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Professor Iain Gardner

FAHA
Chair of Department (Studies in Religion)

A20 - John Woolley Building
The University of Sydney

Telephone +61 2 9351 4484

Biographical details

Professor Iain Gardner was trained in early Christian literature and the history of religions at the University of Manchester, undertaking research work on ancient manuscripts in Berlin and Vienna, and had extensive experience teaching in both Britain and Western Australia before coming to the University of Sydney. He works on a number of major international research projects in areas as diverse as Egypt and south China, and has edited many original manuscripts in ancient languages such as Coptic from collections around the world.

He comments: 'Whilst I am fascinated by all areas of the history of religions, my research interests are particularly in the world of late antiquity, in the many spiritual practices and religions of the ancient world, and especially those alternative forms of Christianity represented by apocryphal and gnostic literature that often flourished in places like the monasteries of the Egyptian desert or spread along the trade-routes of Asia and Africa.'

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Research interests

  • Early Christianity and ancient Christianity in Africa and Asia
  • Gnostic and Coptic Studies
  • Papyrology
  • Manichaeism
  • Magic in Late Antiquity
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PhD and master's project opportunities

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Selected grants

2015

  • Seth, God of Confusion: the archaeology of a cult centre in Egypt; Hope C, Bowen G, Gardner I; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP).

2012

  • The function of images in magical papyri and artefacts of ritual power from Late Antiquity.; Johnston J, Gardner I, Kindt J, Whitehouse H, Hunter E; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP).

2009

  • The digital restoration of the Dublin Kephalaia codex and its importance for the history of religion; Gardner I, Dilley P, BeDuhn J; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP).

2005

  • Mission and Inculturation: the Manichaean and Nestorian experience in China- a textual, iconographical and epigraphical investigation.; Lieu S, Gardner I; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP).

2002

  • Manichaean & Medieval Christian (Nestorian & Catholic) remains in Quanzhou (S.China) - an epigraphical,iconographical & historical investigation; Lieu S, Hunter E, Franzmann M, Eccleston L, Gardner I, Niu R, van Tongerloo A, Sims-Williams N; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP).

2000

  • An investigation of the processes of social and cultural change in the Christianisation of 4th century Egypt; Gardner I, Franzmann M; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Large Research Grants (LRG).
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Selected publications

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Books

  • Gardner, I., BeDuhn, J., Dilley, P. (2015). Mani at the Court of the Persian Kings: Studies on the Chester Beatty Kephalaia Codex. Leiden: Brill.
  • Gardner, I., Choat, M. (2014). A Coptic Handbook of Ritual Power. Turnhout: Brepols Publishers.
  • Gardner, I., Alcock, A., Funk, W. (2014). Coptic Documentary Texts from Kellis, Volume 2: P. Kellis VII. Oxford and Philladelphia: Oxbow Books.
  • Gardner, I. (2007). Kellis Literary Texts Volume 2. Oxford UK: Oxbow Books.
  • Gardner, I., Lieu, S. (2004). Manichaean Texts From The Roman Empire. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.

Edited Books

  • Gardner, I., Lieu, S., Eccles, L., Franzmann, M., Parry, K. (2012). Medieval Christian and Manichaean Remains from Quanzhou (Zayton). Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols Publishers.
  • Parry, K., Gardner, I., Lieu, S. (2005). From Palmyra to Zayton: Epigraphy and Iconography. Brepols Publishers.

