NOTICES OF RECENT PUBLICATIONS 67

tho space on either side, and the sides of the coffin itself are divided into compartments containing
scenes of offering, figures of deities, and protective emblems connected with the sun and Osiris. Not
a few of the figures are of strange genii seen also in the corridors of the Tombs of tho Kings in tho
' Hook of that which is in the Underworld," etc. Inside and outsido, the symbolical decoration is
profuse. There were, I think, in the old collection at Leyden seven coffins of this class published in
Loemans' great volumes; from theso Dr Boeser has selected only one to describe, and has figured tho
lid again. I t is a fine and interesting specimen, usually attributed to the reign of Harmais (Haremhab)
at tho end of Dyn. X V I I I . Tho owner, Khonshotp (Qr. Chesthotos), was a priest in tho House of
Harmais, and that king is figured with his cartouche on the coffin ; but here Harmais is evidently a
divinity. I t seems therefore that tho worship of Harmais survived, probably at his funerary chapel,
mto tho latter part of the New Kingdom. There must now exist in museums the materials to enablo
the changes of style to bo exactly traced for all ages since the Eighteenth Dynasty inclusive, and
such a history of coffins would be a most desirablo addition to Egyptological literature In 1909
M. Chassinat began a very full and detailed account of tho DGr el-Bahri find, abovo referred to, in
the Cairo Catalogue, enriched with numerous hand-copies in text and plates besides photographs, but
unfortunately his work is still a mere fragment. Dr Boeser's text gives us no help in regard to dating;
nor does he deal with the inscriptions on tho coffins. Perhaps wo may look forward to a separate
volume of inscriptions in the Loyden Museum, since in several volumes of the series neither text nor
plates givo an adequate reproduction of them. F . L L . GRIFFITH.

Catalogue General du Music du Caire: Nos. 9201—9304, Manuscrits Copies. By H E N H I MUNIKR.

Cairo, 1916. Pp. vii+ 213. 21 Plates. 4to.

This is a catalogue of further MSS. of a certain group, added to the Cairo collection since my
volume, which was issued in 1902, but carried down in contents only to 1898. All are, once moro,
from tho White Monastery and all are of parchment. Thoy belong, as usual, to tho poriod whereof
the year 1000 may bo, roughly, taken as the middle
The Museum is fortunate in having among its staff a scholar competent to deal with such a
task—thankless enough if compared with tho prospects of cataloguing a like quantity of material
>n almost any other language. I f nothing should hinder M. Munier from carrying his undertaking
further, ho will bo rondoring a valuable sorvico to scholarship; for all concerned in such studies aro
anxious to learn tho contents of the othor groups of MSS. recently acquired by Cairo, those especially
from Hamouli (part of tho great trouvaille now known as the ' Morgan Collection'), from Aphrodito
(papyrus documents, of tho 6th cent.), and from Behnesa.
The work of description and transcription has been well and conscientiously carried out: adequate
polacographical details aro given of each MS., identifications (so far as in Cairo thoy were possible)
with leaves in the same hand elsewhere, full transcripts of all texts and analyses of their contents,
f'jU indexes, and a liberal allowance of plates (though curiously omitting two of tho most interesting
Pieces, nos. 92.*>6 and 9285). The only general criticism which ono might pass upon M. Munier**
work is that ho inclines to an over-rash completion of lacunae, where discretion would sometimes
have been preforable to valour.
As a preliminary contribution towards tho future usefulness of the Catalogue, I may here offer
few supplementary observations upon individual texts. Twenty-five out of tho hundred numbers aro
biblical, but I confine myself to tho homiletic and hagiographical pieces, which form, as always, tho
largo majority. Among them are almost a score of Shonouto toxts, all now but throe.
9228. Perhaps from one of the numerous secondary narratives, scarcoly to be dignified with tho
name of 'apocryphal gospels,' which had become popular in Egypt. M. Munier is himself fully aware
(»• p. 18 7) of the risks involved in any too precise ascription of titles to such ambiguous fragments.
9229. From same MS. as Zoega exx, which it precedes, 17 pp. intervening. Dr Budge's last volume
(Misc. Copt. Texts, p. 54) allows us to identify this as a piece of tho so-called 21st i$^yricrtt of Cyril
of Jerusalem on tho Virgin.
9233. This is presumably from the homily of Bacheos on the Three Children, since Nebuchadnezzar's
friend Amizaros (Zoega eclxiv, p. 34 Amiseros) plays a r6le in both.
9—2
68 NOTICES OF RECENT PUBLICATIONS

