File(s) not publicly available

E02438: Coptic letter, from the monastery of Epiphanius at Thebes (Upper Egypt), mentioning an oath sworn to *John (presumably either the Baptist, S00020, or the Apostle and Evangelist, S00042), datable to the end of the 6th/beginning of the 7th century.

online resource

posted on 2017-03-03, 00:00 authored by Bryan

P.Mon.Epiph. 162

In this letter from an archdeacon named Joseph to Apa Epiphanius, 'the prophet and anchorite', Joseph explains that he cannot come to visit, because he is terribly ill and bedridden. He hopes that Apa Epiphanius, his addressee, will pray for him.

Lines 13 reads as follows:

ⲉⲁⲓⲱⲣⲕ ⲙⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ ϫⲉ ⲙⲁⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲡϣⲙⲙⲟ

'I was swearing by saint John, that I am unable to go abroad.'

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

History

Evidence ID

E02438

Saint Name

John the Baptist : S00020 John, Apostle and Evangelist : S00042

Saint Name in Source

ⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ ⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ⲱϩⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ

Related Saint Records

Type of Evidence

Documentary texts - Letter Late antique original manuscripts - Papyrus sheet

Language

Coptic

Evidence not before

550

Evidence not after

650

Activity not before

550

Activity not after

650

Place of Evidence - Region

Egypt and Cyrenaica

Place of Evidence - City, village, etc

Thebes

Place of evidence - City name in other Language(s)

Thebes Hermopolis ϣⲙⲟⲩⲛ Ashmunein Hermopolis

Cult activities - Non Liturgical Practices and Customs

Oath

Source

This papyrus was found in a rubbish hole at the monastery of Epiphanius and is now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, MMA 12.180.270. The text has been dated on palaeographical grounds.

Bibliography

Text and Translation: Crum, W.E., and Evelyn White, H.G., The Monastery of Epiphanius at Thebes, Part II (The Metropolitan Museum of Art Egyptian Expedition; New York, 1926), p. 45 (text), p. 194–195 (trans.).