The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

P.Ryl.Copt. 238

This complete document provides a full inventory of a local institution dedicated to saint Theodore. The content listed does not automatically point to a church, save for the altar hangings in line 10. But it could very well refer to a hospital dedicated to the saint, which would presumably also feature a small shrine. It is less likely that this is an inventory of a monastery, even if a very small one, located by the Caesareum of a major city.


+ ϩⲙ ⲡⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲓⲙⲃⲉⲛⲧⲟⲛ ⲙⲫⲁⲅⲓⲟ(ⲥ) ⲑⲉⲟⲇⲱⲣⲉ
ⲙⲡⲕⲁⲓⲥⲁⲣⲓⲛ ϩⲓⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ ⲙⲡⲇⲓⲁⲕⲟ(ⲛⲟⲥ) ⲓ[ⲅⲛⲁⲧ]ⲉ ⲙⲡ[ⲟⲟⲩ] ⲥⲟⲩ
ⲙⲛⲧⲁⲥⲉ ⲡⲉ ⲙⲡⲁⲣⲙⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲃⲟⲧ ⲛⲧⲉⲓⲣⲟ[ⲙⲡⲉ .. ⲓⲛ]ⲇ(ⲓⲕⲧⲓⲱⲛⲟⲥ)

ⲟⲩⲕⲟⲩⲓ ⲛ[. . . . . ⲙⲙⲁⲅ]ⲛⲏⲥⲓⲛ [α]
ⲡⲟⲧⲏⲣⲓⲛ ⲥⲛⲁⲩ ⲛϩⲁⲧ [β]
ϣⲟⲙⲧⲉ ⲛⲕⲟⲭⲗⲓⲁⲣⲓⲛ ⲛϩⲁⲧ [γ]
[ⲟ]ⲩⲉⲝⲁⲥⲕⲉⲗⲟⲛ ⲛⲧⲁϩⲧ [α]
[. . .]ϣ[. . .] ⲙⲙⲁⲡⲡⲁ [..]
ϣⲙⲟⲩⲛ [ⲛⲛⲟ]ϭ ⲛⲕⲁⲧⲁⲡⲉⲧⲁⲥⲙ η
ⲥⲟⲉⲓ ⲛⲕⲟⲩⲓ ⲛⲕⲁⲧⲁⲡⲉⲧⲁⲥⲙⲁ ⲛⲑⲩⲥⲓⲁⲥⲧⲏ(ⲣⲓⲟⲛ) [ϛ]
ϫⲟⲩⲧⲥⲁϣϥⲉ̣ ⲛⲟⲩⲏⲗⲟⲛ ⲛⲣⲟ κζ
ⲥⲟ ⲛⲥⲓⲛⲇⲱⲛⲓⲛ ⲙⲡⲗⲟⲩⲙⲁⲣⲓⲕ(ⲟⲥ) ϛ
ⲟⲩⲥⲓⲛⲇⲱⲛⲓⲛ ⲛⲁⲡⲧⲓⲥⲕⲓⲛ α
ⲧⲓⲟⲩ ⲛⲥⲧⲣⲱⲙⲁ ⲛⲕⲟⲣⲇⲓⲛⲁ ε
ⲟⲩⲉⲙⲡⲣ[ⲟⲙ]ⲁⲗⲓⲛ ⲙⲡⲉⲣⲥⲓⲁⲧⲓⲕⲟ(ⲛ) α
ⲟⲩⲥⲁⲕⲓⲛ ⲙⲯⲓⲙⲓⲑⲓⲟⲛ ⲙⲡⲟⲕϥ α
ⲥⲧⲁⲧⲁⲣⲉⲁ ⲥⲛ[ⲧⲉ] β
ⲃⲧⲟ ⲙⲫⲓⲛ̣ . ⲁ̣ ⲙⲙⲁⲅⲛⲏⲥⲓⲛ ⲙⲛ ⲟⲩϩⲣⲉⲕⲉ
ⲛⲧⲁⲣⲉⲓ ε
ⲃⲧⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲥⲕⲉⲡⲁⲥⲙⲁ ⲛϩⲃⲟⲥ δ
