The
relationship between ancient Greek writers and Egyptian literary and
cultural traditions of the Greco-Roman period is emerging as an area of
intense debate, stimulated both by two factors. First, there have been
a series of stunning new discoveries, e.g. a demotic Egyptian text
published by Kim Ryholt which is close to part of Herodotus' history of
Egypt, or the demotic Book of Thoth which provides an Egyptian
equivalent to the Greek Hermetica--both of which appeared in 2005; and
secondly a number of new interpretations have been published, e.g. Susan
Stephens Seeing Double (2003) or Jacco Dieleman's Priests,
Tongues and Rites (2005).
In this context, the Classics Department at the University of
Reading will host a conference on September 17-19th of 2007, with the
aim of exploring the transmission and translation of literature between
Egypt and the Graeco-Roman world, covering the period 700BCE-300CE.
Central issues that it is hoped will be addressed include the following:
- TYPES OF BILINGUAL LITERATURE. Conceived
narrowly, "Greco-Egyptian literature" comprises texts that circulated in
both Greek and Egyptian versions, including narratives (such as the
Sesostris-novel), prophecies and magical texts; in a broader sense, it
covers texts of either language which seem to engage with the texts or
discourses of the other. Key questions here include: what specific
texts are we talking about? And how can it be established that a
relationship exists between texts of discourses of different languages
or cultures? And what terms and categories are appropriate to
describing such relationships? And how do they change over time?
- CONTEXTS OF TRANSLATION AND PRODUCTION. When and how should
we understand transmission between the cultures as taking place? Who
carried out the translation? What was the role of bilingual priests
(cf. e.g. P. Derchain in Revue d'Egyptologie 41 (1990) on Greek
echoes in the Papyrus Jumilhac). Can the direction of the translation
be determined in every case? Do texts show traces of linguistic
interference or code-switching? If Egypt's relation to the Greco-Roman
world in the Hellenistic and Roman periods resembles one between colony
and imperial power, can the process can be illuminated by the
contemporary model of postcolonial theory?
- THE CONSEQUENCES OF CONTACT. What consequences for either
tradition did contact with the other bring about? For example, it has
been argued that contact with Greek culture may have led to radical
changes in late Egyptian literature, or even to the development of
entirely new forms and genres, such as the heroic narratives of the
Inaros Cycle (cf. J. Quack, Die demotische und graeko-aegyptische
Literatur [2005] 171-5); conversely, Manetho's Aegyptiaca
has be seen as an innovative fusion between Egyptian forms of chronology
and narrative and Greek historiography (cf. John Dillery, ZPE 127
[1999] 93-116).
Papers are invited which address interactions and engagements
between Greek and Egyptian literature and discourse, including
narrative-texts, religious texts and magic, and the underlying issues of
translation and transmission. Those interested in participating should
send an abstract of 300-500 words to i.c.rutherford@reading.ac.uk<
/a>.
For questions about the department please contact
the secretary at classics@reading.ac.uk. For queries about our
web pages please contact a.c.smith@reading.ac.uk.
Page last updated 28 March 2007
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