we will explore the various epistolary formulae used in the letters, along with the pragmatics of letter writing—examining how the letters were composed, sent, and read. We will also delve into issues of literacy and privacy in early Islamic Egypt. We will also read and discuss both published and unpublished letters from different papyrus collections.

 

Mode
This is an on-line webclass. Scans of documents will be made accessible in advance.
Communication will be in English.

Lecturer
Prof. Dr. Khaled Younes, University of Sadat City

Time
Monday, 6:00 - 8:00 PM (Central European Time); time might be changed, if all participants agree.
23 April to 25 July 2025; no teaching on 9 June.

Certificate
Certificate of participation will be given if students have attended at least twelve meetings and if they have met the expectations as defined at the beginning of the semester.

The Arabic Papyrology Webclass forms part of the Webinar Initiative in Islamic Material Culture. 

Participants
MA and PhD students in Arabic and in Near Eastern Studies; scholars interested in Arabic documents; persons in charge of Arabic manuscript and document collections, etc.

Fees
250 Euro or an equivalent amount of working time.
No fees for students of Near and Middle Eastern Studies at LMU Munich, Universität Bonn, Universität Hamburg, and New York University.

Technical Issues
Technical problems arising during the semester that prevent students from attending the class are the students’ own responsibility; therefore, missed classes will not be substituted. However, if a technical event prevents all students from participating, the class will be substituted. Further information and registration

Further Information and Registration
Please send an informal message to khaled.younes at fth.usc.edu.eg, with name, academic affiliation, current position and interest.
Register until 30 March 2025. The webclass usually fills up quickly.

Further Readings

Studies:

  • Diem, W., “Arabic Letters in Pre-Modern Times. A survey with Commented Selected Bibliographies,” in: A. Kaplony, E.M. Grob (eds.), Documentary Letters from the Middle East: The Evidence in Greek, Coptic, South Arabian, Pehlevi and Arabic (1st-15th c), Asiatische Studien 62/3. Bern, Berlin, Bruxelles: Peter Lang, 2008, pp. 843-883.
  • Diem, W., “Arabic Letters in Pre-Modern Times. A survey with Commented Selected Bibliographies,” in: A. Kaplony, E.M. Grob (eds.), Documentary Letters from the Middle East: The Evidence in Greek, Coptic, South Arabian, Pehlevi and Arabic (1st-15th c), Asiatische Studien 62/3. Bern, Berlin, Bruxelles: Peter Lang, 2008, pp. 843-883.
  • Grob, E.M., “A Catalogue of Dating Criteria for Undated Arabic Papyri with ‘Cursive’ Features,” in: Anne Regourd, ed., Documents et Histoire. Islam, VIIe–XVIe siècle. Actes des journées d’Études musée du Louvre/EPHE, Mai 2008. (Ecole pratique des hautes études, Sciences historiques et philologiques II, Hautes Etudes orientales – Moyen et Proche-Orient, 5/51), Geneva: Droz, 2013, pp. 123–143.
  • Grob, E.M., “Information Packaging in Arabic Private and Business Letters (8th to 13th c. CE): Templates, Slots and a Cascade of Reduction and Rearrangement,” in: T. Gagos, A. Hyatt et al. (eds.), Proceedings of the Twenty-Fifth International Congress of Papyrology. Ann Arbor 2007, American Studies in Papyrology. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2010, pp. 277-290.
  • Grob, E.M., Documentary Arabic Private and Business Letters on Papyrus. Form and Function, Content and Context, Berlin-New York: De Gruyter, 2010.
  • Khan, G., “Remarks on the Historical Background and Development of Early Arabic Documentary Formulae,” in: A. Kaplony and E.M. Grob (eds.), Documentary Letters from the Middle East: The Evidence in Greek, Coptic, South Arabian, Pehlevi and Arabic (1st-15th c), Asiatische Studien 62/3. Bern, Berlin, Bruxelles: Peter Lang, 2008, pp. 885-906.
  • Younes, K.M., “Review of E.M. Grob, Documentary Arabic private and business letters on papyrus: Form and function, Berlin/New York: De Gruyter, 2010,” Bulletin of the American Society of Papyrologists 49 (2012), pp. 375-378.
  • Younes, K.M., “Textile Trade between the Fayyūm and Fusṭāṭ in the iiird/ixth Century According to the Banū ʿAbd al-Muʾmin Archive,” in: A. Regourd (ed.), Documents et Histoire. Islam, VIIe-XVIe s. Actes des journées d’Études musée du Louvre/EPHE, Mai 2008. (Ecole pratique des hautes études, Sciences historiques et philologiques II, Hautes Etudes Orientales - Moyen et Proche-Orient, 5/51). Geneva: Droz, 2013, pp. 313-334.
  • Younes, K.M., Joy and sorrow in early Muslim Egypt. Arabic papyrus letters: text and content, PhD Dissertation, Leiden University, 2013.

