DOCSLIB.ORG

AHPG899 Advanced Coptic

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
AHPG899 Advanced Coptic Department of Ancient History Division of Humanities Macquarie University AHPG899 Advanced Coptic 4 credit points Semester 2, 2011 http://www.coptic.mq.edu.au Illustration on the title page Fragment of page 5 of the Nag Hammadi codex VI containing the Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles 2 Part 1. General information Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor and Lecturer: Dr Victor Ghica Email: [email protected] Phone: (+61) (2) 9850 6800 Office: W6A 541 For general enquiries Position: Departmental Administrator Name: Ms Raina Kim Email: [email protected] Phone: +61 2 9850 8833 Office: W6A 540 Further information on Coptic Studies: www.coptic.mq.edu.au 3 Part 2. Academic Contents Credit Points: 4 Prerequisites: AHPG896 Coptic I - Sahidic (ideally: AHPG897 Coptic II - Sahidic) or AHPG829 Coptic I – Bohairic (ideally: AHPG839 Coptic II - Bohairic) or previous knowledge of Coptic. Unit description This unit offers to students with previous knowledge of Coptic the opportunity for an in-depth study of Coptic language and literature. In the same time it provides an introduction to Coptic palaeography and epigraphy. As a matter of fact, this unit is conceived rather as a research seminar, given that the texts studied are unpublished. The students will treat the texts as editors do, i.e. they will first decipher and edit them and it is only afterwards that they will carry out the translation. Once the palaeographical, codicological, editorial, dialectal and translation issues are addressed, we will undertake the discussion of the content. This semester we will read the following literary and documentary texts: • In Apocalypsim 7-12 (P.Mor. 591, Par. 1313, 1317) – homily attributed to Cyril of Alexandria (White Monastery and Archangel Michael Monastery – Hamuli) • The Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles (NHC VI, 1) • O.Douch copte inv. 79-756, inv. 89-18 – ostraca (D , Kharga Oasis) • I.Bag. 1.08; 1.10; 30.4 – graffiti (Ba aw t necropolis, Kharga Oasis) • I.Ayn al-Zaaf 3 – dipinto (Ayn al-Zaaf, Kharga Oasis) These texts are written in Sahidic dialect, the most important pan-regional form of the Coptic language. However, each one of the texts features a particular dialectal situation (subdialect, idiolect or dialectal influences) and/or cross-dialectal scribal practices – phenomena which are particularly common in the Coptic texts. This unit will thus introduce the student to applied Coptic dialectology. In this respect, AHPG899 constitutes the practical correlate of the more theoretical AHPG898 (Coptic Dialects). Among the texts to study two are literary (In Apocalypsim 7-12 and The Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles). The ostraca, graffiti and dipinti are documentary texts. Unit outcomes In this course we will build on your knowledge of the most common and important Coptic dialect, Sahidic. After a short introduction to the documents, we will proceed to reading and analysing the texts. Six courses will be dedicated to the homiletic biblical commentary In Apocalypsim 7-12 (Sahidic with Fayumic parepigraphic influence), three to the apocryphon Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles, and four to documentary texts (ostraca, graffiti and dipinti). We will discuss not only the texts 4 themselves, but also their context (except for In Apocalypsim 7-12, all the other texts come from excavated sites), genre, palaeography and dialects. Students will also acquire or improve the following skills: • knowledge of grammatical, papyrological, codicological, and palaeographical terminology • familiarity with phono-graphematic or graphematic variation in texts written in more or less standardised Sahidic • identification of Coptic sub-dialects • recognition of main palaeographical styles in Coptic documents • translating from English into Coptic Graduate capabilities Cognitive capabilities 1. Discipline knowledge and skills Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields. 2. Critical, analytical and integrative thinking Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory. 3. Research and problem solving capability Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving. Interpersonal and personal dispositions 4. Effective communication Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats. 5. Engaged and responsible, active and ethical citizens Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues 6. Capable of professional and personal judgment and initiative Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common 5 sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives. Part 3. Assessment in this unit Assessment at a glance Task Weight Due dates 3* assignments weighted 80% Weeks 5, 8 and 10 according to length and difficulty 1 vocabulary test 10% Week 11 1 grammar test 10% Week 12 * This unit will be available to both undergraduate and postgraduate students. In this type of units generally different assessment criteria are applied to these student groups. Therefore postgraduate students will be required to submit an extra shorter