Washington Manuscript IV - The Epistles of Paul (Codex Washingtonensis)

Object Details

• Description

  The Epistles of Paul (fragmentary): eighty four leaves with legible writing plus 168 fragments; stored in separate envelopes. Upright, square uncial script in brown ink; traces of additions of red ink in titles; one column to a page.

• Label

  Sometimes called Codex Freerianus, this manuscript was acquired in a much-decayed condition; much of the text had been lost. Because the surviving sections are numbered, it has been determined that the complete manuscript had between two hundred eight and two hundred twelve pages-more than necessary for the Epistles of Paul. This suggests the codex also originally contained the Acts of the Apostles and the catholic epistles (those intended for Christians in general rather than a specific congregation).

• Provenance

  To 1906

  Ali Arabi, Giza, Egypt, to 1906 [1]

  From 1906 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Ali Arabi in Giza, Egypt, on December 19, 1906 [2]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See Original Miscellaneous List, Biblical Mss. Section, S.I. 1468, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  In the Beginning: Bibles Before the Year 1000 (October 21, 2006 to January 7, 2007)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Ali Arabi (ca. 1840-1932) (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Egypt

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Manuscript

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  600s, 500s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang, Arabi, Ali

• Place

  Egypt

• Topic

  Biblical Manuscripts, Charles Lang Freer collection, Bible, Bible, N.T.

• Culture

  Christians

• Object Type

  Manuscripts