ⲟⲩⲥⲕⲉⲡⲁⲥⲙⲁ ⲙⲙⲉⲧⲁⲝ̣ⲉ̣ α
ⲟⲩⲥⲕⲉⲡⲁⲥⲙⲁ ⲛϩⲓⲥ[ⲁⲩ]ⲣⲓⲕⲟ(ⲥ) α ⲟⲩⲕⲟⲩⲓ ⲛⲥⲕⲉⲡ ⲛⲁ[ϥ] ⲛⲛⲉⲃⲓⲱ ⲛⲁⲓⲅ α
ⲕⲟⲩⲓ ⲛⲥⲕⲉⲡ ⲥⲛⲁⲩ ⲛⲗⲉⲩⲕⲟ(ⲥ) β ⲟⲩⲫⲁϭⲁⲣⲓⲛ ⲛϣⲛⲥ α
[ⲥ]ⲛⲧⲉ ⲛⲛⲟϭ ⲛⲗⲉⲕⲁⲛⲏ ⲛⲃⲁⲣⲱⲧ β ⲟⲩⲗⲉⲕⲁⲛⲏ ⲟⲛ ⲛⲃⲁⲣⲱⲧ ⲛⲁⲧⲙⲁⲁϫⲉ α
ⲟⲩⲡⲟⲧⲏⲣⲟⲡⲗⲓⲧⲏⲥ ⲙⲛ ⲧⲉϥⲃⲁⲥⲓⲥ α ⲟⲩⲕⲟⲩⲓ ⲛⲗⲉⲕⲁⲛⲏ ⲟⲛ ⲛⲃⲁⲣⲱⲧ α
ⲥⲛⲧⲉ ⲛⲥⲕⲁⲫⲛ ⲛϩⲟⲙⲛⲧ β ⲟⲩⲕⲟⲩⲓ ⲛⲥⲕⲁⲫⲛ ⲟⲛ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲉⲥϩⲟⲃⲥ α
ⲟⲩⲕⲟⲩⲓ ⲛⲕⲁⲃⲕⲁⲃⲛⲟ(ⲛ) α ⲟⲩⲕⲟⲩⲓ ⲛϭⲁⲗⲁϩⲧ ⲛϩⲟⲙ[ⲛ]ⲧ α
ϣⲟⲙⲛⲧ ⲛⲕⲟⲩⲓ ⲛⲧⲩⲅⲁⲛⲟ(ⲛ) γ ⲟⲩⲥⲟⲩⲙⲁⲣⲓⲥⲧ(ⲣ)ⲟ(ⲥ) ⲉⲥⲡⲟϫⲧ α
ⲕⲟⲩⲓ ⲛⲥⲱⲙⲁⲣⲓⲥⲧ(ⲣ)ⲟ(ⲥ) ⲥⲛⲧⲉ ⲟⲛ β ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲛϩⲛⲁⲁⲩ ⲛⲃⲁⲣⲱⲧ α
ⲧⲓⲟⲩ ⲛⲕⲏⲣⲓⲁⲡ . ε ⲧⲓⲟⲩ ⲛⲧⲣⲟⲭ(ⲟⲥ) ⲛⲃⲁⲣⲱⲧ ε
ϣⲟⲙⲧⲉ ⲛⲥⲓ̣ⲧⲗⲁ ⲛⲃⲁⲣⲱⲧ ⲛⲡⲟⲗⲩⲫⲁⲛⲟ(ⲥ) γ ⲟⲩϫⲟⲓ ⲛⲃⲁⲣⲱⲧ ⲛⲉⲝⲁⲗⲩⲭⲛⲟ(ⲥ) α
ⲕⲉⲗⲱⲗ ⲥⲛⲁⲩ ⲛϩⲟⲙⲛⲧ β ⲟⲩⲕⲟⲩⲓ ⲛϭⲣⲟⲟⲙⲡⲉ ⲛⲃⲁⲣⲱⲧ α
ⲥⲁϣϥ ⲛⲟ. ⲟ̣ . ⲛⲃⲁⲣⲱⲧ ζ ⲟⲩⲕⲟⲩⲧⲟⲩⲗⲉ α
ⲟⲩⲕⲟⲩⲓ ⲛⲟ̣ⲅ̣ⲅ̣ⲓⲛⲟⲥ α ⲟⲩⲕⲁⲙⲡⲁⲛⲟⲥ ⲛⲁⲧⲉϣⲏⲧⲉ α
ⲟⲩⲭⲁⲣⲓⲥⲉⲧⲓⲟⲛ ⲛⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ α ⲟⲩⲥⲡⲁⲗⲓⲥ ⲛϣⲱϥ α
ⲟⲩϣⲙⲟⲩ ⲛⲟⲩⲱ[ϫ]ⲉ̣ α ⲟⲩⲡⲁϣⲉ ⲛϭⲁⲗⲁϩⲧ ⲛϩⲟⲙⲛⲧ α
ⲟⲩⲥⲓⲧⲗⲁ ⲛϫⲱⲕⲙ α ⲧⲓ ⲛⲧⲏⲃⲉ ε
ⲟⲩⲙⲁ ⲛϭⲁⲗⲏ α ⲟⲩⲕⲣⲁⲃⲁⲧⲧⲏ α
ⲉⲙⲡⲱⲧ ⲥⲛⲧⲉ ⲛⲧⲁⲗⲟ ⲕⲁⲙⲁⲥ(ⲓ)ⲟⲛ β ⲃⲧⲟⲟⲩ ⲛⲥⲕⲁⲙⲛⲓⲛ δ
ⲟⲩⲑⲩⲙⲓⲁⲧⲏⲣⲉ̣ⲓ̣ α ϣⲟⲙⲛⲧ ⲛϣⲕⲗⲕⲓⲗ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲉⲩⲁⲗⲏⲥⲓⲥ γ
ⲟⲩϩⲣⲁⲃⲇⲟⲥ ⲙⲡⲉ̣[ⲛⲓⲡ]ⲉ α ⲟⲩⲗⲁϩⲏ ⲛⲏⲣⲡ α
ⲟⲩⲡⲁϣⲝⲉⲥⲧⲏⲉ ⲛⲛⲉϩ  ⲙⲁϥⲟⲩⲉ ⲛϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ λα
ϣⲃⲉ ⲛⲕⲟⲩⲓ ⲛⲕ[ⲁⲛ]ⲓ̣ⲥⲕⲉ ⲛⲥⲱⲣ ⲥⲟⲩⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ο