assignment. Assessment tasks, submission, and return Learning any ancient language is based on three basic principles: assimilation, repetition and application: • the continuous assimilation of new words and grammatical structures, • the memorisation and constant repetition of the knowledge acquired and • the application of this knowledge by means of translation and grammatical exercises. In a classroom setting the control of the students’ progress is fairly easy, both for teachers and for the students themselves, with vocabulary tests, translation exercises and other tests usually done in an exam environment. Distance students will need to be extra disciplined about learning the new words and going over material already learned. The assignments will be posted on the internal pages of the website using the assignments tool. The tests will take place in class, for the internal students, and over 6 the phone, for the external students. The grammar test will cover the grammatical topics discussed during the course as well as the content of the units Coptic I and II. The content of the vocabulary test will be announced well in advance. Examination There will be no exam for this unit. Both internal and external students will receive their marks through continuous assessment. Extensions Extensions on assignments are granted only in case of a real emergency. In case of a medical condition, a certificate will need to be presented. Please consult me immediately after an emergency arises in order to work out an alternative plan. The departmental penalty for assignment lateness is generally 2% a day (including weekends). Student workload There are 3 hours per credit point per week, which means that students enrolled in AHPG899 (a postgraduate unit worth 4 credit point) unit should work for 12 hours per week. Completion of the unit In order to complete the unit satisfactorily all assignments must be submitted and an overall mark of 50% or more is required. Part 4. Delivery and resources Lecture times and locations There will be one three-hour lecture per week, on Tuesday from 6.00-9.00 pm in W5C 302. The lectures will be recorded and sent out to distance students. They will also be provided as iLectures in digital form on the unit website. Required and recommended resources Texts for reading and Coursenotes Photographs of the documents for reading will be distributed via the Blackboard. Please note that the copyright of all the photographs belong to Dr Victor Ghica. The usage of the photographs used during this semester is strictly limited to the purposes of this course. Any other use as well as the distribution of the photographs to persons which are not enrolled in this unit is illegal. Coursenotes to accompany the recorded lectures will be distributed on the Website each week. 7 Resources Sahidic For a review of Sahidic Coptic see the textbook for Coptic I and II (Sahidic): Thomas O. Lambdin, Introduction to Sahidic Coptic, Macon 1983, 2nd edition 1992. Bohairic The standard grammar for Bohairic Coptic is Alexis Mallon, Grammaire copte: bibliographie, chrestomathie et vocabulaire, 4 éd. revue par Michel Malinine, Beyrouth 1956. Students with a reasonable command of German are encouraged to look at: Walter Till, Koptische Dialektgrammatik, mit Lesestücken und Wörterbuch, 2nd ed. Munich 1961. For a comprehensive bibliography see below. A good introduction to Bohairic Coptic, which provides a didactical approach especially for those with little previous familiarity with formal English grammar, is Sameh Younan, So You Want To Learn Coptic (see http://www.learncoptic.com/ for information about ordering). Dictionaries A very good investment for AHPG899 Advanced Coptic (and AHPG898 Coptic Dialects) is a Coptic dictionary.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Mints – MISR NATIONAL TRANSPORT STUDY
    No. TRANSPORT PLANNING AUTHORITY MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT MiNTS – MISR NATIONAL TRANSPORT STUDY THE COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON THE MASTER PLAN FOR NATIONWIDE TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT FINAL REPORT TECHNICAL REPORT 11 TRANSPORT SURVEY FINDINGS March 2012 JAPAN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGENCY ORIENTAL CONSULTANTS CO., LTD. ALMEC CORPORATION EID KATAHIRA & ENGINEERS INTERNATIONAL JR - 12 039 No. TRANSPORT PLANNING AUTHORITY MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT MiNTS – MISR NATIONAL TRANSPORT STUDY THE COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON THE MASTER PLAN FOR NATIONWIDE TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT FINAL REPORT TECHNICAL REPORT 11 TRANSPORT SURVEY FINDINGS March 2012 JAPAN INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGENCY ORIENTAL CONSULTANTS CO., LTD. ALMEC CORPORATION EID KATAHIRA & ENGINEERS INTERNATIONAL JR - 12 039 USD1.00 = EGP5.96 USD1.00 = JPY77.91 (Exchange rate of January 2012) MiNTS: Misr National Transport Study Technical Report 11 TABLE OF CONTENTS Item Page CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................1-1 1.1 BACKGROUND...................................................................................................................................1-1 1.2 THE MINTS FRAMEWORK ................................................................................................................1-1 1.2.1 Study Scope and Objectives .........................................................................................................1-1
