KYP T-1506

KYPRIANOS DATABASE OF ANCIENT RITUAL TEXTS

KYPRIANOS T1506

Manuscript:	M176
Sigla:	PCM 1 1 PCM I 1 P. Kell. Copt. 35 P. Kellis V 35 Excavation no. P88 + P77B + P79 + P92.49
Text no. Position of the text within the manuscript.	2
Coptic Scriptorium:
Date:	351 – 390

Text position:	Ro, Vo col. 2 ll. 23-50
Type of text:	Letter (documentary)

Original title:
Original title (translated):
Conventional title:	Private letter from Ouales to Psais.

Language:	Egyptian (Coptic)
Dialect:	Lycopolitan (L*)
Script:	Coptic
Image:

Text:

Translation:

→
23. ϯϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲁⲣⲁⲕ ⲧⲟⲛⲟⲩ ϯϣⲗⲏⲗ ϩⲁ
24. ⲡⲕ̅ⲟⲩϫⲉⲓⲧⲉ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲛⲁϭ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲁⲓϣ
25. ϣⲁϯⲟⲩⲁϣⲧⲕ̅ ⲛ̅ⲕⲉⲥⲁⲡ ϩⲛ̅ ⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁ
26. ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲡⲁⲣⲉϣⲉ ϫⲱⲕ ⲁⲃⲁⲗ ϯⲱⲣⲕ ⲛⲉⲕ
27. ⲙ̅ⲡⲛ̅ϫⲁⲓⲥ ⲡⲁⲣⲁⲕⲗⲏⲧⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡⲥⲁⲩⲛⲉ
28. ⲛ̅ⲧⲙⲏⲉ ϫⲉ ⲡⲉⲧⲁⲓ̈ϭⲛⲧϥ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲉⲓ ⲉϥϩⲏⲛ
29. ⲁⲣⲁⲓ̈ ⲁⲓ̈ⲧⲁⲭⲩ ⲁⲓ̈ⲥⲁϩϥ ⲁⲓ̈ⲧⲛ̅ⲛⲁⲩϥ
30. ⲛⲉⲕ ϫⲉ ⲉⲣⲉⲡⲕⲉⲟⲩⲉ ⲥⲏϩ ⲁⲩ[ⲕⲟ]ⲩⲓ ⲛ̅ⲗⲉⲕ-
31. ⲙⲉ ⲛ̅ⲭⲁⲣⲧⲏⲥ ⲙ̅ⲡⲓϭⲛⲧϥ ⲉⲓϣⲁϭⲛⲧϥ
32. ϯⲛⲁⲧⲛ̅ⲛⲁⲩϥ ⲛⲉⲕ ⲉⲓ̈ⲥⲁⲩⲛⲉ ϩ̣ⲱ̣ⲧ ⲟ̣
33. ϫⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛⲟ̣ⲩ̣ⲛⲧϥ ⲁⲡⲥⲁⲛ ⲕⲁⲗⲗⲓⲕⲗⲏ-
34. ⲧⲉⲓ ϯⲧⲛ̅ⲛⲁⲩϥ ϫⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲓ̈ⲥⲉϩ ⲡⲉⲓ ⲙⲛ̅
35. ⲧⲟⲧ ⲁⲓ̈ⲧⲛ̅ⲛⲁⲩϥ̣ ⲉⲓ̈ϫⲱ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲥ ϫⲉ
36. ⲧⲁⲭⲁ ⲧⲕⲭⲣⲓⲁ ⲧⲉ ϯⲣ̅ ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲩ ⲙⲙ̅ⲁⲕ
37. ⲡⲁϫⲁⲓⲥ ⲡⲁⲥⲁⲛ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥϩⲉⲓ̈ ⲛⲓⲧⲉⲧⲣⲁⲥ
38. ⲛⲏⲓ̈ ⲉⲧⲁⲓⲧⲛ̅ⲛⲁⲩⲥⲉ ⲛⲉⲕ ϯⲛⲁⲧⲣⲟⲩⲛ̅
39. ⲧⲉⲧⲥⲏϩ ⲛⲉⲕ ⲁⲛ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲙ̅ⲙⲉ ϫⲉ ⲛ̅-
40. ⲧⲁⲩⲡⲱϩ ⲁⲧⲟ ⲁⲛⲟ ⲁⲃⲁⲗ ⲙ̅-
41. ⲡϥⲣ ⲁⲙⲉⲗⲉⲓ ⲁⲥⲁϩⲟⲩ ⲧⲁⲭⲩ ⲕⲧ̣ⲛ̣-
42. ⲛ̣ⲁⲩⲥⲉ ⲛⲏⲓ̣ ⲛ̅ⲧⲟⲧϥ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲉ ⲉϥⲥⲙⲁⲙ[ⲁ]/ⲧ

