Coptology
Encyclopedia
Coptology is most commonly defined as the science of Copt
ic studies, the study of Coptic language and literature.
, director of the Coptic Museum in Cairo
during 1951-65. The words 'Coptology' and 'Coptologist' were introduced into the English language by Aziz Suryal Atiya
.
in 2002.
Copt
The Copts are the native Egyptian Christians , a major ethnoreligious group in Egypt....
ic studies, the study of Coptic language and literature.
Origin
The European interest in Coptology may have started as early as the 15th century AD. The term was used in 1976 when the First International Congress of Coptology was held in Cairo under the title "Colloquium on the Future of Coptic Studies" (11-17 December). This was followed by the establishment of the "International Association for Coptic Studies". One of the founders of the Colloquium and the Association was Pahor LabibPahor Labib
Pahor Labib wasDirector of the Coptic Museum, Cairo, Egypt, from 1951 to 1965 and one of the world leaders in Egyptology and Coptology....
, director of the Coptic Museum in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
during 1951-65. The words 'Coptology' and 'Coptologist' were introduced into the English language by Aziz Suryal Atiya
Aziz Suryal Atiya
Professor Aziz Suryal Atiya was a prominent Coptologist who was a Coptic historian and scholar and an expert in Islamic and Crusades studies.Professor Atiya was the founder of the Institute of Coptic Studies in Cairo in 1950s, and was also the founder of the Middle East Center, University of...
.
Worldwide institutions
There are now institutions that give more or less regular courses of Coptology in 47 countries around the world, including Australia, Great Britain, Canada, Germany, Israel, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States. A rotating chair of Coptic studies was opened at the American University in CairoAmerican University in Cairo
The American University in Cairo is an independent, non-profit, apolitical, secular institution of higher learning located in Cairo, Egypt...
in 2002.
Divisions
- Art and textilesCoptic artCoptic art is a term used either for the art of Egypt produced in the early Christian era or for the art produced by the Coptic Christians themselves. Coptic art is most well known for its wall-paintings, textiles, illuminated manuscripts, and metalwork, much of which survives in monasteries and...
- LanguageCoptic languageCoptic or Coptic Egyptian is the current stage of the Egyptian language, a northern Afro-Asiatic language spoken in Egypt until at least the 17th century. Egyptian began to be written using the Greek alphabet in the 1st century...
- HistoryCoptic historyCoptic history is part of history of Egypt that begins with the introduction of Christianity in Egypt in the 1st century AD during the Roman period, and covers the history of the Copts to the present day...
- ArchitectureCoptic architectureCoptic architecture is the architecture of the Copts, who form the majority of Christians in Egypt.Coptic churches range from great cathedrals like Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral to the smallest churches in rural villages. Many ancient monasteries like Monastery of Saint Anthony, the oldest...
- LiteratureCoptic literatureCoptic literature is the body of writings in the Coptic language of Egypt, the last stage of the indigenous Egyptian language. It comprises mostly Christian texts dating after the 2nd century AD, but also includes Old Coptic writings that predate the Christian era.There have been only a few...
- MusicCoptic musicCoptic music is the music sung and played in the Coptic Orthodox Church . It consists mainly of chanted hymns in rhythm with instruments such as cymbals and the triangle...
Journals
- Journal of Coptic Studies
- Göttinger MiszellenGöttinger MiszellenGöttinger Miszellen is a scientific journal published by the Seminar für Ägyptologie und Koptologie which contains short scholarly articles on Egyptological, Coptological, and other related subjects....
Other prominent Coptologists
- O. H. E. BurmesterO. H. E. BurmesterOswald Hugh Ewart KHS-Burmester was a British specialist in Arabic Coptology. He is best known as the translator of most of the History of the Patriarchs of Alexandria....
a British specialist in Arabic Coptology. - Walter Ewing CrumWalter Ewing CrumWalter Ewing Crum was a Coptologist. He wrote A Coptic Dictionary which was published in 1939 and is considered to be the definitive dictionary of translations from Coptic to English....
- Otto Friedrich August MeinardusOtto Friedrich August MeinardusOtto Friedrich August Meinardus was a German Coptologist and pastor who wrote numerous books and articles about Coptic Christianity in Egypt.-Early life:Meinardus was born in Hamburg in 1925, where he received his secondary schooling...
- Jozef VergoteJozef VergoteJozef Antoon Leo Maria Vergote was a Flemish Egyptologist and Coptologist. He was born on 16 March 1910 in Gent, Belgium. He received his doctorate degree in classical philology and oriental languages in 1932 from the Catholic University of Leuven...
- Hilde ZaloscerHilde ZaloscerProf. Dr. Hilde Zaloscer was an art historian, Egyptologist, Coptologist, essayist, novelist and a prominent expert of Coptic history and art.-Biography:...
- Rodolphe KasserRodolphe KasserRodolphe Kasser , philologist and archaeologist, is a Coptic scholar. He is a Swiss national, and expert in translation of ancient Coptic language manuscripts.- Biography and works :...
- Stephen EmmelStephen Emmel-Academic career:Stephen Emmel was born in Rochester, NY, 27 June 1952, and earned his B.A. from Syracuse University in 1973 . He began graduate study with James M. Robinson, who took Emmel with him to Cairo, Egypt, in 1974 as a research assistant in the international project to publish the Coptic...