E04178: Coptic ostracon from western Thebes (Upper Egypt) with a letter mentioning *Thekla (presumably the virgin and martyr of Assiut, S00777, if not the follower of the Apostle Paul , S00092); datable to the early 7th century.
online resource
posted on 2017-10-19, 00:00authored bygschenke
O.Frange 785:
The beginning of this letter is lost. It was most likely written by the monk Mark who addresses Psate. The message concerns the saint Thekla, though seemingly not her feast, but rather the production or copying of a hagiographical text relating to her.
‘…] … [… writing to my brother] Psate. Concerning saint Thekla, focus all your attention, set your heart onto her, and strengthen your hand, until I arrive. Farewell in the power of the Holy Trinity.’
(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;;785
History
Evidence ID
E04178
Saint Name
Thekla, virgin and martyr of Assiut : S00777
Thekla, follower of the Apostle Paul : S00092
Documentary texts - Letter
Late antique original manuscripts - Ostracon/Pot-sherd
Language
Coptic
Evidence not before
600
Evidence not after
625
Activity not before
600
Activity not after
625
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 - Places
Cult building - monastic
Cult activities - Non Liturgical Practices and Customs
Composing and translating saint-related texts
Source
The ostracon inv. O.291095 is a fragment of an amphora and was found during a season of the Belgian excavation at the Theban necropolis. It is part of the archive of the monk Frange who inhabited the tomb of Amenemope (TT29) in the Valley of the Kings.
Bibliography
Text and French translation:
Boud'hors, A., and Heurtel, C., Les ostraca coptes de la TT 29. Autour du moine Frangé (Études d'archéologie thébaine 3; Brussels, 2010), 420–421.