25.08.2025 Report on Participation in the 31st International Congress of Papyrology, Cologne (July 27 – August 3, 2025)

Dr. Rasha H. El-Mofaich participated in the 31st International Congress of Papyrology, held at the University of Cologne.

Her trip was generously supported by the DAAD-Ta'ziz project "Dealing with Material Culture in the Middle East. During the congress, Dr. El-Mofaich presented her paper on July 28, titled:

“Stop, Show Your Pass Paper.”

Her presentation explored written permissions found in papyri and ostraca from Greco-Roman Egypt, focusing on documents that allowed or restricted movement—such as entry, passage, travel, and departure. She examined distinctions between military and civilian permissions and addressed key questions such as:

Which locations required such permission documents?
Were there standardized forms, or did formats vary?
Who had the authority to issue them?
Who was expected to carry and present them—and for what purposes?

The paper was well-received, and Dr. El-Mofaich received valuable feedback and expressions of interest from fellow scholars in the field. Throughout the congress, she attended numerous academic sessions aligned with her research interests, which provided fresh insights and expanded her knowledge. She also met with colleagues from major papyrological libraries and research institutions, establishing connections for future collaboration and editorial work on unpublished papyrus material.

Dr. El-Mofaich also took part in the roundtable discussion “Papyri and Their Provenance”, which focused on the challenges of provenance and ethical research in papyrology. Additionally, she participated in the Plenary Session and General Assembly of the International Association of Papyrologists, as an active member of the organization.

Overall, the trip proved to be highly productive, both academically and professionally. Dr. El-Mofaich expressed her appreciation for the excellent organization of the event and looks forward to sharing further outcomes of her participation in future scholarly contributions.