Coptology
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Coptology could be defined as the science of Coptic studies ; however the word is heavily debated[1].
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[edit] Origin
the European interest in Coptology might have started as early as the 15th Century A.D[2]. The term was used in 1976 when the First International Congress of Coptology was held in Cairon under the title : Colloquium on the Future of Coptic Studies, 11-17 December 1976. This was followed by the establishment of the International Association for Coptic Studies.[3]
It was professor Aziz Suryal Atiya who, after many lively debates with the publishers and their readers, had the words 'Coptology' and 'Coptologist' introduced into the English language." (John H. Watson, Among the Copts)[4]
The word coptology has been used by other experts in the field of Coptic studies[5].
[edit] Controversy
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, Jerusalem, Spain, Switzerland and the United States, but there are none in Egypt. A rotating chair of Coptic studies was opened at the American University in Cairo in 2002.[6]
The president of the International Association for Coptic Studies ,Professor Tito Orlandi, stated that it is important that Coptology as an academic discipline be neither forgotten nor passed over in silence when it is opportune that it be discussed.[4]
[edit] Divisions
[edit] Journals
[edit] Prominent Coptologists
- O. H. E. Burmester a British specialist in Arabic Coptology.
- Walter E. Crum
- Walter Till
- Jozef Vergote
- Aziz Suryal Atiya
