A Deep Dive into Coptic Lives

Coptic Lives, a Core Curriculum course, offers students a gateway into what it would be like to live in historical Coptic society. Investigating history through archeological methods, students discover key elements of Coptic society: from what they ate to what they wore to what they believed. 

Mennat-Allah El Dorry ‘05, assistant professor and chair of Coptic studies at AUC who has trained as both an Egyptologist and archeologist, works to paint a lush tapestry of Coptic lives for her students by guiding them to investigate more than just key historical moments, but also the intricacies of everyday life. 

“The course helped me reconnect with my roots in a deeply personal way and see Coptic lives as lived, enduring experiences rather than distant narratives."

“A very large part of Coptic studies is about the history of the church, persecution, Coptic art and monasticism,” said El Dorry. “But I am intrigued by the daily lives of average people away from this traditional history of Coptic Egypt. We, as Egyptians, have a rich, long history of Coptic culture that is a part of this long and continuous fabric. While politics and religion change, I am interested in looking at the lives of people like myself — and like the students as well.”

In El Dorry’s class, students experiment with the tools historically used by Copts and visit important locations, such as the Coptic Museum and Coptic churches. With a mix of lectures, research and experiential learning opportunities, students paint a full picture of Coptic life, including food, language as well as arts and crafts. The course has no prerequisites and aims to get students at the start of their academic journey excited about archeology and history through the lens of the unique Coptic culture.

 “AUC's Egyptology program features something that few other international programs have: direct access to archaeology and culture.” 

“Coptic Lives didn’t feel like studying history; it felt like being invited into a story of resilience, faith and unwavering resolve,” said student Islam Nadim. “The course helped me reconnect with my roots in a deeply personal way and see Coptic lives as lived, enduring experiences rather than distant narratives. Dr. El Dorry’s passion and personal connection to the subject made that experience truly impactful.”

For El Dorry, the hands-on nature of the class is what makes it so special — the ability to bring Coptic culture to life. “AUC's Egyptology program features something that few other international programs have: direct access to archaeology and culture,” she affirmed. “I want us to focus more on these strengths and for AUC to become an important hub of Coptic archaeology — somewhere students and researchers who want to work specifically on Coptic archaeology can come to as their first choice.”

The Coptic studies program at AUC works to blend the fields of Egyptology, art history, science and religion through the lens of Coptic history. El Dorry herself first became interested in Coptic studies during her time at AUC. “When I was an Egyptology undergrad, a Coptic art class was being offered,” she explained. “The professor who taught it, Gawdat Gabra, was the first chair of Coptic studies at AUC, and he opened my eyes to such a fascinating world. It is an incredible honor to come full circle and now hold the position that first inspired me and to follow in the footsteps of such a scholar.”