Editions:

  • CPR XVI = Diem, W. (1993). Arabische Briefe aus dem 7.-10. Jahrhundert, Wien: Hollinek.CPR XXXII = Diem, W. (2011). Arabishe Beriefe aus dem 10.-16. Jahrhundert, Berlin-Boston: De Gruyter.
  • CPR XXXVII = Kaplony, A. (2024), Arabische Briefe des 8. bis 10. Jahrhunderts aus der Österreichischen Nationalbibliothek in Wien, Berlin-Boston: De Gruyter.
  • P.Berl.Arab. II = Diem, W. (1997). Arabische Briefe des 7. bis 13. Jahrhunderts aus den Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin. Documenta Arabica Antiqua 4. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz.
  • P.HanafiBusinessLetter = Hanafi, A. (2007). “An Early Arabic Business Letter.” In: P.M. Sijpesteijn, L. Sundelin, S. Torallas Tovar, A. Zomeño (eds.), From al-Andalus to Khurasan: Documents from the Medieval Muslim World. Leiden: Brill, 153-161.
  • P.HanafiPrivateLetters = Hanafi, A. (1998). “Two Private Letters.” In: K. Dévényi, T. Iványi (eds.), Proceedings of the Arabic and Islamic Sections of the 35th International Congress of Asian and North African Studies (ICANAS), the Arabist 19-20, 51-56.
  • P.Heid.Arab. II = Diem, W. (1991). Arabische Briefe auf Papyrus und Papier aus der Heidelberger Papyrus-Sammlung. Heidelberger Akademie der Wissenschaften. Philosophische-Historische Klasse. Kommission für Papyrus-Editionen. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz.
  • P.Horak 85 = Sijpesteijn, P.M. (2004). “Request to Buy Coloured Silk.” In: H. Harrauer, R. Pintaudi (eds.), Gedenkschrift Ulrike Horak. Papyrologica Florentina 34. Firenze: Gohnnelli, 255-272.
  • P.Jahn = Jahn, K. (1937). “Vom fr hislamischen Briefwesen: Studien zur islamischen Epistolographie der ersten drei Jahrhunderte der Hijra auf Grund der arabischen Papyri.” Archív Orientální 9: 153-200.
  • P.Khalili I = Khan, G. (1992). Arabic Papyri: Selected Material from the Khalili Collection. Studies in the Khalili Collection 1. London-Oxford: Azimuth Editions, Oxford University Press.
  • P.Marchands I-III; V/I = Rāġib, Y. (1982-1996). Marchands d’étoffes du Fayyoum au IIIe/IXe siècle d’après leurs archives (actes et lettres). Suppléments aux Annales Islamologiques. Cairo: Institut Français d’Archéologie Orientale.
  • P.Qurra = Abbott, N. (1938). The Ḳurrah Papyri from Aphrodito in the Oriental Institute. Studies in Ancient Oriental Civilisation, vol. 15. Chicago: Chicago University Press.
  • P.RāġibLettres = Rāġib, Y. (1978, 1980). “Lettres arabes.” Annales Islamologiques 14: 15-35; 16: 1-29.
  • P.RāġibPlusAncienneLettre = Rāġib, Y. (1991). “La Plus ancienne Lettre arabe de Marchand.” In: Y. Rāġib (ed.), Documents de l’Islam Médiéval. Nouvelles Perspectives de Recherche. Actes de la Table Ronde (Paris, 3-5 mars 1988). Cairo: Institut Français d’Archéologie Orientale, 1-9.
  • P.RāġibQurra = Rāġib, Y. (1981). “Lettres nouvelles de Qurra b. Šarīk.” Journal of Near Eastern Studies 40: 173-187.
  • P.SijpesteijnTravel = Sijpesteijn, P.M. (2004). “Travel and Trade on the River.” In: P.M. Sijpesteijn, L. Sundelin (eds.), Papyrology and the
  • History of Early Islamic Egypt. Leiden: Brill, 115-152.
  • P.Vind.Arab. I = Diem, W. (1995). Arabische Geschäfsbriefe des 10. bis 14. Jahrhunderts aus der Österreichischen Nationalbibliothek in Wien. Documenta Arabica Antiqua 1. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz.
  • P.Vind.Arab. II = Diem, W. (1996). Arabische Privatbriefe des 9. bis 15. Jahrhunderts aus der Österreichischen Nationalbibliothek in Wien. Documenta Arabica Antiqua 2. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz.
  • P.Vind.Arab. III = Diem, W. (1996). Arabische amtliche Briefe des 10. bis 16. Jahrhunderts aus der Österreichischen Nationalbibliothek in Wien. Documenta Arabica Antiqua 3. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz.
  • Rāġib, Y., “Une lettre familiale rédigée en 102/721,” Annales Islamologiques 45 (2011), pp. 273-284.
  • Sijpesteijn, P.M. (2011). “Army Economics: An Early Papyrus Letter Related to ʿaṭāʾ Payments.” In: R. Margarati, A. Sabra, P.M.
  • Sijpesteijn (eds.), Studies in the Social and Economic History of the Medieval Middle East. Essays in Honour of Avram L. Udovitch. Leiden-Boston: Brill, 245-267.
  • Sijpesteijn, P.M. (2013). Shaping a Muslim State: The World of a Mid-Eighth-Century Egyptian Official. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Sijpesteijn, P.M., “An Early Umayyad Papyrus Invitation for the Ḥajj,” Journal of Near Eastern Studies 73 (2014), pp. 179-190.
    Younes, K.M., “Arabic Letters of Condolence on Papyrus,” in: M. Malczycki, S. Denoix and S. Bouderbala, (eds.), New Frontiers of Arabic
  • Papyrology: Arabic and Multilingual Texts from Early Islam, Leiden

Permanent link to the Arabic Papyrology Webclass: http://www.naher-osten.lmu.de/apw