Arabic Codicology: Islamic Manuscripts
from Saudi Arabia and Beyond
28 February–4 March 2023, Islamic Arts Biennale, Jeddah,
Saudi Arabia
Course Programme
Tuesday, 28 February 2023
| 11.15 – 11.30 | Registration |
| 11.30 – 12.30 | Introducing the field: what is Codicology? |
| 12.30 – 13.00 | Break |
| 13.00 – 14.30 | The forms of the books: scrolls, rolls, codices, and beyond |
| 14.30 – 15.30 | Break |
| 15.30 – 17.00 | Writing materials I: papyrus and parchment |
Wednesday, 1 March 2023
| 10.00 – 11.30 | Writing materials II: oriental and western papers, from al-Andalus to modern Yemen |
| 11.30 – 12.30 |
The structure of the codex |
| 12.30 – 13.00 | Break |
| 13.00 – 14.30 | Writing the text: inks, palimpsests, and scripts |
| 14.30 – 15.30 | Break |
| 15.30 – 18.00 |
Hands-on session: Arabic manuscripts as complex objects: observing, describing, and putting them in context |
Thursday, 2 March 2023
| 11.30 – 12.30 | Catchwords and other devices to keep the textual sequence |
| 12.30 – 13.30 |
Text layout |
| 13.30 – 14.00 | Break |
| 14.00 – 15.30 | Colophons and meta-textual notes |
| 15.30 – 16.30 | Break |
| 16.30 – 19.00 | Hands-on session: Texts of codicological interest and book-bindings |
Friday, 3 March 2023
| 14.00 – 16.30 | A visit to the manuscript exhibition at AlMadar Exhibition |
| 16.30 – 17.30 |
Break |
| 17.30 – 19.30 | Decorated texts – illustrated texts |
| 19.30 – 22.00 |
Hands-on session: Archaeology of the Arabic manuscript (Attendees will be requested, as a (or several) group(s), to describe a codex for a next-day presentation) |
Saturday, 4 March 2023
| 11.30 – 12.30 | Writing and reading in the Arabic world |
| 12.30 – 13.00 |
Break |
| 13.00 – 14.30 | Certificates of audition and reading: some examples |
| 14.30 – 15.30 | Break |
| 15.30 – 16.30 | Presentation of students’ work |
| 16.30 – 18.00 | Closing session and presentation of certificates |