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Copto-Arabic Book of Prayers

17th–18th century
Not on view
The Metropolitan Museum acquired the book of Coptic prayers following excavations by a Museum team at the site of the Syrian Monastery (Deir al-Surian) in the region of Wadi an-Natrun in Egypt in 1919. It is not clear whether it was actually found at the site or acquired nearby, since there are no records and it does not present evident signs of burial. In a rapidly growing Arabic-speaking area, the Coptic text was supplemented with an Arabic translation on the right-hand side of each page, thus making this prayer book more accessible to a wider section of the population.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Copto-Arabic Book of Prayers
  • Date: 17th–18th century
  • Geography: Found/excavated Egypt, possibly Dal al Suriyan
  • Medium: Black and red ink on Venetian paper
  • Dimensions: H. 8 7/8 in. (22.5 cm)
    W. 6 5/8 in. (16.8 cm)
    D. 3/8 in. (1 cm)
  • Classification: Codices
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1919

  • Object Number: 19.196.3
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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Coptic Liturgical Codex, Black and colored inks on Venetian paper
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Bilingual Coptic-Arabic Psalm, Ink on paper
Bilingual Coptic-Arabic Psalm
17th–18th century
A Manuscript of Five Sections of a Qur'an, Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper; leather binding, stamped and gilded
A Manuscript of Five Sections of a Qur'an
18th century
Dala'il al-Khayrat Prayer Book, Muhammad bin Ahmad bin 'Abd Al-Rahman Al-Riyahi, Manuscript: Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper<br/>Binding: Gilt tooled morocco
Dala'il al-Khayrat Prayer Book
Multiple artists/makers
dated 1035 AH/1625–26 CE

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