Library Number:

ML.MS.04

folios/fragments:

244+23

Language:

Bohairic, Bohairic-Arabic, Arabic

Material:

Paper

Format:

Codex, 10 folios per quire

Dimensions:

223x155 mm, text 170x105 mm

Arrangement:

One-column (Bohairic or Arabic) & 2-column (Bohairic-Arabic) with 16-17 lines per page

Script:

Upright. Three distinguished hands. ff. 190-244 by a later hand than that found in the rest of the manuscript. The Arabic text also appears to be by a different, contemporary hand to original Bohairic script. Black ink with some red characters

Page Numbering:

Coptic numerals on verso side of folio and quire number at the recto of the first folio as well as the verso of the last folio of each quire

Illuminations:

Large Capitals, Major initials, initials, lectional signs, quire monograms, page headers (11)

Marginalia:

None

Colophons:

1 (f.218v)

Binding:

Reddish leather with indented design

Contents:

Liturgical, Book of the Coptic Psalmodia for the month of Kiahk. This manuscript reflects an earlier form of the usage of this book, which was limited to Saturday Vespers and Midnight prayers. There is a similar manuscript in the Vatican but not as abbreviated as this one. The manuscripts of the current usage of the book show a more expanded text. Such usage probably began in the 18th century.

Dating:

Undated, possibly 17-18 century with 19th century additions to supplement missing pages

Scribe:

Unknown

Owner

Unknown probably private

Provenance:

Unknown possibly Cairo

History:

ML.MS.04 through ML.MS.07 were purchased from a Moslem dealer who dealt also in Egyptian artifacts and was known to sell manuscripts to unknown Australian institutions. They were brought to the US in February 2006.

Related Fragments

Unknown