Partial Psalter, 126 fragmentary leaves

Object Details

• Label

  Although the books of the Christian Bible were among the most translated and copied works in Coptic, no complete collection of the Old Testament in the ancient language has survived. The Freer manuscript is a Coptic version of the Septuagint psalms. It is associated with the site of a monastery in the Fayyum area of Egypt that medieval Arabic sources called Deir el-Karram, or the Monastery of the Vinedresser. The Freer's other Coptic and Greek biblical manuscripts are also connected with this site.

• Provenance

  To 1908

  Ali Arabi, Giza, Egypt, to 1908 [1]

  From 1908 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Ali Arabi in Giza, Egypt, in May 1908 [2]

  From 1920

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

  Notes:

  [1] See Original Miscellaneous List, Biblical Manuscripts Section, S.I. 1469, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Also see W. H. Worrell: The Coptic Manuscripts in the Freer Collection; University of Michigan Humanistic Series, Vol. X (1923), Part I, pp. ix, xiii-xxvi.

  [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

  Fayyum, Egypt

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Manuscript

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  500s, 400s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang, Arabi, Ali

• Place

  Fayyum, Egypt

• Topic

  Biblical Manuscripts, Charles Lang Freer collection, Bible

• Culture

  Christians

• Object Type

  Manuscripts