Book Chapters

  • Gardner, I. (2013). Mani, Augustine and the Vision of God. In Johannes van Oort (Eds.), Augustine and Manichaean Christianity, (pp. 73-86). Leiden: Brill.
  • Gardner, I., Lieu, S., Parry, K. (2012). Catalogue of Christian and Manichaean remains from Zayton (Quanzhou, China). In S. N.C. Lieu, L. Eccles, M. Franzmann, I. Gardner, K. Parry (Eds.), Medieval Christian and Manichaean Remains from Quanzhou (Zayton), (pp. 83-128). Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols Publishers.
  • Gardner, I. (2012). The Franciscan Mission to China and the Catholic Diocese of Zayton. In S. N.C. Lieu, L. Eccles, M. Franzmann, I. Gardner, K. Parry (Eds.), Medieval Christian and Manichaean Remains from Quanzhou (Zayton), (pp. 53-60). Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols Publishers.
  • Franzmann, M., Gardner, I., Parry, K. (2012). The Indian Background: Connections and Comparisons. In S. N.C. Lieu, L. Eccles, M. Franzmann, I. Gardner, K. Parry (Eds.), Medieval Christian and Manichaean Remains from Quanzhou (Zayton), (pp. 215-242). Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols Publishers.
  • Gardner, I. (2011). Manichaean Ritual Practice at Ancient Kellis: A New Understanding of the Meaning and Function of the So-Called Prayer of the Emanations. In van den Berg, J; Kotze, A; Nicklas, T; Scopello, M (Eds.), In Search of Truth: Augustine, Manichaeism, and other Gnosticism, (pp. 245-262). Netherlands: Brill.
  • Gardner, I. (2010). Towards an understanding of Mani's religious development and the archaeology of Manichaean identity. In Carole M. Cusack, Christopher Hartney (Eds.), Religion and Retributive Logic: Essays in Honour of Professor Garry W. Trompf, (pp. 147-158). Leiden: Brill.
  • Gardner, I. (2008). A codex leaf from a short recension (Rec. D) of the Liber Bartholomaei (LB). In F. A. J. Hoogendijk and B. P. Muhs (Eds.), Sixty-five papyrological texts: presented to Klaas A. Worp on the occasion of his 65th birthday, (pp. 19-28). Leiden: Brill.
  • Gardner, I. (2007). Mani's Letter to Marcellus: fact and fiction in the Acta Archelai revisited. In Jason BeDunh & Paul Mirecki (Eds.), Frontiers of Faith, (pp. 33-48). Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill.
  • Gardner, I. (2006). A Letter from the Teacher: Some Comments on Letter-Writing and the Manichaean Community of IVth Century Egypt. In Louis Painchaud & Paul-Hubert Poirier (Eds.), Coptica - Gnostica - Manichaica, (pp. 317-323). Louvain - Paris: Editions Peeters.
  • Gardner, I. (2005). Some Comments on Mani and Indian religions according to the Coptic Kephalaia. In Aloïs van Tongerloo in collaboration with Liugi Cirillo (Eds.), Il Manicheismo: Nuove Prospettive della Richerca, (pp. 123-135). Turnhout (Belgium): Brepols Publishers.
  • Gardner, I. (2005). The Medieval Christian Remains from Zayton: A Select Catalogue. In Iain Gardner, Samuel Lieu & Ken Parry (Eds.), From Palmyra to Zayton: Epigraphy and Iconography (Silk Road Studies 10), (pp. 215-228). Turnhout (Belgium): Brepols Publishers.
  • Gardner, I. (2002). The Coptic Texts from Ismant el-Kharab: Report on Work in Progress 1995-1997. In C.A. Hope and G.E. Bowen (Eds.), Dakhleh Oasis Project: Preliminary Reports on the 1994–1995 to 1998–1999 Field Seasons, (pp. 151-152). Oxford: Oxbow Books.
  • Gardner, I. (2001). The Reconstruction of Mani's Epistles from Three Coptic Codices (Ismant el-Kharab and Medinet Madi). In Paul Mirecki and Jason Beduhn (Eds.), The Light and the Darkness: Studies in Manichaeism and its World, (pp. 93-104). The Netherlands: Sage Publications.