+ ⲓⲅⲛⲁⲧⲉ ⲡⲉⲓⲉⲗⲁⲭ(ⲓⲥⲧⲟⲥ) ⲛⲇⲓⲁⲕⲟ(ⲛⲟⲥ) ⲡϣⲉ ⲛⲡⲙⲁⲕⲁⲣⲓⲟⲥ ⲑⲉⲟⲇⲱⲣⲉ ⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ
ϣⲙⲟⲩⲛ ⲧⲓⲥⲧⲟⲓⲭⲉⲓ ⲉⲡⲓⲙⲃⲉⲛⲧⲟⲛ ⲛⲑⲉ ⲉϥⲥⲏϩ ⲉⲙⲟⲥ +


‘By God’s will. This is the inventory (inventum) of saint Theodore
at the Caesareum, (produced) by the deacon [Ignatius], today, on
day 16 of the month Parmoute, in this year [of the …] indiction:

One small [… of] magnesium-aluminum [1]
Two silver cups (ποτήριον) [2]
Three silver spoons (κοχλιάριον) [3]
One lead six-legged-vessel (ἑξασκελόν) [1]
[Eighteen?] napkins (μάππα) [18?]
Eight large curtains (καταπέτασμα) 8
Six small altar curtains [6]
Twenty-seven door hangings (οὐῆλον) 27
Six embroidered linen cloths
(σινδόνιον πλουμαρικός) 6
One linen cloth for an awning (ἀντίσκιον) 1
Five curtain coverings (στρῶμα κορτιίνα) 5
One Persian embroidered garment
(ἐμπλουμάριον περσιατικός) 1
One lead-white patchwork bag (σάκκιον)1
Two candlesticks (σταταρεα) 2
Four … of magnesium-aluminum
and one … girdle (ῥέκος) 5
Four linen coverings (σκέπασμα) 4
One silk (μετάξιον) covering (σκέπασμα) 1
One Isaurian (ἰσαυρικός) covering 1 One small covering (σκέπη) of goatskin
(αἴγειος) for bees 1
Two small white coverings 2 One cotton cap (φακιόλιον) 1
Two large brass dishes (λεκάνη) 2 One brass dish (λεκάνη) without handles1
One vessel for cup-washing (ποτηροπλύτης)
with its stand (βάσις) 1 One small brass dish (λεκάνη) 1
Two bronze bowls (σκάφιον) 2 One small bowl (σκάφιον) with its lid 1
One small water-vessel (καβκάβιον) 1 One small iron caldron 1
Three small saucepans (τήγανον) 3 One … ladle (ζωμάρυστρος) 1
Two small ladles (ζωμάρυστρος) 2 One large brass vessel 1
Five candle-lighters 5 Five brass wheels (τροχός) 5
Three …brass buckets (σίτλα πολύφανος)3 One six lighter (ἑξάλυχνος) brass boat 1
Two bronze pitchers 2 One small brass dove 1
Seven brass … 7 One cup (κοτύλη) 1
One small hook (ὄγκινος) 1 One measure (κάμπανος) without … 1
One woman’s … (χαρισήτιον) 1 One pair of scissors (σπαλίς)
for hair-cutting 1
One peg for weaving (?) 1 One iron half-(measure) caldron 1
One bucket (σίτλα) for washing 1 Five bricks 5
One hoe (μάκελλα) 1 One bier (κραββάτιον) 1
Two … for weaving (?) shirts (καμάσιον) 2 Four benches (σκάμνιον) 4
One censer (θυμιατήριον) 1 Three bells with their chains (ἅλυσις) 3
One iron staff (ῥάβδος) 1 One measure of wine 1
Half a xestes of oil ½ Thirty-one books 31
Seventy small baskets (κανίσκιον)
for distributing corn 70

Ignatius, the most humble deacon, the son of the blessed Theodore, the inhabitant of Hermopolis,
I am satisfied with this inventory as it is written.’

(Text and trans.: W. E. Crum, modified)

Cult building - unspecified

Hospital and other charitable institutions

Source

Bibliography