Coptic; Possibly from the Kasr Deir es Surian (Castle of the
Monastery of the Syrians), Wadi an-Natrun, Egypt; Written and
illustrated in Egypt Inscribed in abbreviated Coptic: Jesus
Christ Victorious Ink and colored inks on parchment 5 7/8 x 3
15/16 in. (14.9 x 10 cm) Rogers Fund, 1919 (19.196.5) Crosses
worked in interlaced geometric patterns often appear in Coptic
manuscripts. Wealthier monasteries would have had manuscripts
even after the Arab conquest of the region in the mid-600s.
Coptic, the latest stage of the Egyptian language, is written
using the Greek alphabet with seven additional signs. The Arabic
text to the right side of each page was for those who could no
longer read Coptic.