Illuminated Uncial Coptic Christian Bible Manuscript

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This is a rare illuminated uncial Coptic Christian Bible manuscript leaf. It is estimated that it is over 200 years old, dating to the late 18th century. On thick paper, with some discoloration, especially around the edges of the page, due to age and use. Total size of the page is 4 ½ in. x 6 ½ in. (= 117 mm x 164 mm). The text area is about 3 in. x 5 in. (= 76 mm x 123 mm). The Coptic text in its distinctive and beautiful large uncial letters starts on the left of each line (since it is read from left to right), while the short Arabic translation starts from the right edge of each line (since it is read from right to left). T are n umerous instances of red rubrication in letters and words (both Coptic and Arabic), as well as diacritical and punctuation marks. The manuscript as a whole contains many instances of the Nomina Sacra or Sacred Names (which are used for such terms as God, Lord, Jesus, Christ, Savior, Father, Son, Holy, and Spirit). This particular leaf has three (3) large illuminated initial letters (one is shown in the enlarged image). This particular sheet has a number of sacred names on it. On the front side of the leaf is "The Lord" (line 8) and "God" (line 16). On the back side is "The Lord" (line 15) and "The Soul" (line 11). This is truly an amazing and beautiful leaf. The winner of the auction will also receive a photocopy of each side of this leaf with the most important Coptic words circled and translated, as well as other valuable and interesting textual notes, provided by a world famous Coptic scholar, who has published two artcles in the prestigious "Coptic Encyclopedia" and who has a Ph.D. degree. This is an original manuscript, not a reproduction. Its authenticity is 100% guaranteed. IMPORTANT WARNING NOTE: Please notice that I have used the word "Bible" in the title, it really should be "Biblical." (Earlier I had changed the word "Bible" to "Biblical," but t were no search hits, because most people are searching for the word "Bible.") The reason that I say this is because one cannot be certain that the particular text on the manuscript is a Bible or New Testament text. It could just as well be a Psalter, a private prayerbook, a theological exposition, a Biblical commentary and explanation, a church liturgy or service, various quotations of Patristic writers, a philosophical discussion, a hymnody, or some other Christian historical writing. However, this sheet does represent some aspect of the Christian religion of the Coptic Orthodox Church. This manuscript uses the beautiful large Uncial Coptic script (which shows connections with both ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and the Greek language). The Coptic alphabet is based on the Greek alphabet, but contains a number of extra letters for sounds not found in Greek. The extra letters come from the Demotic of the Egyptian script. The Coptic alphabet came into being during the 3rd century BC after the Greek conquest of Egypt and the subsequent spread of Christianity. The name 'Coptic' derives from the Greek word for Egyptian: " Aigyptioi" which became " Qibt" in Arabic and then was Latinized to become " Copt ." The Coptic language is a member of the Egyptian branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family and a descendant of the Ancient Egyptian language. Coptic was an official language in Egypt until around the 13th century A.D., when it was replaced by Arabic. Nowadays Coptic Christians all speak Arabic as their every day language, but use Coptic in their religious ceremonies. Coptic The language of Egypt endured for at least 3500 years before the Islamic conquest swept it aside in favour of Arabic. During that time it naturally underwent significant evolution. T was at one time much debate over the origin of the Egyptian language; was it Semitic or not? It seemed to have Semitic influence, but not enough to really be part of the family. This seems now to have been solved; Joseph H. Greenburg in the 1960s proposed to group most of the languages of northern Africa and the Middle E... read more

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