↓
(written 90 degrees counterclockwise to front)
43. ϫⲉ ⲡⲁϫⲉⲩ ϫⲉ ⲉⲛⲟⲩⲱϣ ⲧⲣⲉⲕⲉⲟⲩⲉ ⲥϩⲉⲓ ⲛ̣̅ⲕⲉⲕⲉⲩⲉ ϯⲛⲟⲩ ⲙ-
44. ⲡⲣⲣ ⲁⲙⲉⲗⲉⲓ ⲁⲧⲛ̅ⲛⲁⲩⲥⲉ ⲛ̅ϭⲗⲁⲙ ⲙ̅ⲡⲱⲣ ⲁⲓ̈ⲉⲧϥ ⲛ̅ⲛⲁϭ ⲛ̅ⲥϩⲉⲓ̈ ϫⲉ
45. ⲡⲁϫⲉⲩ ϫⲉ ⲁⲛⲭⲁⲣⲧⲏⲥ ⲟⲩⲱ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲟⲩⲥϩⲉⲓ ⲉϥⲣ ϣⲉⲩ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲉⲕ-
46. ⲥⲁϩⲟⲩ ϯⲛⲁϭⲛ̅ ⲡⲕϣⲓⲃⲉ ϩⲱⲧ ⲁⲛⲁⲕ ⲟⲩⲥⲉϭⲉ ⲉⲛ ϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛⲏⲓ
[vacat]
47. ⲧⲟⲛⲟⲩ ⲁⲛⲉⲧϯ ⲙ̅ⲧⲁⲛ ϩⲏⲧ ⲛⲉⲕ ϩⲛ ⲡⲥⲉϫⲉ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡϩⲱⲃ
48. ϩⲱⲃ ⲉⲕⲟⲩⲁϣϥ ⲛ̅ⲛⲓⲙⲁ̣ ⲕⲉⲗⲉⲩⲉ ⲛⲏⲓ ϯⲛⲁⲉϥ ⲉⲓⲣⲉϣⲉ ⲱⲛϩ
49. ⲛⲕ̅ⲟⲩϫⲉⲓ̈ⲧⲉ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲛⲁϭ ⲛ̅-
50. ⲟⲩⲁⲓϣ ⲡⲁϫⲁⲓⲥ ⲡⲁⲥⲁⲛ
(written 90 degrees clockwise to recto)
51. τῷ δεσπότῃ μου Ψάιτι
˟
52. ἀδελφῷ Οὐάλης ὁ ἀδελφός σοι̣

[23] I greet you warmly, and I pray for [24] your wellbeing for a long time, [25] until I embrace you again in the body, [26] and my joy is completed. I swear to you [27] by the Lord Paraclete and the Knowledge [28] of the Truth that this is what I found close [29] to me, and I hurried, I wrote it, and I sent it [30] to you, because the other one is written on a small piece [31] of papyrus, and I did not find it. If I find it [32] I will send it to you, for I know for my part [33] that it will not be taken to Brother Kalliklēs. [34] I send it to you for it is with my own hand that I wrote it, [35] and I wrote it saying, [36] “Perhaps it is what you need”. I ask you, [37] lord brother, that you write these quaternions [38] for me that I sent to you. [38] I will also have them bring what is written to you so that you will know [40] where they have reached ⟨and⟩ to see ⟨that⟩ [41] he has not been neglectful in writing them, and quickly send [42] them to me through a blessed one [43] for they said, “We want someone else to write others!” Now, [44] do not be neglectful to send them in haste. Please do not make it a long text, for [45] they have said that the papyrus is finished, but rather a useful text, and if you [46] write them, I will find your recompense myself – I am not an idiot! Greet for me [47] warmly those who give your heart rest by word and deed. [48] Anything you need, tell me and I will do it happily. Live [49] and be well for a long [50] time, my lord, my brother.
[51] To my lord brother, Psais, [52] from Oualēs, your brother.

