E05988: Coptic ostracon from Jeme (Upper Egypt) with a letter mentioning an institution dedicated to Apa *David (presumably David, Old Testament king of Israel, S00269) and one dedicated to Apa *Phoibammon (soldier and martyr of Assiut, S00080); datable to the 7th/8th century.

O.Crum 376

The letter is addressed to a 'father' Ioannes reporting on a robbery and mentioning that the victims went to the place of Apa David and then to the place of Apa Phoibammon where they gathered for the eucharist.

Lines 7–11 read as follows:

ⲁⲉⲓϫⲟⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲁⲩϫⲓⲟⲩⲉ ⲉⲣ[ⲟⲛ?] ⲁⲛⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲡⲙⲁ ⲛⲁⲡⲁ [ⲇⲁⲩ]ⲉⲓⲇ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲟⲛ ⲁⲛ[ⲃⲱⲕ?] ⲉⲡⲙⲁ ⲛⲁⲡⲁ ⲫⲟⲓⲃⲁⲙⲱ[ⲛ] ⲁⲛⲥⲩⲛⲁⲅⲉ

'I reported that we (?) were robbed. We went to the place of Apa David; and then again we [went] to the the place of Apa Phoibammon and we gathered for the service.'


(Text: W. E. Crum; trans.: G. Schenke)