Journals

  • Gardner, I. (2013). Once More on Mani's Epistles and Manichaean Letter-Writing. Zeitschrift fur Antikes Christentum-Journal of Ancient Christianity, 17(2), 291-314. [More Information]
  • Gardner, I. (2011). "With a Pure Heart and a Truthful Tongue": The Recovery of the Text of the Manichaean Daily Prayers. Journal of Late Antiquity, 4(1), 79-99.
  • Deeg, M., Gardner, I. (2011). Indian Influence on Mani Reconsidered: The Case of Jainism. International Journal of Jaina Studies, 4-6(2008-2010), 158-186.
  • Gardner, I. (2011). Mani's Book of Mysteries: Prolegomena to a new look at Mani, the 'Baptists' and the Mandaeans'. ARAM Periodical, 22(2010), 321-334.
  • Gardner, I. (2011). Searching for traces of the 'Utria in the Coptic Manichaica'. ARAM Periodical, 22(2010), 87-96. [More Information]
  • Gardner, I. (2010). Book Review: Ancient Gnosticism: Traditions and Literature, by Birger A. Pearson. Journal of Religious History, 34, 91-93.
  • Gardner, I. (2010). Book Review: Manichaeism. Bryn Mawr Classical Review, 60(2), 623-623.
  • Gardner, I., Johnston, J. (2010). The Liber Bartholomaei on the Ascension: edition of Bibliotheque Nationale Copte 132 f. 37. Vigiliae Christianae, 64(1), 74-86. [More Information]
  • Deeg, M., Gardner, I. (2009). Indian influence on Mani reconsidered: The case of Jainism. International Journal of Jaina Studies, 5(2), 1-30.
  • Gardner, I., Johnston, J. (2009). The passover litany of the ''Liber Bartholomaei'': edition of Bibliotheque nationale copte 1321 F.40. Journal of Coptic Studies, 11, 61-70. [More Information]
  • Gardner, I. (2007). P. Kellis 167 Revisited. Zeitschrift fuer Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 159, 223-228.
  • Gardner, I., Choat, M. (2006). 'P. Lond. Copt. I 1123': Another Letter to Apa Johannes? Zeitschrift fuer Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 156, 157-164.
  • Gardner, I. (2006). Review of Three Recently Published Studies on the Mandaeans. Journal of Religious History, 30(2), 217-224.
  • Franzmann, M., Gardner, I., Lieu, S. (2005). A living Mani cult in the Twenty-first century. Rivista di Storia e Letteratura Religiosa, 41(1), vii-x1.
  • Bagnall, R., Choat, M., Gardner, I. (2004). O.Douch I 40. Zeitschrift fuer Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 147, 205-207.
  • Choat, M., Gardner, I. (2003). O.Douch I 49. Zeitschrift fuer Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 2003, 143-146.

Conferences

  • Gardner, I. (2012). Coptic Ostraka from Qasr al-Dakhleh. Sixth International Conference of the Dakhleh Oasis Project, ?: Oxbow Books.
  • Gardner, I. (2005). Some Comments on Mani and Indian Religions from the Coptic Sources. New Perspectives in Manichaean Research.
  • Gardner, I. (2004). Report on the Editing of both the Coptic and the Manichaean Texts from Ismant el-Kharab. Proceedings of the IIInd International Conference of the Dakhleh Oasis Project, Oxford: Oxford.
  • Gardner, I., Choat, M. (2004). Towards A Palaeography Of Fourth Century Documentary Coptic. The Seventh International Congress of Coptic Studies, Leuven/Louvain, Belgium: Peeters Publishers.

Reference Works

  • Gardner, I. (2013). Mani/Manichaeism. In Roger S. Bagnall, Kai Brodersen, Craige B. Champion, Andrew Erskine, and Sabine R. Huebner (Eds.), The Encyclopedia of Ancient History. (pp. 4255-4259). Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
  • Gardner, I. (2004). Docetism. Macmillan Reference USA.

2015

  • Gardner, I., BeDuhn, J., Dilley, P. (2015). Mani at the Court of the Persian Kings: Studies on the Chester Beatty Kephalaia Codex. Leiden: Brill.

2014

  • Gardner, I., Choat, M. (2014). A Coptic Handbook of Ritual Power. Turnhout: Brepols Publishers.
  • Gardner, I., Alcock, A., Funk, W. (2014). Coptic Documentary Texts from Kellis, Volume 2: P. Kellis VII. Oxford and Philladelphia: Oxbow Books.