9234. On p. 208 the editor has a note, pointing out an erroneous identification formerly proposed
by me for this MS. The error was the printer's, which I overlooked : Paris 131* should have been
131 . Tho leaf referred to is indeed from this same MS. and shows, that tho encomium is ascribed
7

to a bishop of Jerusalem, where it was pronounced at Stephen's ron-or.

9238. Tho 'four archihieratical throne*' in heaven, one of which Christ promises to the saint
about to suffer martyrdom, points probably to a patriarch rather than a bishop. The preeminent
orthodoxy of his flock is foretold, Dcut. xv, 6 being figuratively quoted.
9239. A doubly interesting number. The older text of the palimpsest shows John i, 23—26 in
Greek and Fayyumic and is in fact a leaf of Br. Mus. no. 504 (v. Joum. Th. St. I , 415); while the
later text is from the Martyrdom of Apa JianG. A further loaf of this MS. is Paris 129 , 94. The 10

saint is otherwise unknown . 1

Tho provenance of the Br. Mus. leaves was stated to be Ashmunain ;
was that an error or was the original Gospel MS. early divided and scattered ?
9240. Perhaps from tho Acts and Miracles of the martyr Papnouto (verso 9). Cf. Synaxarium,
20th Barmudah.
9243. This leaf is followed immediately by Paris 129 , 118, printed in Pair. Or. iv, 579 (ei-Anjw).
M

9245. From the MS. called no. 6 in my Theolog. Texts, p. 185. Nos. 9246 and 9248 aro likewise
from this MS.
9247. From the MS. called no. 1, op. cit., p. 183.
9249. A facsimiles would havo been valuable I do not recognize the'hand as described.
9250. A welcome addition to tho remnants of a very interesting text: the Lifo of Abraham of
Bergowt (Farshut) . Pages from tho beginning of the work aro in Paris (Miss, franc, iv, 743-4); those
2

of Zoega ccxxii come later; then come, in uninterrupted soquenco, thoso at Berlin (Kgl. Bib]., Or. 1607,
ff. 9, 10), Vienna (Hof bibl. K 9404, 9405), and our Cairo loaf. With the exception of Zoega clxvi +
eclxxv, this is tho solo Coptic text relating to the church policy of Justinian in Egypt . The Berlin,
3

Vienna and Cairo leaves narrate tho conference at Constantinople between Justinian, Theodora, and a
deputation of Pachomian monks, who advocate tho claims of Abraham to the abbacy of Pbow . Theodore4

a trrpaTtj\dn}s, Narses a praepositus, a Syrian agent of the empress named (?) Presbytes, and John of
(tho monastery of) the Eulogia take part in the discussion'.
9254. This is from tho very popular discourse of Archelaus, bishop of Ncapolis , on Gabriel and
0

from tho same MS. as Paris 131 , 27 and 131 , 36, 37.
1 3
The complete Sa'idic text is in tho Morgan
Collection, tho Bohairic in the Vatican. Cf. PSDA. xxix, 293. I n fol. 1 the name Perddios (cf. B M .
Cat., p. 453, Pieroudios) is, I think, rather ' tho heron' ((poahtos) than ' tho Ithodian' (which needs an
h and may bo the Pehroudios in Rev. eg. ix, 146). Cf. other bird names, e.g. Paleht6r, Paetos, Phibis,
and their more numerous Coptic counterparts.
9255. Epistles of Shenoute or Bcsa to various nuns. Cf. Rylands no. 63. Antonius, in the final
colophon, is the abbot (*>ne) and donor. With the title of the work, 'the 6th Canon,' cf. Paris 130 , s