Tableau:
Tracing by:

Apparatus:

25. ⲡⲥⲱⲙⲁ i.e. Greek σῶμα
27. ⲡⲁⲣⲁⲕⲗⲏⲧⲟⲥ i.e. Greek παράκλητος
29. ⲧⲁⲭⲩ i.e. Greek ταχύνειν
31. ⲭⲁⲣⲧⲏⲥ i.e. Greek χάρτης
32. ⲉⲓⲥⲁⲩⲛⲉ : ⲉⲓⲥⲁⲩⲛ[vac]ⲉ Pap | ϩ̣ⲱ̣ⲧ : ⲱ corrected from . Gardner/Alcock/Funk
33-34. ⲕⲁⲗⲗⲓⲕⲗⲏ|ⲧⲉⲓ : ⲕⲁⲗ[vac]ⲗⲓⲕⲗⲏ|ⲧⲉⲓ Pap
36. ⲧⲁⲭⲁ i.e. Greek τάχα | ⲭⲣⲓⲁ i.e. Greek χρεία | ⲁⲝⲓⲟⲩ i.e. Greek ἀξιοῦν
37. ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥϩⲉⲓ̈ i.e. Sahidic ϫⲉ ⲉ-ⲕ-ⲛⲁ-ⲥϩⲁⲓ : corrected from ⲡⲉⲕⲁⲥϩⲉⲓ̈ Gardner/Alcock/Funk | ⲧⲉⲧⲣⲁⲥ i.e. Greek τετράς
39. ϫⲉⲕⲁⲙ̅ⲙⲉ i.e. Sahidic ϫⲉ ⲉ-ⲕ-ⲛⲁ-ⲉⲓⲙⲉ
40. ⲁⲛⲟ i.e. Sahidic ⲉ-ⲛⲁⲩ or ⲁⲛⲁⲩ ? | ⲁⲃⲁⲗ : ⲁ[vac]ⲃⲁⲗ Pap
40-41. ⲙ̅|ⲡϥⲣ corrected from ⲙ̅|ⲙϥⲣ Gardner/Alcock/Funk
41. ⲁⲙⲉⲗⲉⲓ i.e. Greek ἀμελεῖν | ⲧⲁⲭⲩ i.e. Greek ταχύ : ⲧⲁ[vac]ⲭⲩ Pap
41-43. vacats to avoid pre-existing damage
44. ⲁⲙⲉⲗⲉⲓ i.e. Greek ἀμελεῖν | ⲛ̅ⲛⲁϭ corrected from ⲛ̅ⲛⲁⲕ Gardner/Alcock/Funk
45. ⲭⲁⲣⲧⲏⲥ i.e. Greek χάρτης | ⲁⲗⲗⲁ i.e Greek ἀλλά
47. ϩⲏⲧ l. ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧ Gardner/Alcock/Funk
48. ⲕⲉⲗⲉⲩⲉ i.e. Greek κελεύειν
52. ἀδελφῷ Mirecki et al., Gardner et al. read ἀδελφῶι| σοι l. σου : omitted in Mirecki et al.

Notes:

