Pilgrimage and Holy Space in Late Antique Egypt

552 Pages·1998·52.45 MB·English

by  David Frankfurter

PILGRIMAGE AND HOLY SPACE
IN LATE ANTIQUE EGYPT
RELIGIONS IN
THE GRAECO-ROMAN WORLD
EDITORS
R. VAN DEN BROEK H.J.W. DRIJVERS
H. S. VERSNEL
VOLUME 134
PILGRIMAGE
AND
HOLY SPACE IN
LATE ANTIQUE EGYPT
EDITED BY
DAVID FRANKFURTER
BRILL
LEIDEN · BOSTON · KOLN
1998
This series Religions in the Graeco-Roman World presents a forum for studies in the social and cul
tural.fonction qf religions in the Greek and the Roman world, dealing with pagan religions both in
their own right and in their interaction with and irifluence on Christianity and Judaism during a
lengtlry period qf. fondamental change. Special attention will be given to the religious history qf regions
and cities which illustrate the practical workings qf these processes.
Enquiries regarding the submission qf works for publication in the series may be directed to Prqftssor
H.]. W Drijvers, Faculty qf Letters, University qf Groningen, 9 712 EK Groningen, The Netherlands.
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Pilgrimage and holy space in late antique Egypt I edited by David
Frankfurter.
p. em. - (Religions in the Graeco-Roman world, ISSN
0927-7633; v. 134)
Includes index.
ISBN 9004111271 (alk. paper)
I. Egypt-Church history. 2. Christian pilgrims and pilgrimages
-Egypt-History. 3. Christian shrines-Egypt-History.
I. Frankfurter, David, 1961- . II. Series.
BR 1380.P 1998
263'.04262-dc21 98-21382
CIP
Die Deutsche Bibliothek- CIP-Einheitsaufnahme
Pilgrimage and holy space in late antique Egypt I ed. by David
Frankfurter. - Leiden ; Boston ; Ki:iln : Brill, 1998
(Religions in the Graeco-Roman world; Vol. 134)
ISBN 9G-04-11127-l
ISSN 0927-7633
ISBN 90 04 11127 I
© Copyright 1998 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
All rights reserved. No part qf this publication mqy be reproduced, translated, stored in
a retrieval system, or transmitted in a'!Y form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written
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Clearance Center, 2 2 2 Rosewood Drive, Suite 91 0
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Fees are sullject to change.
PRINTED IN THE NETHERLANDS
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
Menouthis
Canopus /
Alexandria
L.
Abu Mena"
ARABIA
FAYYUM
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Oasis
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:' Oasis Bahr Yusef
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PORPIIYRITES
1\10'-IS
;:'Atripe .PanOpOiiS_.·· CLAU~IANUS
: MONS
f Abydos
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Dakhla Oasis / THE BAlD / ·
K~\li~':·(··_-
... ······--./::·.·.·.·: ... ·····
~ .. ,•' :. -----
Klwrga Oasis
: Kysis
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DODECASCHOENUS
ROMAN 1:
AND
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Dedicated to the Memory rf
Fr. Evasio DeMarcellis
Teacher and Friend

CONTENTS
List qf Maps . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. . . IX
Acknowledgments .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . x
Abbreviations . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .
XI
I INTRODUCTION
DAVID FRANKFURTER
Approaches to Coptic Pilgrimage 3
II INDIGENous FoUNDATIONs
Y OURI VoLOKHINE
Les deplacements pieux en Egypte pharaonique: sites et
pratiques cultuelles . .. .. .. .. ................... .. .. ....... ....... .. ................... .. .. 51
ALLEN KERKESLAGER
Jewish Pilgrimage and Jewish Identity in Hellenistic and
Early Roman Egypt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
III THE GREAT REGIONAL CULTS
IAN RUTHERFORD
Island of the Extremity: Space, Language, and Power in the
Pilgrimage Traditions of Philae 229
DoMINIC MoNTSERRAT
Pilgrimage to the Shrine of SS Cyrus and John at
Menouthis in Late Antiquity . .. .. .. .. .. .. ......... .. ..... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ........... 25 7
PETER GROSSMANN
The Pilgrimage Center of Abu Mina . .. .. .. ..... .. .. ..................... ... 281
STEPHEN DAVIS
Pilgrimage and the Cult of Saint Thecla in
Late Antique Egypt .. ........ .. .. .. .. .. .. ............. .. .. ..... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ....... 303