2013

  • Gardner, I. (2013). Mani, Augustine and the Vision of God. In Johannes van Oort (Eds.), Augustine and Manichaean Christianity, (pp. 73-86). Leiden: Brill.
  • Gardner, I. (2013). Mani/Manichaeism. In Roger S. Bagnall, Kai Brodersen, Craige B. Champion, Andrew Erskine, and Sabine R. Huebner (Eds.), The Encyclopedia of Ancient History. (pp. 4255-4259). Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
  • Gardner, I. (2013). Once More on Mani's Epistles and Manichaean Letter-Writing. Zeitschrift fur Antikes Christentum-Journal of Ancient Christianity, 17(2), 291-314. [More Information]

2012

  • Gardner, I., Lieu, S., Parry, K. (2012). Catalogue of Christian and Manichaean remains from Zayton (Quanzhou, China). In S. N.C. Lieu, L. Eccles, M. Franzmann, I. Gardner, K. Parry (Eds.), Medieval Christian and Manichaean Remains from Quanzhou (Zayton), (pp. 83-128). Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols Publishers.
  • Gardner, I. (2012). Coptic Ostraka from Qasr al-Dakhleh. Sixth International Conference of the Dakhleh Oasis Project, ?: Oxbow Books.
  • Gardner, I., Lieu, S., Eccles, L., Franzmann, M., Parry, K. (2012). Medieval Christian and Manichaean Remains from Quanzhou (Zayton). Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols Publishers.
  • Gardner, I. (2012). The Franciscan Mission to China and the Catholic Diocese of Zayton. In S. N.C. Lieu, L. Eccles, M. Franzmann, I. Gardner, K. Parry (Eds.), Medieval Christian and Manichaean Remains from Quanzhou (Zayton), (pp. 53-60). Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols Publishers.
  • Franzmann, M., Gardner, I., Parry, K. (2012). The Indian Background: Connections and Comparisons. In S. N.C. Lieu, L. Eccles, M. Franzmann, I. Gardner, K. Parry (Eds.), Medieval Christian and Manichaean Remains from Quanzhou (Zayton), (pp. 215-242). Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols Publishers.

2011

  • Gardner, I. (2011). "With a Pure Heart and a Truthful Tongue": The Recovery of the Text of the Manichaean Daily Prayers. Journal of Late Antiquity, 4(1), 79-99.
  • Deeg, M., Gardner, I. (2011). Indian Influence on Mani Reconsidered: The Case of Jainism. International Journal of Jaina Studies, 4-6(2008-2010), 158-186.
  • Gardner, I. (2011). Mani's Book of Mysteries: Prolegomena to a new look at Mani, the 'Baptists' and the Mandaeans'. ARAM Periodical, 22(2010), 321-334.
  • Gardner, I. (2011). Manichaean Ritual Practice at Ancient Kellis: A New Understanding of the Meaning and Function of the So-Called Prayer of the Emanations. In van den Berg, J; Kotze, A; Nicklas, T; Scopello, M (Eds.), In Search of Truth: Augustine, Manichaeism, and other Gnosticism, (pp. 245-262). Netherlands: Brill.
  • Gardner, I. (2011). Searching for traces of the 'Utria in the Coptic Manichaica'. ARAM Periodical, 22(2010), 87-96. [More Information]

2010

  • Gardner, I. (2010). Book Review: Ancient Gnosticism: Traditions and Literature, by Birger A. Pearson. Journal of Religious History, 34, 91-93.
  • Gardner, I. (2010). Book Review: Manichaeism. Bryn Mawr Classical Review, 60(2), 623-623.
  • Gardner, I., Johnston, J. (2010). The Liber Bartholomaei on the Ascension: edition of Bibliotheque Nationale Copte 132 f. 37. Vigiliae Christianae, 64(1), 74-86. [More Information]
  • Gardner, I. (2010). Towards an understanding of Mani's religious development and the archaeology of Manichaean identity. In Carole M. Cusack, Christopher Hartney (Eds.), Religion and Retributive Logic: Essays in Honour of Professor Garry W. Trompf, (pp. 147-158). Leiden: Brill.

2009

  • Deeg, M., Gardner, I. (2009). Indian influence on Mani reconsidered: The case of Jainism. International Journal of Jaina Studies, 5(2), 1-30.
  • Gardner, I., Johnston, J. (2009). The passover litany of the ''Liber Bartholomaei'': edition of Bibliotheque nationale copte 1321 F.40. Journal of Coptic Studies, 11, 61-70. [More Information]

2008

  • Gardner, I. (2008). A codex leaf from a short recension (Rec. D) of the Liber Bartholomaei (LB). In F. A. J. Hoogendijk and B. P. Muhs (Eds.), Sixty-five papyrological texts: presented to Klaas A. Worp on the occasion of his 65th birthday, (pp. 19-28). Leiden: Brill.

