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ARTEFACT IDENTIFIERS

Artefact ID1234
TM IDTM 175275
Findspot (DEChriM ID)48   (Madīnat Hābū)
ClassTextual
MaterialCeramic
Writing mediumOstracon
Text contentSubliterary
LanguageGreek
Description

P.Bagnall 10: School text

Clay ostracon containing a Greek list of words. Since the ostracon is broken on the top and on both sides, it is impossible to determine whether the exercise was extensive or included only some sets of letters (here words starting with ξ on col. 1 and π on col. 2). The two existing columns are defined by a long vertical line.

Some of the words suggesting a Christian milieu, acc. to ed.pr., are: Paganos (Christian term to designate polytheists); Pontius Pilatos; Patrobas (name of a Christian in Rome to whom St. Paul sent greetings in the Epistle to the Romans 16.14); Pathoures (Egyptian toponym that occurs several times in the Septuaginta, e.g. Jeremiah 51.5.14 and in some Christian writers such as Athanasius).

This ostracon provides a good example of how Christians adapted traditional school exercises by changing the content. See also P.Worp 53.

Selection criteriaChristian terms/formulas/concepts, Biblical quote or paraphrase
Date from300
Date to399
Dating criteria

Palaeographically dated to 4th c. in ed. pr.: the hand is compared with that of P.Bour. 1 [now redated to 5/6th c.] and the Chester Beatty papyrus published by W. Clarysse and A. Wouters (TM 64288 / LDAB 5508, dated end 3rd/early 4th c.) and showing more uniformity because of the smoother writing material.

Absolute/relative dateRelative date
Archaeological context

Part of a group of nearly 300 ostraka, mostly Coptic, which were purchased in Cairo by the Copticist Carl Schmidt on behalf of the Kelsey Museum in 1936-1937, the majority of which are of Theban provenance.

Accession number

Ann Arbor, Michigan University, Kelsey Museum inv. 25152.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Editio princeps

• Cribiore, Raffaella. 2013. Papyrological Texts in Honor of Roger S. Bagnall, ed. R. Ast, H. Cuvigny, T. M. Hickey, and J. Lougovaya. Durham, no. 10 (with pl.).

Authors
Valérie Schram, 2021
Suggested citation
Valérie Schram, 2021, "Artefact ID 1234", 4CARE database - Fourth-Century Christian Archaeological Record of Egypt, https://4care-skos.mf.no/artefacts/1234