| Artefact ID | 143 |
| TM ID | TM 34163 |
| Findspot (DEChriM ID) | - () | Class | Textual |
| Material | Ceramic |
| Writing medium | Ostracon |
| Text content | Documentary |
| Language | Greek |
| Description | O.Bahria Div. 1; SB XX 14923: Letter to the abba Kosmas. This ostracon contains a letter sent by the "most humble" (elachistos) Elpidios, probably a monk, to the abba Kosmas. The text is difficult, but, according to Wagner, Elpidios says that he has learnt that a "brother from the outside" was sent to Constantinople to study and he is now expecting news from someone travelling by water. |
| Selection criteria | - |
| Date from | 350 |
| Date to | 499 |
| Dating criteria | Palaeography. Choat (2017: 47, n. 165) notes "the use of elachistos here invites suspicion that this letter is dated too early, as the many other uses cluster in the sixth |
| Absolute/relative date | Relative date |
| Archaeological context | According to Wagner 1987: 86-87, this ostracon is part of a lot of 68 Greek, Coptic and Arabic ostraca only known to him by photographs. He found those photographs in an envelope with the mention "Bahria oasis" in A. Fakhry's archive which were deposited at the DAIK after his death. |
| Accession number | Location unknown |
ARTEFACT IDENTIFIERS
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