Amulets and Society in Late Antique Oxyrhynchus

Evan Andersson
History
UC Santa Barbara

This project investigates the religious dynamics of late ancient Oxyrhynchus in the Mediterranean, a city characterized by the convergence of Egyptian traditions, Hellenistic culture, and early Christianity. Oxyrhynchus, renowned for its extensive archive of papyrus fragments from the ancient world, offers a valuable resource for reconstructing Roman Egyptian religious and daily life. Despite the archive’s richness, it lacks a contextual social history. This study aims to address this gap by reconstructing the lived religion in Oxyrhynchus. Leveraging existing papyrological material, new archaeological findings, and contemporary theoretical frameworks, the project focuses on amulets as a dataset. These small artifacts, serving as aids with symbols and prayers, reveal the concerns and coping mechanisms of Oxyrhynchus residents. Analyzing a significant number of amulets unveils a nuanced religious landscape, showcasing the intricate interplay of traditions and the evolution of religious values in the daily practices of the ancient world.

Image credit: Oxford Papyrology.