The ancient world is close to her heart

Sabine Huebner is passionate about the life of ordinary people in the ancient world. The publications of the Associate Professor of Ancient History at the University of Basel deal with “ordinary people”, rather than senators, commanders, emperors and kings. Since artisans, shepherds and farmers are rarely mentioned in ancient literature, papyri from the Egyptian desert are an important source. They provide insights – some of them very personal – into everyday life in ancient times. When editing the long-forgotten Basel Papyrus Collection, she stumbled on a letter that is probably the oldest evidence of Christians in Egypt. In it, two brothers discuss the best fish sauce and news of local politics, while offering an insight into the social milieu and the living faith of the first Christians.