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E04201: Coptic ostracon from Jeme (Upper Egypt) with a letter mentioning a visit to the shrine (topos) of Apa *Phoibammon (soldier and martyr of Assiut, S00080) for the purpose of praying there; datable to the 7th/8th century.
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posted on 2017-10-22, 00:00 authored by gschenkeO.Medin.Habu Copt. 153r:
The letter on the recto is addressed to a spiritual authority and relates a common visit to the shrine of Apa Phoibammon on a Saturday for the purpose of prayer. The sender of the letter seems to have been left alone at the shrine feeling pressured into doing something, asking the addressee for help in the matter.
⳨ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[ ϯⲡⲁⲣⲁⲕⲁⲗ]ⲉⲓ ⲛⲧⲉⲕ-
ⲙⲛⲧⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲉⲡⲉⲓⲇⲏ ⲁⲕⲉⲓ
ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲡⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲛⲁⲡⲁ ⲫⲟ-
ⲓⲃⲁⲙⲱⲛ ⲛⲙⲙⲁ ϩⲙ
ⲡⲥⲁⲃⲃⲁⲧⲟⲛ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲁⲥⲛⲏⲩ
ϩⲁ ⲡϩⲱⲃ ⲙⲡϣⲗⲏⲗ ⲙⲛ-
ⲛⲥⲱⲥ ⲁⲩⲃⲟⲗⲧ ⲛϩⲏⲧϥ
ϩⲓⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲧⲉⲕⲙⲛⲧⲉⲓⲱⲧ
ⲙⲛⲛⲥⲱⲥ ⲟⲛ ⲁⲩⲟⲩⲱϣ
ⲉⲙⲟⲣⲧ ⲛⲕⲉⲥⲟⲡ ⲛ-
ⲥⲉⲉⲝⲁⲅⲉⲓ ⲙⲙⲟ<>
ⲉⲁⲩϫⲟⲟⲩ ⲁⲩⲛ
ⲡⲡⲣⲉⲥⲃ(ⲩⲧⲉⲣⲟⲥ)
'… I am entreating your paternity. You have entered the shrine of Apa Phoibammon with me on Saturday together with my brothers for the purpose of the prayer. Afterwards, I was persuaded there without your paternity. And then again they wished to bind/oblige me another time, and they lead me out, whilst they were sending (for the presbyter?). They brought the presbyter …'
(Text: E. Stefanski and M. Lichtheim, trans.: G. Schenke)
The letter on the recto is addressed to a spiritual authority and relates a common visit to the shrine of Apa Phoibammon on a Saturday for the purpose of prayer. The sender of the letter seems to have been left alone at the shrine feeling pressured into doing something, asking the addressee for help in the matter.
⳨ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[ ϯⲡⲁⲣⲁⲕⲁⲗ]ⲉⲓ ⲛⲧⲉⲕ-
ⲙⲛⲧⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲉⲡⲉⲓⲇⲏ ⲁⲕⲉⲓ
ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲡⲧⲟⲡⲟⲥ ⲛⲁⲡⲁ ⲫⲟ-
ⲓⲃⲁⲙⲱⲛ ⲛⲙⲙⲁ ϩⲙ
ⲡⲥⲁⲃⲃⲁⲧⲟⲛ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲁⲥⲛⲏⲩ
ϩⲁ ⲡϩⲱⲃ ⲙⲡϣⲗⲏⲗ ⲙⲛ-
ⲛⲥⲱⲥ ⲁⲩⲃⲟⲗⲧ ⲛϩⲏⲧϥ
ϩⲓⲃⲟⲗ ⲛⲧⲉⲕⲙⲛⲧⲉⲓⲱⲧ
ⲙⲛⲛⲥⲱⲥ ⲟⲛ ⲁⲩⲟⲩⲱϣ
ⲉⲙⲟⲣⲧ ⲛⲕⲉⲥⲟⲡ ⲛ-
ⲥⲉⲉⲝⲁⲅⲉⲓ ⲙⲙⲟ<>
ⲉⲁⲩϫⲟⲟⲩ ⲁⲩⲛ
ⲡⲡⲣⲉⲥⲃ(ⲩⲧⲉⲣⲟⲥ)
'… I am entreating your paternity. You have entered the shrine of Apa Phoibammon with me on Saturday together with my brothers for the purpose of the prayer. Afterwards, I was persuaded there without your paternity. And then again they wished to bind/oblige me another time, and they lead me out, whilst they were sending (for the presbyter?). They brought the presbyter …'
(Text: E. Stefanski and M. Lichtheim, trans.: G. Schenke)
History
Evidence ID
E04201Saint Name
Phoibammon, soldier and martyr of Assiut (ob. c. 304) : S00080Saint Name in Source
ⲁⲡⲁ ⲫⲟⲓⲃⲁⲙⲱⲛRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Documentary texts - Letter Late antique original manuscripts - Ostracon/Pot-sherdLanguage
- Coptic