    [Show full text]
  • Nag Hammadi, Gnosticism and New Testament Interpretation
    Grace Theological Journal 8.2 (1987) 195-212 Copyright © 1987 by Grace Theological Seminary. Cited with permission. NAG HAMMADI, GNOSTICISM AND NEW TESTAMENT INTERPRETATION WILLIAM W. COMBS The Gnostic heresy alluded to in the NT and widely repudiated by Christian writers in the second century and after has been in- creasingly studied in the last forty years. The discovery in upper Egypt of an extensive collection of Gnostic writings on papyri trans- formed a poorly known movement in early Christianity into a well documented heresy of diverse beliefs and practices. The relationship of Gnosticism and the NT is an issue that has not been resolved by the new documents. Attempts to explain the theology of the NT as dependent on Gnostic teachings rest on ques- tionable hypotheses. The Gnostic redeemer-myth cannot be docu- mented before the second century: Thus, though the Gnostic writings provide helpful insight into the heresies growing out of Christianity, it cannot be assumed that the NT grew out of Gnostic teachings. * * * INTRODUCTION STUDENTS of the NT have generally been interested in the subject of Gnosticism because of its consistent appearance in discussions of the "Colossian heresy" and the interpretation of John's first epistle. It is felt that Gnosticism supplies the background against which these and other issues should be understood. However, some who use the terms "Gnostic" and "Gnosticism" lack a clear understanding of the movement itself. In fact, our knowledge of Gnosticism has suffered considerably from a lack of primary sources. Now, however, with the discovery of the Nag Hammadi (hereafter, NH) codices, this void is being filled.
    [Show full text]
  • Food Safety Inspection in Egypt Institutional, Operational, and Strategy Report
    FOOD SAFETY INSPECTION IN EGYPT INSTITUTIONAL, OPERATIONAL, AND STRATEGY REPORT April 28, 2008 This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by Cameron Smoak and Rachid Benjelloun in collaboration with the Inspection Working Group. FOOD SAFETY INSPECTION IN EGYPT INSTITUTIONAL, OPERATIONAL, AND STRATEGY REPORT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR POLICY REFORM II CONTRACT NUMBER: 263-C-00-05-00063-00 BEARINGPOINT, INC. USAID/EGYPT POLICY AND PRIVATE SECTOR OFFICE APRIL 28, 2008 AUTHORS: CAMERON SMOAK RACHID BENJELLOUN INSPECTION WORKING GROUP ABDEL AZIM ABDEL-RAZEK IBRAHIM ROUSHDY RAGHEB HOZAIN HASSAN SHAFIK KAMEL DARWISH AFKAR HUSSAIN DISCLAIMER: The author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...................................................................................... 1 INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK ......................................................................... 3 Vision 3 Mission ................................................................................................................... 3 Objectives .............................................................................................................. 3 Legal framework..................................................................................................... 3 Functions...............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • How Reliable Is the Story of the Nag Hammadi Discovery?
    Article Journal for the Study of the New Testament How Reliable is the Story of 35(4) 303 –322 © The Author(s) 2013 the Nag Hammadi Discovery? Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/0142064X13482243 jsnt.sagepub.com Mark Goodacre Duke University, USA Abstract James Robinson’s narrative of how the Nag Hammadi codices were discovered is popular and compelling, a piece of fine investigative journalism that includes intrigue and blood vengeance. But there are several different, conflicting versions of the story, including two-person (1977), seven-person (1979) and eight-person (1981) versions. Disagreements include the name of the person who first found the jar. Martin Krause and Rodolphe Kasser both questioned these stories in 1984, and their scepticism is corroborated by the Channel 4 (UK) series, The Gnostics (1987), which features Muhammad ‘Ali himself, in his only known appearance in front of camera, offering his account of the discovery. Several major points of divergence from the earlier reports raise questions about the reliability of ‘Ali’s testimony. It may be safest to conclude that the earlier account of the discovery offered by Jean Doresse in 1958 is more reliable than the later, more detailed, more vivid versions that are so frequently retold. Keywords Nag Hammadi, discovery, James Robinson, Jean Doresse, the Gnostics The ‘Canonical’ Nag Hammadi Story The story of the discovery of the Nag Hammadi codices in 1945 has attained near canonical status in scholarship of early Christianity. James Robinson’s compelling narrative of how Muhammad ‘Ali al-Samman and his brothers unearthed the jar containing the codices combines skilled investigative journal- ism with tales of intrigue and blood vengeance.1 It is a staple of introductory 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Egyptian Electricity Holding Company
