(a): Ägyptisches Museum, Berlin (lost)
(b): Skulpturensammlung und Museum für Byzantinische Kunst, Berlin (previously Ägyptisches Museum, Berlin)
Museum no.
(a): ÄM 1495
(b): 9996 (old no. ÄM 1503)
Medium
stela
Technique
incised
Type of text
epitaph
Language
Coptic
Content
fragment of epitaph of unidentified man
Date
700–999
Notes
Junker (followed by SB Kopt. and other publications) read the first 3 signs of l. 1 ⲯⲓⲉ and proposed to interpret them as numeral designating a date according to the Era of Diocletian/Martyrs (AM 715 = AD 998/9); more probable, however, is to read ⲯⲓⲥ, that is Coptic numeral 'nine' (or 'nineteen' or 'twenty-nine')
Material
sandstone
Object dimensions
(a): not recorded (b): H: 29.5; W: 22.5; Th: c. 6 Estimated total dimensions: H: 32.5; W: 38
Text dimensions
Object colour
grey
Text colour
Lines
9
Height of letters
c. 2 (3.5 in l. 9)
Description
Two joining pieces forming the lower part of a rectangular slab, with complete bottom margin and the lowermost part of both side margins preserved. The epigraphic field framed by an incised line, leaving quite broad uninscribed margin (3 cm on the right, 4.5 cm at the bottom).
Decorative elements
State of preservation
incomplete; upper part completely destroyed; surface heavily damaged in the central part
Date
700–999
Chronological systems
Egyptian calendar
Dating formulae
[---]ⲯⲓⲥ ⲙⲡⲉⲃⲟⲧ [---]
Transcription
"[on the] ninth (or nineteen or twenty nine) of the month of [---]" (l. 1)