Writing Numbers in Papyri
Contact
Witte Singel 27
2311 BG Leiden Plan your route to Writing Numbers in Papyri
From 4 to 6 November 2026, Leiden University Library hosts Writing Numbers in Papyri, a conference exploring how numbers were written, learned and used in papyri and how intercultural contact influenced their representation.
From 4 to 6 November 2026, Leiden University Library will host the conference Writing Numbers in Papyri: Scribal Training, Representation and Use. This is the seventh edition in the Papyri in a Changing World conference series and brings together researchers working on papyri, writing practices and the development and use of numbers in historical texts.
The conference focuses on how numbers were written, learned and used in papyrus documents. Participants will explore how scribes shaped, practised and corrected numerical notation, and how scribal training and writing traditions influenced these practices. Particular attention will also be given to the impact of intercultural contact on the representation and use of written numbers.
By bringing these perspectives toge…
From 4 to 6 November 2026, Leiden University Library will host the conference Writing Numbers in Papyri: Scribal Training, Representation and Use. This is the seventh edition in the Papyri in a Changing World conference series and brings together researchers working on papyri, writing practices and the development and use of numbers in historical texts.
The conference focuses on how numbers were written, learned and used in papyrus documents. Participants will explore how scribes shaped, practised and corrected numerical notation, and how scribal training and writing traditions influenced these practices. Particular attention will also be given to the impact of intercultural contact on the representation and use of written numbers.
By bringing these perspectives together, the conference offers new insights into the practical and cultural role of numbers in the ancient world. The event will take place entirely on site in Leiden and is open to all interested participants.
The daily entry fee is 10 euros.
When
- Daily starting from november 4th, 2026 until november 6th, 2026