Abstract:
The Zenon archive is the most extensive surviving collection of documents dating back to the Ptolemaic period (305-30 BCE), comprising over 1800 texts. It serves as a valuable source for gaining insight into the social dynamics of ancient Egypt. Specifically, this presentation explores Social Network Analysis (SNA) as a viable approach to analyzing and examining the archive's large quantities of historical textual evidence. The texts in question are written on papyri and focus on the daily dealings and administration of a rural estate in the Fayum, spanning between 263 and 229 BCE. In this presentation, we will explore how computational methods can help historians overcome the challenges of working on large and complex datasets by leveraging existing digital resources and methodologies in papyrology and digital humanities. Additionally, we will discuss the basics of SNA and its practical applications within the context of the Zenon archive.
Short bio:
Fernanda Alvares Freire is a research assistant at the University of Rostock, working under the supervision of Jun.-Prof. Dr. Ulrike Henny-Krahmer in the field of Digital Humanities. After obtaining her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in History from the University of Brasília, she began her doctoral studies in Ancient History at the University of Münster. As part of her research, she examines the societal relationships within the texts of the Zenon Archive from the 3rd century BC, focusing particularly on everyday transactions and social interactions. As a historian specializing in Ancient History and having a strong interest in Digital Humanities, her research combines classical historical approaches with the application of digital methods such as Social Network Analysis, Data Mining, and Data Management.