Leiden Summer School 2026
Leiden University will host its Summer School in Languages and Linguistics from 6 to 17 July 2026 in Leiden. Registration remains open until 11 May 2026. The program offers intensive courses in linguistics, ancient languages, and textual traditions from across Eurasia and the Near East.
Among this year’s offerings, two main sections are directly connected to Iranian Studies:
Iranian Studies Section
The Iranian Studies section includes four specialized courses on ancient and Middle Iranian languages and texts:
- Introduction to Christian Sogdian and Middle Persian Religious Texts, both taught by Desmond Durkin-Meisterernst of Freie Universität Berlin, focusing on Sogdian Christian literature and Middle Persian religious traditions.
- Avestan Language and Literature: Introduction and Text Reading in Comparative and Historical Perspective, taught by Velizar Sadovski from the Austrian Academy of Sciences, covering Avestan within a comparative-historical linguistic framework.
- Introduction to Old Khotanese, taught by Federico Dragoni of Leiden University, introducing one of the key Eastern Iranian languages.
Papyrology Section with Sasanian Documents
A second major Iran-related component is the course Introduction to Papyrology (1200 BCE–800 CE), which examines documentary traditions from ancient Egypt through the early Islamic period.
This course explores a wide range of scripts and languages, including Hieratic, Aramaic, Demotic, Coptic, Greek, Arabic, and Middle Persian. A particular focus is placed on documents connected to the Sasanian occupation of Egypt in the early seventh century CE.
In this course, the following two sessions are related to Ancient Iran:
- Aramaic Papyri from Achaemenid Egypt (Margaretha Folmer)
- Sasanian Papyri (Nima Asefi)
All courses are offered in hybrid format, allowing both on-campus and online participation. Successful participants receive official certificates and ECTS credits. Registration is open until 11 May 2026 via the official Leiden University Summer School website.
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