From Ancient Trash to Historical Treasure: What the Oxyrhynchus Papyri can tell us about the ordinary folk of Ptolemaic, Roman and late-antique Egypt

Join us as we welcome Richard Britton to the monthly MAES zoom lecture on Monday 9th December.

It is fitting that the Oxyrhynchus Papyri were found under big mounds of earth underground, because in this talk we take these texts to ‘ground level’, with an overview of these fascinating texts and their history but also, a look at the ordinary and seemingly mundane amongst them to provide some insightful portraits of the people who produced these pieces.  From mortgage deeds to schoolboy exercises, from sales records to horoscopes, and from private letters to magical spells; you will be left with a sense of familiarity with the hopes, fears, frustrations, joys, and dreams of ordinary people striving to live their lives in late ancient Egypt.

Richard J. Britton is an author and independent scholar. His research is focused on the ancient world of the New Testament and the many other Near Eastern traditions and texts. He is employed as a Probation Officer in his day job and is also an ordained Elder and Lay Preacher in the United Reformed Church.

All welcome. Doors open 7:30pm GMT. The lecture runs from 8 to 9pm. Free to MAES members (who will receive an email link). Guests welcome to join us for £5 via Eventbrite here: