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Add MS 5114
- Record Id:
- 032-002738266
- Hierarchy Root Ancestor Record Id:
- 032-002738266
- MDARK:
- ark:/81055/vdc_100022568971.0x000001
- LARK:
- ark:/81055/vdc_100176737937.0x000001
- SLARK:
- Format:
- ISAD(G)
- Reference (shelfmark):
- Add MS 5114
- Title:
- Pistis Sophia (The Askew Codex)
- Scope & Content:
-
Pistis Sophia means 'faithful wisdom'.
23 quires; the first quire has 12 leaves; the last 8; 8 leaves are missing.
Scribes: Two unnamed scribes copied the text; the first scribe copied folios 1 to 29; the second scribe was responsible for copying from folio 30 to the end. The first scribe numbered the text copied by him only on the recto, whereas the second scribe numbered his on both recto and verso.
In pure Sahidic dialect, i.e. the dialect of Upper Egypt; the original text must have been Greek hence the large number of Greek words found in the text.
Gnostic literature.
- Collection Area:
- Oriental Manuscripts
- Hierarchy Tree:
- [{ "id" : "032-002738266", "parent" : "#", "text" : "Add MS 5114: Pistis Sophia (The Askew Codex)" , "li_attr" : {"class": "orderable"} }]
- Hierarchy Record Ids:
- 032-002738266
- Is part of:
- not applicable
- Hierarchy:
- 032-002738266
- Container:
- not applicable
- Record Type (Level):
- Fonds
- Extent:
- 178 folios (356 pages)
- Digitised Content:
- http://access.bl.uk/item/viewer/ark:/81055/vdc_100176737937.0x000001 (digital images currently unavailable)
- Thumbnail:
-
- Languages:
- Coptic
- Scripts:
- Coptic
- Start Date:
- 0301
- End Date:
- 0699
- Date Range:
- 301-699
- Era:
- CE
- Access:
- Restrictions to access apply please consult British Library staff
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- User Conditions:
- Physical Characteristics:
-
Material: parchment
Dimensions: 210 mm x 165 mm
Script: Coptic. Two columns per page, with 30-34 lines per column
- Custodial History:
- Sold to the British Museum in 1785 by Dr Antony Askew's heirs, hence its name.
- Exhibitions:
- Alexandria, Martin Bodmer Foundation, Geneva, 5 April 2014 - 31 August 2014
- Material Type:
- Archives and Manuscripts
- Legal Status:
- Not Public Record(s)
- Notes:
-
Until the discovery of the Nag Hammadi Library in 1945 (Upper Egypt), the Askew Codex together with the Bruce Codex (Bodleian Library; Bruce 96) and the Berlin Codex (Papyrus Berolinensis 8502) were the only gnostic manuscripts known to exist.
The Askew Codex contains a series of dialogues between Jesus, Mary Magdalene and other disciples on topics as varied as the Bible, Egyptian magic, other gnostic texts; it constitutes a kind of revelation on the trials, tribulations and the destiny of the soul.
Pistis Sophia. Exhibited: Alexandria, Martin Bodmer Foundation, Geneva, 5 April 2014 - 31 August 2014