Written Culture of Christian Egypt: Coptic Manuscripts from the University of Michigan Collection, University of Michigan Library, November 12, 2018–February 17, 2019

This exhibit features works of Coptic literature from the University of Michigan Library Special Collections Research Center. Preserved by the dry climate of the Egyptian desert (like so many other ancient artifacts), these manuscripts document the transmission of the literary heritage of Egyptian Christians, from its beginnings in the 4th century through the 13th centuries CE, when Coptic was superseded by Arabic. The exhibit explores the main Coptic dialects; bilingualism in Egypt; books read by the Egyptian monks; and the works of Shenoute the Great, the most important author of Coptic literature.

This exhibit is curated by Dr. Frank Feder and Dr. Alin Suciu from the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities.