Coptic was the language of early Christianity in Egypt and remains an important liturgical language to the present. In this course, students will learn to read Coptic, the latest stage of the ancient Egyptian language, essential for the study of Egyptian Christianity. There is a rich body of indigenous Egyptian literature as well as early Christian texts translated from the Greek and many other kinds of texts, literary and non-literary in Coptic, and this course is the first step toward reading them in the original. We will concentrate on the grammar and vocabulary of the Sahidic dialect of Coptic in this course. The readings from the textbook will be supplemented by handouts and in-class readings, as well as a visit to the Kelsey Museum to see (and read from) actual ancient Coptic texts. Students will work through lessons and exercises in the textbook, with regular homework, supplementary readings, and exercises, and grades will be determined by quizzes and exams. We will read short, self-contained selections from the Sayings of the Desert Fathers as we progress and, by the end of the semester, students will know enough grammar and vocabulary to read longer Coptic texts, which will be the focus of the Winter Term Coptic II course.

Intended Audience:

Upper-level undergraduates and graduate students; students studying ancient Egypt, early Christianity, Middle East Studies, Classical Studies, History, or Linguistics

Class Format:

Two 90-minute meetings weekly