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ARTEFACT IDENTIFIERS

Artefact ID760
TM IDTM 702431
Findspot (DEChriM ID)28   (al-Bahnasā)
ClassTextual
MaterialPapyrus
Writing mediumSheet/roll
Text contentSubliterary
LanguageGreek
Archive/DossierDossier
Description

P.Oxy. LXXXII 5306: Christian amulet. 

Fragmentary sheet of papyrus (measuring 16.5 x 8 cm) preserving 47 lines of text, and presenting an applied amulet for the healing of, and protection against fever for, a person by the name of Eulogia. The amulet employs the phrase “seal of the living god”, which possibly derives from the Apocalypse of John 7.2. This phrase appears in another Christian amulet from the 4th c., P. Chester Beatty inv. 1011.

There is a small diagram at the bottom consisting in a cross surrounded by nomina sacra and alpha-omega.

The papyrus sheet has signs of folding, as there is damage along 5 horizontal and 6 vertical folding lines. The text runs parallel with the fibres. The verso is blank.

Selection criteriaChristian terms/formulas/concepts, Christian symbols/gestures/isopsephy, Nomina sacra, Biblical quote or paraphrase
Date from325
Date to399
Dating criteria

Palaeography. The ed. pr. suggests a date of 325-400.

The amulet is catalogued in the 4th c. "Oxyrhynchus Christian Amulet Dossier" (KYP A76), along with P.Oxy. VI 924 and P.Oxy LXXXII 5307, all written by the same copyist.

Absolute/relative dateRelative date
Archaeological context

The provenance is Oxyrhynchos (al-Bahnasā) during the excavations of Bernard Grenfell and Arthur S. Hunt.

Accession number

Oxford, Sackler Library, Papyrology Rooms 104/3(a)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Editio princeps

· Maltomini, Franco, et al.  2016. The Oxyrhynchus Papyri. Vol. 82. London: Egypt Exploration Society. 77-89, papyrus no. 5306. 

Additional bibliography

· Maltomini, Franco. 2018. “Un dio sopra l’altro: a proposito di una formula esorcistica”. Πολυμάθεια. Studi Classici offerti a Mario Capasso. Davoli, Paola and Natascia Pellé, eds. Lecce: Pensa Multimedia Editore. 287-293.

Authors
Sofia Heim, 2021
Suggested citation
Sofia Heim, 2021, "Artefact ID 760", 4CARE database - Fourth-Century Christian Archaeological Record of Egypt, https://4care-skos.mf.no/artefacts/760