Coptic ostracon

This potsherd has an inscription. The script and language employed is Coptic: essentially the Egyptian language in an adapted Greek script, utilized in Egypt in its Coptic period, when a lot of the country was Christian. This particular sherd dates to the 8th century AD, and more particularly (because a date is mentioned in the text), most likely February 7th of the year 716. It comes from the area of ancient Thebes (modern Luxor), most likely Medinet Habu. Medinet Habu is most well known as a gigantic mortuary temple complex of Ramesses III in Luxor, but after it was no longer used as a temple, in the Coptic period, the complex became a town of sorts, also called Djeme.

The text on the sherd is a tax receipt (yes, even back then!). It follows the standard formula for a tax receipt in this time, mentioning the sums paid, the parties involved, and the date of the transaction. The text was written by one ‘Apa Viktor’ (written ‘Biktoros’), who is quite a well-known person: we know several other documents from Djeme written by him.