Letters and Social Norms in Hellenistic Egypt

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K13385
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 03040:History of Europe and America-related
• Research Institution: Kindai University (2023); Osaka University (2019-2022)
• Principal Investigator: Ishida Mai 近畿大学, 文芸学部, 講師 (90839375)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ヘレニズム / プトレマイオス朝 / エジプト / 社会変容 / 紛争解決 / パピルス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to examine how social norms changed in Hellenistic Egypt due to cultural interaction, analyzed through epistolary communication. Research achievements are summarized as follows.
(1)Creating a database of Greek and Egyptian papyrological and epigraphical resources. (2)An analysis of epistolary communication: I investigated the interaction between the new system and traditional custom in dispute settlement, while emphasizing the petitioners' viewpoint. The study revealed that the operation of laws and the negotiation of dispute settlement were strategically conducted in the context of interpersonal relationships between the authorities and the local people. (3)An examination of the change and reorganization of social norms: Focusing on the activities of voluntary associations, the study examined the social functions of each community and the practical aspects of dispute settlement.

Free Research Field

西洋古代史、ヘレニズム史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

(1)史料学的課題への取り組み：ギリシア語・エジプト語史料、および、パピルス・碑文史料を総合的に分析した。基礎研究においてデータベース化を軸に据え、古代史史料の多様化とデジタル化の議論を深める素材を提供した。
(2)ヘレニズム社会史の新たな視点：紛争処理研究と書簡研究を総合し、既存の社会史や法制史の枠組みを超えた新たな研究モデルを提案した。
(3)「ヘレニズム」という文化事象の実態解明：ローカルなコミュニケーションの実態から、ギリシア文化―エジプト文化間の相互作用を明らかにした。