2007

  • Gardner, I. (2007). Kellis Literary Texts Volume 2. Oxford UK: Oxbow Books.
  • Gardner, I. (2007). Mani's Letter to Marcellus: fact and fiction in the Acta Archelai revisited. In Jason BeDunh & Paul Mirecki (Eds.), Frontiers of Faith, (pp. 33-48). Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill.
  • Gardner, I. (2007). P. Kellis 167 Revisited. Zeitschrift fuer Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 159, 223-228.

2006

  • Gardner, I., Choat, M. (2006). 'P. Lond. Copt. I 1123': Another Letter to Apa Johannes? Zeitschrift fuer Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 156, 157-164.
  • Gardner, I. (2006). A Letter from the Teacher: Some Comments on Letter-Writing and the Manichaean Community of IVth Century Egypt. In Louis Painchaud & Paul-Hubert Poirier (Eds.), Coptica - Gnostica - Manichaica, (pp. 317-323). Louvain - Paris: Editions Peeters.
  • Gardner, I. (2006). Review of Three Recently Published Studies on the Mandaeans. Journal of Religious History, 30(2), 217-224.

2005

  • Franzmann, M., Gardner, I., Lieu, S. (2005). A living Mani cult in the Twenty-first century. Rivista di Storia e Letteratura Religiosa, 41(1), vii-x1.
  • Parry, K., Gardner, I., Lieu, S. (2005). From Palmyra to Zayton: Epigraphy and Iconography. Brepols Publishers.
  • Gardner, I. (2005). Some Comments on Mani and Indian religions according to the Coptic Kephalaia. In Aloïs van Tongerloo in collaboration with Liugi Cirillo (Eds.), Il Manicheismo: Nuove Prospettive della Richerca, (pp. 123-135). Turnhout (Belgium): Brepols Publishers.
  • Gardner, I. (2005). Some Comments on Mani and Indian Religions from the Coptic Sources. New Perspectives in Manichaean Research.
  • Gardner, I. (2005). The Medieval Christian Remains from Zayton: A Select Catalogue. In Iain Gardner, Samuel Lieu & Ken Parry (Eds.), From Palmyra to Zayton: Epigraphy and Iconography (Silk Road Studies 10), (pp. 215-228). Turnhout (Belgium): Brepols Publishers.

2004

  • Gardner, I. (2004). Docetism. Macmillan Reference USA.
  • Gardner, I., Lieu, S. (2004). Manichaean Texts From The Roman Empire. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.
  • Bagnall, R., Choat, M., Gardner, I. (2004). O.Douch I 40. Zeitschrift fuer Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 147, 205-207.
  • Gardner, I. (2004). Report on the Editing of both the Coptic and the Manichaean Texts from Ismant el-Kharab. Proceedings of the IIInd International Conference of the Dakhleh Oasis Project, Oxford: Oxford.
  • Gardner, I., Choat, M. (2004). Towards A Palaeography Of Fourth Century Documentary Coptic. The Seventh International Congress of Coptic Studies, Leuven/Louvain, Belgium: Peeters Publishers.

2003

  • Choat, M., Gardner, I. (2003). O.Douch I 49. Zeitschrift fuer Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 2003, 143-146.

2002

  • Gardner, I. (2002). The Coptic Texts from Ismant el-Kharab: Report on Work in Progress 1995-1997. In C.A. Hope and G.E. Bowen (Eds.), Dakhleh Oasis Project: Preliminary Reports on the 1994–1995 to 1998–1999 Field Seasons, (pp. 151-152). Oxford: Oxbow Books.

2001

  • Gardner, I. (2001). The Reconstruction of Mani's Epistles from Three Coptic Codices (Ismant el-Kharab and Medinet Madi). In Paul Mirecki and Jason Beduhn (Eds.), The Light and the Darkness: Studies in Manichaeism and its World, (pp. 93-104). The Netherlands: Sage Publications.
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