Fayyumic Dialect

The Fayyumic dialect is a language variety of Coptic in the Fayyum Oasis, west of the Nile valley. Its classical form (Mich. Ms.158.9) is characterized by the so-called lambdacism, that is, the replacement of "ρ" by "λ". Some earlier sub-dialects show a form mixed with the Mesokhemic dialect (P. Mich. Inv. 3520 and 3521). Texts in Fayyumic are preserved from the 4th to the 11th century.

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Map of The Fayyum, from Egypt: From Alexander to the Copts: An Archaelogical and Historical Guide. Ed. Bagnall, Roger S. & Dominic W. Rathbone. London: The British Museum Press, 2004, 128. Credit: The British Museum Press

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Mich. Ms. 158.9 (Dialect F5)
Fragmentary leaf containing Galatians 6:13 and Ephesians 1:3-6, 10-22 in the Fayyumic dialect. Recto. Origin unknown. Unknown date. Parchment; 29.5 x 21 cm.

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Mich. Ms. 158.9 (Dialect F5)
Fragmentary leaf of a parchment codex containing Galatians 6:13 and Ephesians 1:3-6, 10-22 in the Fayyumic dialect. Verso. Origin unknown. Unknown date. Parchment; 29.5 x 21 cm.

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P. Mich. Inv. 3520 (Dialect V)
Two conjugated leaves of a papyrus codex containing a miscellany of Old and New Testament texts. Page 48: John 3: 1-6. Page 33: Ecclesiastes 11: 2-6. Origin unknown. 4th-5th century. Papyrus; Pag. 33: 16 x 22 cm. 

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P. Mich. Inv. 3520 (Dialect V)
Two conjugated leaves of a papyrus codex containing a miscellany of Old and New Testament texts. Page 34: Ecclesiastes11: 6-9. Page 47: John 2:24-29. Origin unknown. 4th-5th century. Papyrus; Pag. 34: 22 x 16 cm. 

 

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P. Mich. Inv. 3521 (Dialect W)
Two conjugated leaves of a papyrus codex containing excerpts of the Gospel of John. It was found together with P. Mich. Inv. 3520.  Fol. 22 (verso): John 10: 22-26. Fol. 19 (recto): John 9: 34-39. Origin unknown. 4th-5th century? Papyrus; Fol. 19:14.3 x 11.1 cm. Fol. 22: 14.8 x 11 cm.

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P. Mich. Inv. 3521 (Dialect W)
Two conjugated leaves of a papyrus codex containing excerpts of the Gospel of John. It was found together with P. Mich. Inv. 3520.  Fol. 19 (verso): John 9: 40-10:1. Fol. 22 (recto): John 10: 18-22. Origin unknown. 4th-5th century?  Papyrus; Fol. 19:14.3 x 11.1 cm. Fol. 22: 14.8 x 11 cm.

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Coptic Dialects

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Mesokemic Dialect