E05996: Coptic ostracon from the region of Hermonthis (Upper Egypt) with a guarantee given to bishop Abraham,concerning the topos of Apa *Leontios (possibly the martyr of Tripolis, Phoenicia, S00216); datable around the year 600.
online resource
posted on 2018-07-18, 00:00authored bygschenke
O.Crum ad. 9
In this document addressed to bishop Abraham of Hermonthis, Psate, a man from Jeme, gives surety for his two sons who are either taking on responsibilities at the topos, most likely a church, of saint Leontios, or are just joining their father, to stay with him there as his children. Should the father, or his sons, fail to perform their duties satisfactorily, the father will stand responsible for their deeds, and they will leave their post at the topos. What function Psate fulfilled at the shrine of Leontios is not specified.
'I, Psate, the man from Jeme, am writing to my paternal master Apa Abraham. I act as guarantor to you for my two sons, Pappas and Ananias, because, I have asked you and you have been merciful with my sons. Now then, behold, their sin is upon me. If I neglect the topos of Apa Leontios, either I or my children, we are ready and I depart from the topos without any objections. For yours is the topos and you are its master. I, Psate, I assent to this tablet (ostracon).'
Late antique original manuscripts - Ostracon/Pot-sherd
Documentary texts - Other private document
Language
Coptic
Evidence not before
580
Evidence not after
620
Activity not before
580
Activity not after
620
Place of Evidence - Region
Egypt and Cyrenaica
Place of Evidence - City, village, etc
Hermonthis
Place of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Hermonthis
Hermopolis
ϣⲙⲟⲩⲛ
Ashmunein
Hermopolis
Cult activities - Places
Cult building - unspecified
Cult activities - Places Named after Saint
Church
Source
The ostracon belongs to the Collection Georg Steindorff, inv. 8.
Discussion
For oracle questions posed at a shrine of Leontios, see E02625.
Bibliography
Text and translation:
Crum, W.E., Coptic Ostraca from the Collections of the Egypt Exploration Fund (London, 1902), pp. 11 and 89. = O.Crum
German translation:
Till, W.C., Die Koptischen Rechtsurkunden aus Theben (Vienna, 1964), 69.