    Arab Republic of Egypt Ministry of Electricity and Energy Egyptian Electricity Holding Company Annual Report 2009/2010 Electricity for 2009/2010 2 Ministry of Electricity & Energy Egyptian Electricity Holding Company CONTENTS Organizational Structure of the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC) ....... 5 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 7 - Electricity for 2009/2010 ................................................................................................... 9 - Electric Power Production............................................................................................. 11 - Information about Production Companies .......................................................................12 - Thermal Power Plant Projects .........................................................................................13 - Hydro Power Plants Projects............................................................................................ 23 - Disseminating the Use of New & Renewable Energy ...................................................... 28 - Electric Power Transmission ........................................................................................ 30 - Transmission Network Statistics ..................................................................................... 31 - International Electrical Interconnection ............................................................................ 32 - Control Centers
    [Show full text]
  • Making, Remaking and Unmaking Early 'Writing'
    “It Is Written”?: Making, remaking and unmaking early ‘writing’ in the lower Nile Valley Kathryn E. Piquette Freie Universität Berlin Introduction Analysis and interpretation of inscribed objects often focus on their written meanings and thus their status as products of completed action. Attention is less commonly directed to the ways in which past actors intermingled and transformed material substances via particular tools and embodied behaviours — the material practices which give rise to graphical expres- sion and anchor subsequent acts of symbolic meaning (re-)construction. Building on research into the materiality of early writing and related image making (see Piquette 2007; 2008), this chapter focusses on one aspect of written object ‘life histories’ — the processes of remaking and unmaking. I explore below the dynamic unfolding and reformulation of ‘writing’ and related imagery as artefact within the context of a selection of early inscribed objects from the lower Nile Valley (Figure 1). The more portable writing surfaces include over 4000 objects, including small labels, ceramic and stone vessels, stelae, seals and seal impressions, imple- ments, and personal items (Regulski 2010: 6, 242). The geographically- and temporally-related marks on fixed stone surfaces (variously referred to as ‘petroglyphs’, ‘rock art’, ‘rock inscrip- tions’ or ‘graffiti’, e.g. Redford and Redford 1989; Storemyr 2009) also constitute a crucial dataset for questions of early writing and image-making practices in north-east Africa, but fall outside the scope of this chapter. For its basis, this inquiry examines comparatively three inscribed find types: small perforated plaques or ‘labels’ of bone, ivory and wood; stone ves- sels; and stone stelae.
    [Show full text]
  • Egypt Under Roman Rule: the Legacy of Ancient Egypt I ROBERT K
    THE CAMBRIDGE HISTORY OF EGYPT VOLUME I Islamic Egypt, 640- I 5 I 7 EDITED BY CARL F. PETRY CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS PUBLISHED BY THE PRESS SYNDICATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE CONTENTS The Pitt Building, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 IRP, United Kingdom CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge, CB2 2Ru, United Kingdom http://www.cup.cam.ac.uk 40 West 20th Street, New York, NY roorr-42rr, USA http://www.cup.org ro Stamford Road, Oakleigh, Melbourne 3 r66, Australia © Cambridge University Press r998 This book is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements, no reproduction of any part may take place without the written permission of Cambridge University Press. First published r998 Printed in the United Kingdom at the University Press, Cambridge List of illustrations to chapter I 3 ix List of contributors x Typeset in Sabon 9.5/r2 pt [CE] Preface xm A cataloguerecord for this book is available from the British Library Note on transliteration xv Maps xvi ISBN o 5 2r 4 7r 3 7 o hardback r Egypt under Roman rule: the legacy of Ancient Egypt I ROBERT K. RITNER 2 Egypt on the eve of the Muslim conquest 34 WALTER E. KAEGI 3 Egypt as a province in the Islamic caliphate, 641-868 62 HUGH KENNEDY 4 Autonomous Egypt from Ibn Tuliin to Kafiir, 868-969 86 THIERRY BIANQUIS 5 The Isma'ili Da'wa and the Fatimid caliphate I20 PAUL E. WALKER 6 The Fatimid state, 969-rr7r IJ I PAULA A.
