E04268: Coptic funerary stela from Wadi Sarga (Upper Egypt) with a sketch of three sail boats, mentioning Apa *Thomas (S01695) and invoking Apa *Anoup (S00774) for the sake of a deceased sailor; datable to the 7th/8th century.
I.Sarga 73<br><br>The invocation is surrounded by sketches of three sail boats.<br><br>+ ⲓⲥ ⲟ̣ ⲁⲅ̣ⲓ̣ⲟⲥ ⲁⲡⲁ<br>ⲁⲛⲟⲩⲡ ⲛⲟϭ<br>ⲣⲟⲓⲥ ⲫⲡ . . ⲟ̣<br>ⲥ ⲕⲟ(ⲩ)ⲓ ⲡⲛⲏϥ ⲟ̣<br><br>'Jesus. Saint Apa Anoup, great one, watch over young NN, the great sailor.'<br><br>Next to one of the boats one reads:<br><br>ⲁⲡⲁ ⲑⲱⲙⲁⲥ<br><br>'Apa Thomas'.<br><br><br>(Text and trans.: W. E. Crum, modified)<br><br>For both, Apa Thomas and Apa Anoup included in a list of holy men from Wadi Sarga, see <a href="https://oxford.figshare.com/articles/_/13805837">E01245</a>.
History
Evidence ID
E04268
Saint Name
Thomas, Apa Thomas, patron saint at Wadi Sarga : S01695
Apollo, Phib, and Anoup : S00774
Place of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Wadi Sarga
Hermopolis
ϣⲙⲟⲩⲛ
Ashmunein
Hermopolis
Cult activities - Non Liturgical Practices and Customs
Prayer/supplication/invocation
Source
The stela was found at Wadi Sarga and is now housed in the British Museum in London.
Bibliography
Text and translation:
Bell, H.I. and Crum, W.E., Wadi Sarga: Coptic and Greek Texts from the Excavations Undertaken by the Byzantine Research Account (Copenhagen: Gyldendalske Boghandel-Nordisk Forlag, 1922), 82.