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ARTEFACT IDENTIFIERS

Artefact ID696
TM IDTM 34140
Findspot (DEChriM ID)15   (al-Baǧawāt)
ClassFunerary element, Textual
MaterialPlaster
Writing mediumDipinto
Text contentSubliterary
LanguageGreek
Description

I.Oasis p. 66-67 no. 8; SB XX 14854; SEG XLIX 2211: Epigram of Petechon.

Facing the entrance, a part of the wall was specially plastered and prepared for the text, but a major part of it was destroyed with the wall (Fakhry 1951: 162).

The text consists of an acrostic epigram in 7 paragraphs of 4-5 lines, each one corresponding to one of the letters of the name of the young man deceased at age 15, Petechon. Only the last strophe of the poem is preserved: "N – I have separated myself from my worldly bride to participate in the life of the Spirit. He lived 15 years".

The vocabulary makes this text part of a series of epitaphs written for Christian aôroi (Wagner 1987: 67) and testifies both of a good command of Greek and certain creativity (see Bingen 1999: 620).

Selection criteriaChristian terms/formulas/concepts, Archaeological context associated with Christian markers
Date from300
Date to399
Dating criteria

Palaeography (Wagner 1987: 66 "l'écriture est du IVe s.") and archaeological context.

Absolute/relative dateRelative date
Archaeological context

Probably Chapel no. 193, one of the oldest square domed type (type 4).

Accession number

Al-Baǧawāt, in situ (Chapel 193 / Roquet, Ghica no. 16.01)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Editio princeps

• Wagner, Guy. 1987. Les oasis dʼÉgypte à lʼépoque grecque, romaine et byzantine dʼaprès les documents grecs. Le Caire: Ifao, 66-67, no. 8. 

Additional bibliography

• Bingen, Jean. 1999. "L'épigraphie grecque de l'Egypte post-constantinienne".  In XI congresso internazionale di epigrafia greca e latina : Roma, 18-24 settembre 1997, Atti II, Rome, 613-624.

• De Bock, W. 1901. Matériaux pour servir à lʼarchéologie de lʼÉgypte chrétienne. St. Petersbourg, 13.

• Fakhry, Ahmed. 1951. The Necropolis of El-Bagawat in Kharga Oasis. Cairo: Government press, no. 193.

Authors
Valérie Schram, 2021
Suggested citation
Valérie Schram, 2021, "Artefact ID 696", 4CARE database - Fourth-Century Christian Archaeological Record of Egypt, https://4care-skos.mf.no/artefacts/696
External links
Gallery