64: 'the 2nd Canon, 5th Epistle'; 130 , 111, 'Canon 3.'
4

9256. ' Rule of St Pachomius.' I f this designation had been literally justified, it would have meant
an important discovery. But tho text is unfortunately not that of Jerome's Regula, but only of the
appended Praecepta et Instituta, Mignc, PL. xxm, 78. Nevertheless M. Munier is to be congratulated
on his recognition of the (traditional) authorship. Coptic is of course the original language of the

1
The nearest approach to the name is Br. Mas. Qk.Tap. iv, no. 1629 S M l l . Otherwise one might compare
Ap(a) Agene (Rylands no. 173 n.); or, on the other hand, (A)pa lane, BM. op. cit., no. 1419, a name common
also in Hermopolite documents. But the latter may be merely a form of Iohannes.
* The Thebau Synax., 24th Tubah, bas a risumf, translated by Am«ineau, Miss. /rant;, iv, 511.
3
Zoega ccxxiii, oonneoted by Amelinenu with this group, lias no relation to them. Cf. the mention of
Abraham's monastery in the Life of Pesyntbius, Budge, Apoc. 79.
* The only list of abbots beyond Horsiesius is (seemingly confused) in Turaief's ostracon no. 20, Bull.
Ae. Imp. 1899, 445.
8
It may be remarked in passing that the person sent (Synax. I.e.) to summon Abraham from his monastery
and called by Am£lineau ' BenikaroB,' is merely the Arabic transcript of nftlll&pic vicariut, a local agent of
the military anthority.
6
I see that Basset, in the Synax. (P.O. in, 506), converts the puzzling Dana into 'Coesarea.'
 NOTICES OF RECENT PUBLICATIONS 69

piece and the Latin version follows it—presumably through a Greek medium—but loosely . The MS. 1

should be of about tho 10th century and has all the outward features of a Sinuthian text. Indeed one
may surmise that the Praecepta are recited here by Shenoute, midway i n a homily or epistle, as other
instances show to have been his custom . 2

9257. From the so-called Florilegium of Shonoute (v. Leipoldt, Schenute von Atripe, pp. 10,11).
This leaf immediately precedes Paris 130 , 135. 4

9258. Either by Esaias of Sceto or one of his ascetic imitators. I t may be here noted that, bosides
already recognized MSS. of Esaias , Zoega ccxxxv and ccxxxv* are also his.
3

9261. Paul, the writer of this Sermon on Discernment (oWpio-ir), wroto also an 'EvroXij concerning
the (monastic) Cell, partly preserved in Paris 129 , 50, which is from this samo MS. AVho was he?
13

9262. Foil. 1, 2, 4 are indeed Shcnouto's, but fol. 3 is by Bosa; for its opening words aro from
tho initial words of his " Epistle unto tho people that dwell in tho villages (t'voUiov), at the time when
thoy began to contend together, (wherein) ho admonisheth them not to fight one with another" (Paris
1.30 , 128).
5
Shonoute's Letter to the patriarch Timothy on fol. 4 appears to transmit good wishes,
presumably for tho new year. He regrets his inability to pay his respects in person ; " But thou knowest
tho little impediment (lit. blot) of sickness (irtipao-fios) that is in my mind and body ; elso had I not
delayed ." 4

9270. No doubt Shenoute. Tho opening words (indeed most of tho text, which is of peculiar
interest) aro disappointingly obscuro ; for they seem at first sight to promise a date : " In the 26th
year of our first father that is dead, which is the 16th year of our other father that died after him,
wo copied all things that were written in tho papyri (x"'/>rijr) that exist from old times into this book."
On these significant words cf. Leipoldt's estimate of a similar phrase, Schenute, p. 41 n. Tho dedicatory
colophon tells that tho volume was tho gift of Psote, "priest of the house of tho (plur.) SholkGt," an
unexplained word recurring in a Loydcn M S . 8

