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About this Item

Title

  • Pentateuch.

Summary

  • This manuscript is an Arabic translation of the first five books of the Old Testament (Pentateuch), which is called on the first leaf, "The Holy Torah." The book contains little information about its production other than a note at the end indicating that it is of Coptic origin. Framed cruciform patterns appear at the top of the first leaf and are the only illustrations in the work. There are chapter and verse headings in red as well as guidewords and occasional directions for recitation during fasts and feasts. At the 25th leaf of Genesis, the script and paper quality deteriorates, the former showing ink smudging and perhaps a different hand, while the latter suffers from staining and imprecise trimming. The front and back covers are contemporary with the manuscript and consist of layers of heavy paper covered in thin red leather. The covers are blind stamped with a rosette pattern commonly used when the book was made, around 1800. By the time of copying, the Coptic language and its dialects used in earlier times had been supplanted, except for liturgical use, by Arabic among Egypt's native Christians. We do not know from the work itself whether the translation was made from the Greek, from a Coptic-language version, or if it is simply a copy of another Arabic translation. This work is part of the Iryan Moftah Collection of Coptic Books and Manuscripts at the American University in Cairo.

Created / Published

  • [place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified], 1800.

Headings

  • -  Egypt
  • -  1800
  • -  Arabic manuscripts
  • -  Bible
  • -  Bible. Old Testament
  • -  Coptic Church
  • -  Illuminations

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  Original resource extent: 434 pages ; 21.3 x 16 centimeters.
  • -  Original resource at: The American University in Cairo Rare Books and Special Collections Library.
  • -  Content in Arabic.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.

Medium

  • 1 online resource.

Source Collection

  • Iryan Moftah Collection of Coptic Books and Manuscripts

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021667294

Online Format

  • compressed data
  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress is unaware of any copyright or other restrictions in the World Digital Library Collection. Absent any such restrictions, these materials are free to use and reuse. Researchers are encouraged to review the source information attached to each item. For information on contacting WDL partner organizations, see this archived list of partners

The Library asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here.

Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

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Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Pentateuch. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, 1800] Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021667294/.

APA citation style:

(1800) Pentateuch. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified] [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021667294/.

MLA citation style:

Pentateuch. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, 1800] Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021667294/>.