DOI article:
Crum, Walter E.: Progress of Egyptology, [13]: Coptic Studies
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.10056#0063
Coptic Studies.
51
meanings of which the editor has happily traced to their hieroglyphic
prototypes. Professor Erman has also edited a curious text ((pvXaKTijpLOp)
from the British Museum 12 of which Professor Hyvernat had previously
published a photograph, and which appears to have the object of enabling
those who wish it—thieves, no doubt—to silence a too zealous watch-
dog. The document claims to be written bylsis, and contains examples
of a well-known cryptographic system. Under the title " Heidnisches
iei den Kopten, " the same scholar notices 13 three points of interest—an
obscure mention in one of Shenoute's writings of certain classical
divinities, the eventual degradation of the old Egyptian word for " god "
in Christian times to the meaning " demon," and a text relating a very
curious story of Isis and Horus.
A notice in the Revue Critique shows that M. Amelineau has published
a translation of the "Pistis Sophia";11 but I have not been able to see
the work.
The most remarkable event in this branch of Egyptian studies is only
known to us as yet from a notice in a daily paper.15 Dr. Carl Schmidt
had communicated to the Berlin Academy his astonishing discovery of
a 5th century (sic ?) MS. of the greatest importance containing three
Gnostic texts, viz. " the Gospel of Mary/' " the Wisdom of Jesus," and
" the irpd^i<i of Peter." The existence of the first of these had already
been presumed from the testimony of Irenasus.
4. Philological. Professor Erman has given an explanation of the
auxiliary meshe-, meshah, &c.,u which he proposes to add to the very small
list of verbs which represent the old simple conjugation with suffix.
Professor Piehl in two papers 17 discusses (1) the prefix se-, which
he derives from the ancient st; and (2), the mode of expressing the
numeral 80, which he shows to be a compound meaning literally 4 x 20,
as demonstrated by a passage in the " Pistis Sophia."
A reprint of Peyron's Lexicon has appeared in Berlin 18 with the useful
addition of the lists contributed to the Zeitschrift by Goodwin, Kabis
and Bschiai. These twenty pages added to Peyron's work will help, no
doubt, in maintaining its position until the appearance of Dr. Steindorff's
dictionary.
5. Miscellaneous. In his edition of the Ethiopic " Physiologus "
Hommel showed the probability of a Coptic version, and now
Professor Erman has discovered 19 a remnant of it in a fragment of late
date which may be compared with the passages quoted from the same work
in Budge's "St. Michael." The passages preserved in the Berlin frag-
ment are not always easy of interpretation. They refer to the bird
51
meanings of which the editor has happily traced to their hieroglyphic
prototypes. Professor Erman has also edited a curious text ((pvXaKTijpLOp)
from the British Museum 12 of which Professor Hyvernat had previously
published a photograph, and which appears to have the object of enabling
those who wish it—thieves, no doubt—to silence a too zealous watch-
dog. The document claims to be written bylsis, and contains examples
of a well-known cryptographic system. Under the title " Heidnisches
iei den Kopten, " the same scholar notices 13 three points of interest—an
obscure mention in one of Shenoute's writings of certain classical
divinities, the eventual degradation of the old Egyptian word for " god "
in Christian times to the meaning " demon," and a text relating a very
curious story of Isis and Horus.
A notice in the Revue Critique shows that M. Amelineau has published
a translation of the "Pistis Sophia";11 but I have not been able to see
the work.
The most remarkable event in this branch of Egyptian studies is only
known to us as yet from a notice in a daily paper.15 Dr. Carl Schmidt
had communicated to the Berlin Academy his astonishing discovery of
a 5th century (sic ?) MS. of the greatest importance containing three
Gnostic texts, viz. " the Gospel of Mary/' " the Wisdom of Jesus," and
" the irpd^i<i of Peter." The existence of the first of these had already
been presumed from the testimony of Irenasus.
4. Philological. Professor Erman has given an explanation of the
auxiliary meshe-, meshah, &c.,u which he proposes to add to the very small
list of verbs which represent the old simple conjugation with suffix.
Professor Piehl in two papers 17 discusses (1) the prefix se-, which
he derives from the ancient st; and (2), the mode of expressing the
numeral 80, which he shows to be a compound meaning literally 4 x 20,
as demonstrated by a passage in the " Pistis Sophia."
A reprint of Peyron's Lexicon has appeared in Berlin 18 with the useful
addition of the lists contributed to the Zeitschrift by Goodwin, Kabis
and Bschiai. These twenty pages added to Peyron's work will help, no
doubt, in maintaining its position until the appearance of Dr. Steindorff's
dictionary.
5. Miscellaneous. In his edition of the Ethiopic " Physiologus "
Hommel showed the probability of a Coptic version, and now
Professor Erman has discovered 19 a remnant of it in a fragment of late
date which may be compared with the passages quoted from the same work
in Budge's "St. Michael." The passages preserved in the Berlin frag-
ment are not always easy of interpretation. They refer to the bird