    [Show full text]
  • Libya North Africa Overview
    4°30'0"E 9°0'0"E 13°30'0"E 18°0'0"E 22°30'0"E 30°0'0"E 27°0'0"E 31°0'0"E 32°0'0"E 31°30'0"E Ash Shaykh Mubarak El-burg ! Mediterranean Sea ! ! Nile delta zoom Banzart ! Ash Shihabiyah ! !( Baltim Al Ayyash 'Ezbet 'Abd el-Rahmân el-Qawâtîhl ! ! COLLO Ferryville Burg Migheizil ANNABA TABARKA 7 NOVEMBRE ! DAMIETTA !( 'Ezbet Khamîs Abu 'Abd el-'Âli Dumyat Bou el Djerad ! h!!( Italy ! Tab ar ka ! h! DELLYS Collo SKIKDA Rashid Ezbet el-Gezira !( Shata Annaba ! !(o Matfur Ezbet Gamasa el Gharbiya Dumyat ! Dellys La Calle ! ! ! BEJAIA FERHAT ABBAS! h! ! Tebourba Tunis ! 'Ezbet el-Badârwa h! Iguer-n-Tala Zaouia Tachta h! !( !( ! Birimbal ! Turkey ! Taranimt Jijel ! SKIKDA (damietta) ! Djema Abd el Aziz o !( La Marsa Kélibia!( ! 'Ezbet Shalabi-el-Rûdi Boumerdes !( Annaba !(o Aïn Draham Kafr-el-sheikh Bilqas Qism Tani ! h! Duquesne !o! El Milia ! Jedeida ! .! ! 'Ezbet el-Fouâdiya El-Haddâdi Tizi Ouzou !( Ta he r ! ! 'Aïn Kechera ! Mennzel Temine Fariskur !Thenia ! ! ! Bejaia La Mornaghia Soliman Abu Qir ABU QIR ! No. 3 ! ! Mirabeau Ta mda Kebouch ! El-Tarf Al Firnanah !(Béja Ben Arous ! El-Salâhîb Keddara Jijel Skikda ANNABA EL MELLAH ! !Menzel Bou Zelfa ! ! PORT SAID ! ! o ! h! ! Idku El Marsa ! Birriyet el Aseifar PORT SAID Tizi Ouzou SOUMMAM ! Oulad Saada !Souk-el Khemis !( ! 'Ezbet el-Mirâya Arbatache ! ! ! Bejaia ! Al Qasabi ! o Chellata Bou Amara Grarem Jendouba Mutubis ! !( h! Palestro Ouadhia Michelet ! ! Grombalia Alexandria h! Bordj Ben Embareck !( ! ! MAADIYA PORT Shalimah !( Akbou! Bordj Tiaoumine Redjas !( ! Bilqâs Qism Auwal ! ! !
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of Protest in Egyptian Politics
    THE INSTITUTE FOR MIDDLE EAST STUDIES IMES CAPSTONE PAPER SERIES THE ROLE OF PROTEST IN EGYPTIAN POLITICS JESSICA L. GLOVER MAY 2010 THE INSTITUTE FOR MIDDLE EAST STUDIES THE ELLIOTT SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY COPYRIGHT OF THE AUTHOR, 2010 2 The Role of Protest in Egyptian Politics I. Introduction Protest1 is certainly not new to Egyptian politics. Up until 1954, with the consolidation of the Free Officer’s regime, labor and political protests, strikes, and demonstrations formed an important repertoire of contention. Egyptian national identity was developed, in part, through acts of protest and resistance against the British presence in Egypt and foreign control over the Egyptian economy. However, protest as a channel to express grievances was severely curtailed under the Nasser regime’s efforts to quell political competitors and domestic instability. From 1954 forward, protest in Egypt still occurred, but it was sporadic, often spontaneous, and nearly always crushed by security forces. Today, the Egyptian street has re-emerged as a site of contention, and protests expressing grievances and demanding redress have become an everyday occurrence. In the past decade this normalization of protest has become apparent. Cairo witnesses it in various forms: ongoing labor protests in the face of neoliberal economic reform; anti-foreign protests aimed at specific international events; demonstrations organized utilizing new media; a cross-cutting Kifaya/Enough Movement demanding wholesale regime change; and numerous 1 Karl Deiter Opp, after reviewing the literature for definitions of protest (and finding twelve significantly different interpretations) has offered the following as a baseline definition of protest: “Protest is defined as a joint (i.e.
