THE REVOLT OF THE HERACLII AGAINST EMPEROR PHOCAS AND THE CHRONICLE OF JOHN OF NIKIOU

Online Lecture

Lecture Series »Austrian Studies in Egyptian Archaeology« (ASEA)

»The Revolt of the Heraclii against Emperor Phocas and the Chronicle of John of Nikiou«

Bernhard Palme | University of Vienna, Department of Ancient History, Papyrology and Epigraphy

Documentary papyri rarely speak about concrete historical events. In some cases, however, papyri can be of great importance for certain historical questions in an indirect way. In this lecture one of these rare papyri is presented: CPR XXIV 27 sheds light on the dramatic events during the revolt of the later Emperor Heraclius (610‒641 AD) against the reigning emperor Phocas (602–610 AD), in which Egypt played the crucial role. The attempt is to show how the papyrological evidence can be embedded in the traditions of the narrative sources and how the information from the papyri – in combination with the numismatic and historiographical evidence – leads to a more accurate understanding of the actual historical process and its dramatic military actions in Egypt.