Observing the Scribe at Work (Hardcover)

R. Yuen-Collingridge

ISBN 10: 904294286X / ISBN 13: 9789042942868

Published by Peeters Publishers, Leuven, 2021

About this Item

Hardcover. Scribes are paradoxically both central and invisible in most societiesbefore the typographic revolution of the 15th century, witnessed byevery manuscript, but often elusive as historical figures. The act ofwriting is a quotidian and vernacular practice as well as a literaryone, and must be observed not only in the outputs of literary copyistsor reports of their activities, but in the documents of everyday life.This volume collects contributions on scribal practice as it features ondiverse media (including papyri, tablets, and inscriptions) in a rangeof ancient societies, from the Ancient Near East and Dynastic Egyptthrough the Graeco-Roman world to Byzantium. These discussions of therole and place of scribes and scribal activity in pre-typographiccultures both contribute to a better understanding of one of the keydrivers of these cultures, and illuminate the transmission of knowledgeand traditions within and between them. Scribes are paradoxically both central and invisible in most societies before the typographic revolution of the 15th century, witnessed by every manuscript, but often elusive as historical figures. The act of writing is a quotidian and vernacular practice as well as a literary one, and must be observed not only in the outputs of lite Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9789042942868

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Observing the Scribe at Work (Hardcover)
• Publisher: Peeters Publishers, Leuven
• Publication Date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 904294286X
• ISBN 13: 9789042942868
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Scribes are paradoxically both central and invisible in most societies before the typographic revolution of the 15th century, witnessed by every manuscript, but often elusive as historical figures. The act of writing is a quotidian and vernacular practice as well as a literary one, and must be observed not only in the outputs of literary copyists or reports of their activities, but in the documents of everyday life. This volume collects contributions on scribal practice as it features on diverse media (including papyri, tablets, and inscriptions) in a range of ancient societies, from the Ancient Near East and Dynastic Egypt through the Graeco-Roman world to Byzantium. These discussions of the role and place of scribes and scribal activity in pre-typographic cultures both contribute to a better understanding of one of the key drivers of these cultures, and illuminate the transmission of knowledge and traditions within and between them.