Professor Iain Gardner
People_

Professor Iain Gardner

FAHA
Professor
Chair: Studies in Religion
Phone
+61 2 9351 4484
Address
A18 - Brennan MacCallum Building
The University of Sydney
Professor Iain Gardner

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.'

  • Early Christianity and ancient Christianity in Africa and Asia
  • Gnostic and Coptic Studies
  • Papyrology
  • Manichaeism
  • Magic in Late Antiquity
Project titleResearch student
Zodiacal Motifs in Byzantine and post-Byzantine Religious Art: A Multidisciplinary ExplorationDoru COSTACHE

Selected publications

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Publications

Books

  • Gardner, I. (2020). The Founder of Manichaeism: Rethinking the Life of Mani. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [More Information]
  • Gardner, I., BeDuhn, J., Dilley, P. (2018). The Chapters of the Wisdom of My Lord Mani: Part III: Pages 343-442 (Chapters 321-347). Leiden: Brill. [More Information]
  • Gardner, I., BeDuhn, J., Dilley, P. (2015). Mani at the Court of the Persian Kings: Studies on the Chester Beatty Kephalaia Codex. Leiden: Brill. [More Information]

Edited Books

  • Johnston, J., Gardner, I. (2023). Drawing Spirit: The Role of Images and Design in the Magical Practice of Late Antiquity. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH.
  • Gardner, I. (2022). Mani's Epistles. The Surviving Parts of the Coptic Codex Berlin P. 15998, (Manichaische Handschriften der Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin, Band II). Stuttgart: W. Kohlhammer.
  • Gardner, I., Lieu, S., Eccles, L., Franzmann, M., Parry, K. (2012). Medieval Christian and Manichaean Remains from Quanzhou (Zayton). Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols Publishers. [More Information]

Book Chapters

  • Gardner, I. (2023). An Archive of Coptic Handbooks and Exemplars for the Making of Amulets and the Enacting of Ritual Power from the Tenth Century (P. Heid. Inv. Kopt. 680-683 and 685-686). In J. Johnston and I. Gardner (Eds.), Drawing Spirit: The Role of Images and Design in the Magical Practice of Late Antiquity, (pp. 73-134). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH. [More Information]
  • Gardner, I. (2023). The Heidelberg Magical Archive: A Discussion of its Origins, Context and Purpose. In J. Johnston and I. Gardner (Eds.), Drawing Spirit: The Role of Images and Design in the Magical Practice of Late Antiquity, (pp. 45-71). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH.
  • Gardner, I. (2022). Coptic. In Colin A. Hope and Gillian E. Bowen (Eds.), Kellis. A Roman-Period Village in Egypt's Dakhleh Oasis, (pp. 193-195). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [More Information]

Journals

  • Gardner, I. (2020). Backgammon and cosmology at the Sasanian court. Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies-University of London, 83(2), 249-257. [More Information]
  • Gardner, I., Johnston, J. (2019). 'I, Deacon Iohannes, Servant of Michael'. A New Look at P. Heid. Inv. Kopt. 682 and a Possible Context for the Heidelberg Magical Archive. Journal of Coptic Studies, 21, 29-61. [More Information]
  • Gardner, I. (2019). P. Kellis 82 and an Unnoticed Record of the Manichaean Daily Prayers. Zeitschrift fur Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 211, 89-91.

Conferences

  • Gardner, I. (2016). The Sethian Context to a Coptic Handbook of Ritual Power (= P. Macquarie I). 27th International Congress of Papyrology, Warsaw: University of Warsaw.
  • 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.

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.

2023

  • Gardner, I. (2023). An Archive of Coptic Handbooks and Exemplars for the Making of Amulets and the Enacting of Ritual Power from the Tenth Century (P. Heid. Inv. Kopt. 680-683 and 685-686). In J. Johnston and I. Gardner (Eds.), Drawing Spirit: The Role of Images and Design in the Magical Practice of Late Antiquity, (pp. 73-134). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH. [More Information]
  • Johnston, J., Gardner, I. (2023). Drawing Spirit: The Role of Images and Design in the Magical Practice of Late Antiquity. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH.
  • Gardner, I. (2023). The Heidelberg Magical Archive: A Discussion of its Origins, Context and Purpose. In J. Johnston and I. Gardner (Eds.), Drawing Spirit: The Role of Images and Design in the Magical Practice of Late Antiquity, (pp. 45-71). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter GmbH.

