Coptic ostracon from Deir el-Bahari (Upper Egypt) with the remains of a contract concerning cultivation of land, mentioning an institution, most likely a monastery, dedicated to Apa *John (presumably either the Baptist, S00020, or the Apostle and Evangelist, S00042) as well as the one dedicated to Apa *Phoibammon (soldier and martyr of Assiut, S00080); datable to the 7th/8th century.
Evidence ID
E05992
Type of Evidence
Late antique original manuscripts - Ostracon/Pot-sherd
Documentary texts - Other private document
O.Crum 482
Only the end of this fragmentary contract is preserved, involving a man named Biktor, from the monastery of Apa Ioannes/John. The contract was drawn up in the presence of Apa Biktor, the presbyter of saint Apa Phoibammon.
Lines 4–9 read as follows:
ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲃⲓⲕⲧⲱⲣ ⲙⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲓⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ ⲡⲉⲛⲧⲁϥⲣϣⲣⲡⲥϩⲁⲓ ⲛⲧⲡⲉ ϯⲥⲧⲉⲭⲉ
ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲡϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲁⲓⲥϩⲁⲓ ⲡⲉⲡⲗⲁⲝ ⲛⲧⲁϭⲓϫ ϩⲓⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲁⲡⲁ ⲃⲓⲕⲧⲱⲣ ⲡⲉⲡⲣ(ⲉⲥⲃⲩⲧⲉⲣⲟⲥ) ⲙⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲫⲉⲃⲁⲙⲱⲛ [ⲁⲩⲱ ϯⲟ] ⲙⲙⲁⲣⲧⲏⲣⲟⲥ +
'It is I, Biktor of saint Apa Ioannes, who was already mentioned above, I assent.
I, Pshere, I have written this tablet (ostracon) with my own hand, in the presence of Apa Biktor, the presbyter of saint Apa Phoibammon [, and I act] as a witness.'
(Text: W. E. Crum; trans.: G. Schenke)
Cult PlacesMonastery
Cult building - unspecified
Places Named after SaintMonastery
Church
Source
This ostracon is kept at the British Museum in London, inv. 33044.Bibliography
Text and translation:Crum, W.E., Coptic Ostraca from the Collections of the Egypt Exploration Fund (London, 1902), p. 22–23 and 79. = O.Crum
German translation:
Till, W. C., Die Koptischen Rechtsurkunden aus Theben (Vienna, 1964), 68.
Record Created By
Gesa Schenke
Date of Entry
4/8/2018
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00020 | John the Baptist | ⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲓⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ | Uncertain | S00042 | John, the Apostle and Evangelist | ⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲓⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ | Uncertain | S00080 | Phoibammon, soldier and martyr of Assiut | ⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲁⲡⲁ ⲫⲉⲃⲁⲙⲱⲛ | Certain |
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Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
Gesa Schenke, Cult of Saints, E05992 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E05992