    [Show full text]
  • The Coptic Gnostic Texts from Nag Hammadi
    THE COPTIC GNOSTIC TEXTS FROM NAG HAMMADI Andrew Helmbold From the second until the fourth century the Christian church was engaged in a life and death struggle with a hydra-headed heresy known as Gnosticism. Out of this struggle came at least three important results: (1) The canon of the New Testa- ment, (2) The creeds of the early church, (3) catholic Christendom. Until, recently our resources for the study of early Christendom's great rival were exceedingly meager. They consisted of fragments of Gnostic works found in the church fathers, the statements of the fathers themselves, and three Gnostic codices: (1) Codex Brucianus of the 5-6th century, containing the two Books of Jeu and an untitled work, (2) Codex Askewianus, of the 4th century, containing the Pistis Sophia, and (3) Codex Berolinensis 8502 of the 5th century containing The Gospel of Mary, The Apocryphon of John and The Wisdom of Jesus.1 From these sources scholars have endeavored to reconstruct the origins, the theology or mythology, and the praxis of Gnosticism, and to evaluate its relationship to orthodox Christianity and other re- ligions. New light has been thrown on these subjects, as well as on many related topics, by the discovery in 1945, of a complete Gnostic library at Nag Hammadi in Upper Egypt.2 This discovery has been hailed by some as the greatest manuscript find of the century, while others a little more cautious say it is at least as important as the Dead Sea Scrolls.3 Because most of the texts are still unpublished, the importance of the find has not yet reached the general public, or even most of the scholarly world.
    [Show full text]
  • The Church in Egypt Today
    The Church in Egypt Today Abdel Masih Istafanous Background Tradition holds that St. Mark, the writer of the second Gospel, founded the church in Egypt. 1 We know, however, from Acts 2 that on the day of Pentecost representatives from Egypt were present to hear the message of the gospel. It is also worth noting that the Jews of Alexandria were prominent among the Jews of the Diaspora. Moreover, the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, was begun in the third century B.C. in Alexandria. Therefore, we can safely presume that the church was established in Egypt soon after the day of Pentecost through the ministry of some of the 3,000 people who were baptized then. Papyrus, Manuscripts, and Translations Egypt is well known for papyrus, the writing material produced from a plant that grew by the River Nile. The dry climate of Egypt preserved many invaluable, biblical papyri manuscripts for thousands of years. One of the best known is the Chester Beatty collection which contains texts from the Gospels, Acts, the Epistles of Paul, and Revelation, all dating between 200 and 250 A.D. Of special importance was the the discovery of the Nag Hammadi (a town in Upper Egypt) manuscripts in 194 7, which gave us a much closer acquaintance with the Gnostics and their deviations from Christianity, and of the Dishna (a town in Upper Egypt near Nag Hammadi) manuscripts discovered shortly before 1956. These so-called Bodmer Papyri take us back to the beginnings of the third century. They contain the full text of the Gospels of Luke and John, the two Epistles of Peter, and the Epistle of Jude.
    [Show full text]
  • Baume & Marpent's Egyptian Bridges
    Claudine Piaton, Ezio Godoli and David Peyceré (dir.) Building Beyond The Mediterranean Studying The Archives of European Businesses (1860-1970) Publications de l’Institut national d’histoire de l’art From one shore to the other: Baume & Marpent’s Egyptian bridges D’une rive à l’autre… Les ponts égyptiens de Baume & Marpent Isabelle Sirjacobs DOI: 10.4000/books.inha.12707 Publisher: Publications de l’Institut national d’histoire de l’art, Honoré Clair, InVisu (CNRS-INHA) Place of publication: Arles Year of publication: 2012 Published on OpenEdition Books: 2 March 2021 Serie: InVisu Electronic ISBN: 9791097315016 http://books.openedition.org Printed version Date of publication: 1 January 2012 Electronic reference SIRJACOBS, Isabelle. From one shore to the other: Baume & Marpent’s Egyptian bridges In: Building Beyond The Mediterranean: Studying The Archives of European Businesses (1860-1970) [online]. Arles: Publications de l’Institut national d’histoire de l’art, 2012 (generated 05 mars 2021). Available on the Internet: <http://books.openedition.org/inha/12707>. ISBN: 9791097315016. DOI: https://doi.org/ 10.4000/books.inha.12707. From one shore to the other: Baume & Marpent’s Egyptian bridges Isabelle Sirjacobs The company Baume & Marpent (1853-1956) is known Nile were the work of the Belgian firm. In Egypt, it also worldwide for its bridges. From China (the Yellow River distinguished itself by supplying rolling stock (freight bridges, 1906), to Brazil (bridge over the Uruguay River, and passenger cars and chassis) and metallic frames for 1910), via Europe (the Simplon railway bridges in Italy, various buildings (hangars, reservoirs, pylons, trestles, between 1883 and 1885), the production of bridges of all etc.).
    [Show full text]