9278. Perhaps from the Acts of St Poter, whose 1st Epistle, v, 1—5, is read aloud to the crowd
at Antioch. Mark is mentioned, perhaps as its reader (? transpose recto and verso of fol. 1).
9281. Probably Shenoute.
9282. Probably Shenoute (transpose ro. and vo. of fol. 1).
9283. Verso a 6 shows this to have been pronounced at a church festival or saint's commemoration.
9284. From the Encomium on the Virgin, of which Paris 131 , 35 is tho final loaf, preserving the
7

colophon. " This great book of Xdyoi" was presented by a woman and hor mother (lattor's name Bethlem)
to the rrin-or of the Virgin, "in the desert of Apa Shenoute , in tho mount of Atripe." I t may be
0

observed that tho figure of tho shut gate (Ezok. xliv, 1—3) is used in Cyril's Encomium, Zoega eclviii.
But it might well prove to bo a commonplace of such compositions.
9285. One of the most interesting pieces in the volume. Cf. the note, p. 189, where wo learn
(from other foil, now in Sir Herbert Thompson's possession) that the text is from an Epistle of tho
patriarch Dioscorus to Shenoute, in which is included a viropvqo-TtKov addressed by tho former to the
bishops Sabinus, Gennadius and Hermogenos . Its subject is twofold: tho interdiction of all relations
7

Cf. for instance § cliv, where the translator has failed to understand the Coptic. The idiom of the latter
1

strongly resembles that of Shenoute.

E.g. the apocryphal sermon of Liberius [oh. 366) on the death of Athiumsius (37S), which Shenoute
1

appends in full to one of his discourses (Mem. Inst. Fr. xxm, 200), with the words: *' I know it is your wish
to hear them (sc. L.'s words). I will relate them, from beginning to end. For all profit is the memory of
him that wrote (them); greater profit still the memory of him of whom ho wrote." Cf. also BM. Cat., no.
215, part of which MS. quotes a Paschal Letter of Theophilus.
See Br. Mus. Cat., pp. 72, 519.
1

Sickness served Shenoute as a reason for not visiting the patriarch (Cyril) on a later occasion: CSCO. 42, 226.
4

Pleyte-Boeser, p. 376, where, instead of 'house,' perhaps 'cell' should be road. Doubtloss some quarter
6

•n the Sinuthian establishment. Cf. those we know of in the mon. of Macarius.

• This ' desert,' in which S. spent much time, CSCO. 73, 114 = Zoega, pp. 566 and 667 (where Z., 1. 23
misread nit&nu>n for TCKKAHCI&.); also Leyden, op. eit., 136. The liturgical MS. (14th cent.) Paris 68
contains a service (TVWOS) for " the festival of the Desert of Apa Shenoute," which took place in Lent..
Munier has identified the 2nd, perhaps the 1st, of these. The 3rd might be the bishop of llhinocorurn,
7

at Ephesus in 431, though that sec is far distant from those of his two associates.
70 NOTICES OF RECENT PUBLICATIONS

between the monks (those particularly of the Parembolt) and a certain Elias, and the request to
collect and send the "books and awrdyfiara of the pestilent Origen and other heretics that are in
that monastery." How far this Memorandum extends is not certain; clearly the patriarch is still
speaking at the end of fol. 1 : " God hath given us power to bind [and to loose"]. Tho language of
the disconnected fol. 2 is very like that of Shenoute himself.
9286. Verio 25 ff. (apxi<TT/>anry°0 indicate doubtless an encomium on St Michael.
9289. Probably Shenoute. So too 9291, 9292, the last being addressed, not to a nun, but to the
owayoyi) personified—a familiar device with Shenoute.
9296. Merely a verbose colophon.
9297. This is from a Lectionary, showing Ezek. xlvii, 1—8 and 1 Tim. iv, 9—v, 4.
9298 and 9299. Probably Shenoute.
W. E . CRUM.
HEAD OF A KING. IN OBSIDIAN
BELONGING TO T H E R E V . WM. MACGREGOR