E04198: Three Coptic ostraca from western Thebes (Upper Egypt) with writing exercises practising a formula referring to *Moses (presumably the Old Testament prophet and lawgiver, S00241) and *Aaron (presumably the Old Testament prophet, S01427) as holy among priests; datable to the first half of the 8th century.

O.Frange 433

Model phrases for letter writing practised on three ostraca all include the same phrase concerning the sanctity of Moses and Aaron. Whether these were local saints/holy men with biblical names, or whether the phrase referred to the OT saints themselves remains unclear.

⳨ ϩⲁⲑⲏ ⲙⲉⲛ ⲛϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲓⲙ
ⲉⲥϩⲁ ⲉϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲉⲁⲥⲡⲁⲍⲉ
ⲛⲛⲁⲙⲉⲣⲁⲧⲉ ⲛⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲙ-
ⲙⲁⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲙⲙⲁⲣⲱⲙⲉ
ⲙⲱⲩ ⲩ ⲩ
+ϩⲓⲧⲛ ϩⲁϩ ⲛ . . . . . .
ⲙⲱⲥⲏⲥ ⲙⲛ ⲁⲁⲣⲱⲛ ⲥⲉⲟⲩⲁ[ⲁⲃ]
ϩⲛ ⲛⲉϥⲟⲩⲏⲏⲃ

‘Before anything, I write greeting and saluting my beloved, pious and caring brothers.
Moy{yy}(ses?)
From numerous …
Moyses and Aaron, they are holy among his priests.’


O.Frange 434

ⲙⲱⲩⲥⲏⲥ
ⲙⲛ ⲁⲁⲣⲱⲛ ⲥⲉⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ
ϩⲛ ⲛⲉϥⲟⲩⲏⲏⲃ

‘Moyses and Aaron, they are holy among his priests.’


O.Frange 435:

Lines 5–6 of this ostracon with letter writing exercises read as follows:

ⲙⲱⲩⲥⲏⲥ ⲙⲛ ⲁⲁⲣⲱⲛ
ⲥⲉⲟⲩⲁⲁⲃ

‘Moyses and Aaron, they are holy.’


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