E04174: Coptic ostracon from western Thebes (Upper Egypt) with a letter referring to a 'place' of *Isael (S01707); datable to the first half of the 8th century.

O.Frange 213

In this complete letter, the monk Frange writes to Pson and Papas explaining that he sent a decently expensive garment for Pson's daughter as requested and sent it in good condition. He refers to the 'place' of Isael, the saint, as the one where he received this request. The 'place' in question might be a monastery of Isael who might be the abbot and thus be referred to as a living saint or holy man. But it could also be a shrine of an otherwise seemingly unattested saint Isael.

⳨ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ϥⲣⲁⲛⲅⲉ ⲉϥ-
ⲥϩⲁ ⲉϥϣⲓⲛⲉ· ⲉⲛⲉϥⲙⲉ-
ⲣⲁⲧⲉ ⲛⲥⲛⲏⲩ· ⲡⲥⲟⲛ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲁ-
ⲡⲁⲥ ⲙⲛ ⲭⲁⲣⲓⲥⲓⲉ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲉⲥ-
ϣⲉⲉⲣⲉ ϯϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲟⲛ· ⲉⲛⲉⲧⲛⲣⲱⲙⲉ
ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲛⲉⲩⲣⲁⲛ ϩⲙ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ
ⲭⲁⲓⲣⲉⲧⲉ· ⲉⲡⲓⲇⲏ ⲁⲡⲁⲙⲉⲣⲓⲧ
ⲛϣⲃⲉⲣ ⲡⲥⲟⲛ ϫⲟⲟⲥ ⲛⲁ ϩⲓ ⲡⲧⲟⲟⲩ
ⲙⲁ ⲛⲡⲁⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲍ̣ⲁⲏⲗ ⲡϩⲁⲅⲓⲟⲥ ϫⲉ
ⲥⲉⲛⲁⲩ· ⲟⲩϣⲧⲏⲛ ⲛϩⲃⲟⲟⲥ ⲛⲧⲁ-
ϣⲉⲉⲣⲉ ϣⲏⲙ· ⲉⲓⲥ ϩⲏⲏⲧⲉ· ⲁϥⲓ
ⲡⲉⲥⲣⲟⲟⲩϣ ⲁϫⲟⲟⲩⲥ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ
ⲡⲉⲧⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲁⲧⲓ ⲟⲩⲕⲉⲣⲁ-
ⲧ̣ⲥⲉ ϩⲁⲣⲟⲥ ⲙⲡⲓϭⲛⲧⲥ ⲉⲥ̣-
ϭⲟⲛⲥ ⲛⲕⲏⲉⲧⲓ
ⲟⲩϫⲁ ϩⲙ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ

‘I am Frange who writes greeting his beloved brothers, Pson and Papas, together with Charisie and her children. I also greet all your people according to their names in the Lord, greetings.
Since my beloved friend Pson told me on the mountain, (at) the place of my father Isael, the saint: "A linen garment is needed for my young daughter." Behold, I took care of it. I sent it. It is God who knows that I paid a carat for it. I have not found it damaged (ripped?) at all.
Farewell in the Lord. ’


(Text: A. Boud'hors and Ch. Heurtel; trans.: G. Schenke)

A complete record of the text is available at:

http://papyri.info/ddbdp/o.frange;;213