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ARTEFACT IDENTIFIERS

Artefact ID1372
TM IDTM 32692
Findspot (DEChriM ID)28   (al-Bahnasā)
ClassTextual
MaterialPapyrus
Writing mediumSheet/roll
Text contentDocumentary
LanguageGreek
Description

P.Oxy. XXXI 2601: Letter from Kopres
Almost completely preserved sheet of papyrus (only one horizontal band in the middle is gone) containing a private letter that gives a personal perspective on the persecutions. After a standard opening with greetings in Lord God, Kopres informs his "sister" (= probably his wife) Sarapias that he arrived safely at his destination (Alexandria?) and found out there that he would have to make a sacrifice if he wanted to take his case about a piece of land to court, which was probably the reason of his journey. He indicates that he made someone else (a pagan friend?) sacrifice on his behalf as a favour. In conclusion, he asks for news about relatives and sends greetings.

The letter, probably written by Kopres himself, occupies the whole sheet. The main body runs along the fibres, continues with one line in the left margin across the fibres, and ends with two last lines, on the back, written along the fibres. The address is written on the back, upside down in relation to the end of the letter.

Kopres wrote the isopsephism ϙθ (= 99 = amen) at the end of the address – which only appears, at this time, in Christian letters of recommendation written by and addressed to clergy members (P.Oxy. VIII 1162, P.Oxy. LVI 3857 and SB XVI 12304). Unstandard use of nomina sacra; diairesis.

Selection criteriaChristian terms/formulas/concepts, Christian symbols/gestures/isopsephy, Nomina sacra
Date from303
Date to311
Dating criteria

Time of the "Great Persecution": the edict issued on 23 February 303 intended to discourage Christians to go to court is considered as terminus post quem (Luijendijk 2008: 361)

Absolute/relative dateRelative date
Archaeological context-
Accession number

Oxford, Sackler Library, Papyrology Rooms P.Oxy. 2601

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Editio princeps

• Parsons, Peter J. 1966. The Oxyrhynchus Papyri XXXI, ed. J.W.B. Barns, P.J. Parsons, J.R. Rea and E.G. Turner. London, no. 2601. 

Additional bibliography

• Blumell, Lincoln H. and Thomas Wayment. 2015. Christian Oxyrynchus: Texts, Documents and Sources. Waco, Texas, no. 139.

• Choat, Malcolm. 2006. Belief and Cult in Fourth-century Papyri. Turnhout.

• Naldini, Mario. 1968. Il cristianesimo in Egitto. Florence, no. 35.

• Luijendijk, AnneMarie. 2008. "Papyri from the Great Persecution: Roman and Christian Perspectives." Journal of Early Christian Studies 16, 341-369.

• Luijendijk, AnneMarie. 2008. Greetings in the Lord. Cambridge (Mass.), 218.

• Trapp, Michael. 2003. Greek and Latin letters. Cambridge, 53-55 & 201-202. 

Authors
Valérie Schram, 2021
Suggested citation
Valérie Schram, 2021, "Artefact ID 1372", 4CARE database - Fourth-Century Christian Archaeological Record of Egypt, https://4care-skos.mf.no/artefacts/1372
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