Greek Palaeography Course at Gennadius Library, Athens, Greece

GREEK PALAEOGRAPHY COURSE Texts, Manuscripts, Editions: Greek Palaeography, the Transmission of Texts, and Textual Criticism_2027 spring-term (January through April) hybrid, non-credit seminar

Deadline: October 31, 2026

Hosted by the Gennadius Library with the generous support of Dumbarton Oaks.

This course offers an introduction to Greek manuscript culture from the fourth through the sixteenth centuries CE. Students gain training in the study of Greek book scripts from Late Antiquity to the Renaissance, the transmission history of classical, post-classical, early Christian, patristic, and Byzantine literature, and the theories and techniques of textual criticism. Unlike the Gennadius Medieval Greek Summer Session, which includes a rudimentary introduction to Greek palaeography, this seminar provides comprehensive, specialized instruction in reading and dating diverse scripts, analyzing textual transmission, and preparing critical editions of ancient, medieval, and early modern Greek texts.

Format: The course will be taught by Professor Stratis Papaioannou (University of Oxford). It will be conducted in eight 2-hour online sessions scheduled from January 19, 2027, through March 16, 2027 (Tuesdays, 7:30–9:30 pm Athens time / 12:30–2:30 pm US Eastern Time / 6:30–8:30 pm Central European Time), followed by five days of in situ instruction in Greece from April 5 to April 10, 2027 (with arrival on Sunday, April 4 and departure on Saturday, April 11).

The in-person week will be conducted mainly at the Gennadius Library at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens and, during an overnight trip, at the Meteora Monasteries (Thessaly), where students will have the opportunity to examine many original Greek manuscripts hands-on. Alongside its spectacular collections in subjects related to Greek history from antiquity to the present day, the Gennadius houses one of the best collections of early printed Greek books as well as a notable collection of Byzantine and post-Byzantine manuscripts for students to consult. The library of the Great Meteoron Monastery, with more than 700 holdings, contains several rare items, including the second-earliest dated manuscript in minuscule.

Eligibility: Graduate students and recent Ph.D. holders (Ph.D. earned within the last five years) specializing on any relevant subject (Classics, History, Art History, Archaeology, Religious Studies, Biblical Studies, Renaissance Studies, Comparative Literature, etc.). Open to all nationalities. There is no need to have taken the Gennadius Medieval Greek Summer Session to apply for this course. A minimum of two years of college-level or graduate-level Classical Greek, or the equivalent, is required. A maximum of 10 program participants will be accepted.

Costs and Scholarships: There is no tuition fee for the program, as all admitted participants will be provided scholarships with the generous support of Dumbarton Oaks. Admitted participants with scholarships will be provided funds that shall cover travel expenses (to and from Athens) and accommodations during their week in Greece. Lunches will be provided for all participants (free of charge) in Loring Hall. Scholarships shall also cover travel expenses related to the trip to Meteora (bus, overnight hotel stay, and lunch).

More information and the online application form are available on the website [1] at https://www.ascsa.edu.gr/programs/greek-palaeography.

Sponsor Acknowledgment: This program is generously funded by Dumbarton Oaks, whose comprehensive support makes the seminar possible. Grateful
acknowledgment is also extended to The Diocesan Academy of Theological and Historical Studies of the Holy Meteora for hosting and providing hospitality during the overnight trip to Meteora.

The American School of Classical Studies at Athens does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national or ethnic origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation when considering admission to any form of membership or application for employment.
 
American School of Classical Studies at Athens
321 Wall Street
Princeton, NJ 08540-1515
Email: programs@ascsa.org
Website: https://www.ascsa.edu.gr

Connect with the ASCSA: facebook.com/ASCSAthens/  •  twitter.com/ASCSAthens  • instagram.com/ascsathens/ [2]

Links:
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[1] https://www.ascsa.edu.gr/programs/greek-palaeography
[2] http://instagram.com/ascsathens/