There are several blank spaces (vacats) within the text, presumably to avoid imperfections in the surface of the papyrus.
23-24. ϯϣⲗⲏⲗ ϩⲁ ⲡⲕ̅ⲟⲩϫⲉⲓⲧⲉ Compare the similar phrase in P.Kell. VII Copt. 97.5–8: “I pray to the Father, the God of Truth for your wellbeing” (ϯϣⲗⲏⲗ ⲁⲡⲓⲱⲧ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲛ̅[ⲧ]ⲉ ⲧⲙⲏⲉ ϩⲁ̣ ⲡⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲟⲩϫⲉⲓ̈ⲧⲉ; 19.68–69; 50.2–3; VII Copt. 72.4–5). This is likely a calque of the common Greek phrase “I pray for your health for many years” (ἐρρῶσθαί σε εὔχομαι πολλοῖς χρόνοις; cf. Sarri 2017), usually used as a farewell greeting, and found in several letters from Kellis, including P.Kell. V Copt. 12.17–18; 21.30–31; 22.51–52; VII Copt. 72 ll. 7–8; 103 ll. 50–51.
27. ⲡⲁⲣⲁⲕⲗⲏⲧⲟⲥ “The Intercessor”, a title of Mani, the prophet of Manichaeism.
37. ⲛⲓⲧⲉⲧⲣⲁⲥ Quaternion here likely refers to a small codex made of four bifolios, which often served as standardised notebooks. The contents of the texts to be copied are unspecified, but we see no reason to assume that they were magical; cf. Teigen; Dosoo/Torallas Tovar. Gardner et al. note the possiblity of a reference to quaternions, but prefer to understand a “4-fold spell”, based on their interpretation of front ll. 19–20, where they read ⲇ as the numeral four.
40-41. This term does not appear elsewhere in the corpus, but may refer to a member of the Manichaean monastic order, the Elect; see Mirecki et al. 1997: 32.
44. ⲙ̅ⲡⲱⲣ ⲁⲓ̈ⲉⲧϥ ⲛ̅ⲛⲁϭ ⲛ̅ⲥϩⲉⲓ̈ Mirecki et al. & Gardner et al. translate this difficult passage as “by no means! I did it for the great texts…”. We understand Sahidic
ⲙⲡⲱⲣ ⲉ-ⲁⲁ⸗ϥ, an emotive negative imperative (Layton 2000: 294; for the absent indefinite article before the following noun, cf. Shisha-Halevy 2002). ⲥϩⲉⲓ̈ in this corpus generally has the sense of “letter”, but here it may translate the Greek γραφή, in the sense of “religious writing” (cf. Gardner/BeDuhn/Dilley 2018; Crum CD 383a). On this reading, Oualēs is asking Psais to select a short, useful text to copy into the quaternions since papyrus is scarce.
51-52. This is the address, giving the name of the sender and the intended recipient. The x-shape is the locus sigilli, “the place of the seal”. In this case, the letter was not sealed with wax, but, after the letter was folded and tied with string, the x was written across it so that any tampering would be apparent; see Vandorpe 1996

Bibliography:

Dosoo/Torallas Tovar. “Heathen Serpents and Wingless Angels? Some Notes on Images in Coptic Magical Texts.” In The Iconography of Magic: Images of Power and the Power of Images in Ancient and Late Antique Magic, edited by Raquel Martín Hernández, Leuven: Peeters, 2022, p. 117–168.

Mirecki, Paul, Iain Gardner, and Anthony Alcock. “Magical Spell, Manichaean Letter.” In Emerging from Darkness: Studies in the Recovery of Manichaean Sources, edited by Paul Mirecki and Jason Beduhn. Leiden: Brill, 1997, p. 1-32.

Gardner, Iain, Anthony Alcock, and Wolf-Peter Funk. Coptic Documentary Texts from Kellis: Vol.1 (P.Kell. V). Oxford: Oxbow Books, 1999, p. 224-228.

Gardner, Iain, Jason D. BeDuhn, and Paul Dilley. The Chapters of the Wisdom of My Lord Mani: Part III: Pages 343-442 (chapters 321-347). Leiden: Brill, 2018, p. 74-75, 167-170.

Sarri, Antonia. Material Aspects of Letter Writing in the Graeco-Roman World. Materiale Textkulturen 12. Berlin/Boston: De Gruyter, 2017, p. 48-49.

Shisha-Halevy, Ariel. “An Emerging New Dialect of Coptic.” Orientalia 71.3 (2002): 305-306.

Teigen, Håkon F. The Manichaean Church in Kellis. Nag Hammadi and Manichaean Studies 100. Leiden: Brill, 2021, p. 206.

Vandorpe, Katelijn. 1996. “Seals in and on the Papyri of Greco-Roman and Byzantine Egypt.” In Archives et sceaux du monde hellénistique. Archivi e sigilli nel mondo ellenistico, Torino, Villa Gualino, 13–16 Gennaio 1993, edited by Marie-Françoise Boussac and Antonio Invernizzi, 231–291. Bulletin de correspondance hellénique Supplément 29 (1996): 241-243.

Editor:

Text entered by EL (23/6/15); text edits and translation by KD (23/4/2020), edits by KD and MPS (22/9/2020)

How to cite:

Korshi Dosoo, Edward O.D. Love & Markéta Preininger (chief editors). "KYP T1506: Private letter from Ouales to Psais.," Kyprianos Database of Ancient Ritual Texts and Objects, www.coptic-magic.phil.uni-wuerzburg.de/index.php/text/kyp-t-1506. Accessed on 29/04/2025

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