2022

  • Gardner, I. (2022). Coptic. In Colin A. Hope and Gillian E. Bowen (Eds.), Kellis. A Roman-Period Village in Egypt's Dakhleh Oasis, (pp. 193-195). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [More Information]
  • Gardner, I. (2022). Mani's Epistles. The Surviving Parts of the Coptic Codex Berlin P. 15998, (Manichaische Handschriften der Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin, Band II). Stuttgart: W. Kohlhammer.
  • Gardner, I. (2022). The Construction of an Iranian Lineage for Manichaeism. In Gunner B. Mikkelsen and Ken Parry (Eds.), Byzantium to China: Religion, History and Culture on the Silk Roads. Studies in Honour of Samuel N.C. Lieu, (pp. 188-196). Leiden/Boston: Brill. [More Information]

2021

  • Gardner, I. (2021). The Strange Case of 'Quire A' in the Dublin Kephalaia Codex: Further Thoughts on Mani's Book of Mysteries, M28I and the First Apocalypse of James. In Johannes van Oort (Eds.), Manichaeism and Early Christianity, (pp. 51-69). Leiden/Boston: Brill.

2020

  • Gardner, I. (2020). Backgammon and cosmology at the Sasanian court. Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies-University of London, 83(2), 249-257. [More Information]
  • Gardner, I. (2020). The Founder of Manichaeism: Rethinking the Life of Mani. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [More Information]
  • Gardner, I. (2020). The Manichaean Mission in Egypt. In Flavia Ruani and Mihaela Timus (Eds.), Quand les dualistes polemiquaient: Zoroastriens et manicheens, (pp. 201-229). Leuven: Peeters. [More Information]

2019

  • Gardner, I., Johnston, J. (2019). 'I, Deacon Iohannes, Servant of Michael'. A New Look at P. Heid. Inv. Kopt. 682 and a Possible Context for the Heidelberg Magical Archive. Journal of Coptic Studies, 21, 29-61. [More Information]
  • Gardner, I. (2019). Mani's Life. In Garry W. Trompf, Gunner B. Mikkelsen, Jay Johnston (Eds.), The Gnostic World, (pp. 225-234). Abingdon: Routledge. [More Information]
  • Gardner, I. (2019). P. Kellis 82 and an Unnoticed Record of the Manichaean Daily Prayers. Zeitschrift fur Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 211, 89-91.

2018

  • Gardner, I., Worp, K. (2018). A Most Remarkable Fourth-Century Letter in Greek, Recovered from House 4 at Ismant el-Kharab. Zeitschrift fur Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 205, 127-142.
  • Gardner, I. (2018). Did Mani Travel to Armenia? Iran and the Caucasus, 22(4), 341-352. [More Information]
  • Gardner, I. (2018). New Readings in the Coptic Manichaean Homilies Codex. Zeitschrift fur Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 205, 118-126.

2017

  • Gardner, I., Rasouli-Narimani, L. (2017). Patig and Pattikios in the Manichaean Sources. In Samuel N.C. Lieu (Eds.), Manichaeism East and West, (pp. 82-100). Tunhout: Brepols Publishers.
  • Gardner, I. (2017). Some Comments on the Remnants of the Codex of Mani's Epistles in Middle Persian as Edited by W. Sundermann. In Team Turfanforschung (Eds.), Zur lichten Heimat: Studien zu Manichaismus, Iranistik und Zentralasienkunde im Gedenken an Werner Sundermann, (pp. 173-180). Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag.

2016

  • Gardner, I. (2016). The Sethian Context to a Coptic Handbook of Ritual Power (= P. Macquarie I). 27th International Congress of Papyrology, Warsaw: University of Warsaw.

2015

  • Gardner, I. (2015). Dualism. In Robert Segal, Kocku von Stuckrad (Eds.), Vocabulary for the Study of Religion, (pp. e1-e6). Leiden: Brill. [More Information]
  • Gardner, I. (2015). Dualism in Mani and Manichaeism. Chôra, 2015 (Special Issue), 417-436.
  • Gardner, I., BeDuhn, J., Dilley, P. (2015). Mani at the Court of the Persian Kings: Studies on the Chester Beatty Kephalaia Codex. Leiden: Brill. [More Information]

2014

  • Choat, M., Gardner, I. (2014). A Coptic Handbook of Ritual Power. Belgium: 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. [More Information]
  • Gardner, I. (2013). Mani, Augustine and the vision of God. Hervormde Teologiese Studies, 69(1). [More Information]
  • 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.

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. [More Information]

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. [More Information]
  • 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.

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]

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. [More Information]

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. [More Information]
  • Gardner, I. (2007). P. Kellis 167 Revisited. Zeitschrift fur Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 159, 223-228.

2006

  • Gardner, I., Choat, M. (2006). 'P. Lond. Copt. I 1123': Another Letter to Apa Johannes? Zeitschrift fur 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. [More Information]

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.

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 fur Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 147, 205-207.

2003

  • Choat, M., Gardner, I. (2003). O.Douch I 49. Zeitschrift fur 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.

Selected Grants

2019

  • Liturgical texts and practices in the ancient world, Gardner I, Franzmann M, Mikkelsen G, Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP)

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)