E04199: Coptic ostracon from Jeme (Upper Egypt) with a loan agreement, mentioning a presbyter of an institution dedicated to Apa *Kyri(a)kos (presumably the child martyr of Tarsus, S00007) as the scribe of the document and its sole witness; datable to the 8th century.
online resource
posted on 2017-10-22, 00:00authored bygschenke
O.Medin.Habu Copt. 56
A man named Palou is issuing a receipt for a loan of 2000 copper coins (ϫⲟⲩⲱⲧ ⲛϣⲉ ⲛϩⲟⲙⲛⲧ) from a man named Daniel. The priest Abraham of (the church of) Kyriakos is a witness to the transaction and the scribe of the document.
'I, Abraham, the priest of (the church of) Apa Kyrikos, he (i.e. Palou) asked me and I gathered (i.e. picked up to write on) this potsherd with my own hand. I am a witness.'
(Text and trans.: E. Stefanski and M. Lichtheim, modified)
History
Evidence ID
E04199
Saint Name
Kyrikos/Cyricus, child martyr of Tarsus (son of *Ioulitta/Julitta) : S00007
Documentary texts - Other private document
Late antique original manuscripts - Ostracon/Pot-sherd
Language
Coptic
Evidence not before
700
Evidence not after
799
Activity not before
700
Activity not after
799
Place of Evidence - Region
Egypt and Cyrenaica
Place of Evidence - City, village, etc
Jeme
Place of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Jeme
Hermopolis
ϣⲙⲟⲩⲛ
Ashmunein
Hermopolis
Cult activities - Places
Cult building - unspecified
Source
The ostracon MH 2868, now in the Museum in Cairo, is a brown ribbed pottery fragment showing traces of black coating on what was once the inside. The dating is based on context and palaeography.
Bibliography
Text and translation:
Stefanski, E., and Lichtheim, M., Coptic Ostraca from Medinet Habu (Univ. of Chicago. Oriental Institute Publications 71; Chicago, 1952), 11.