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 permission from the publisher. Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use is granted by Brill provided that the appropriate fees are paid directly to The Copyright Clearance Center, 2 2 2 Rosewood Drive, Suite 91 0 Danvers MA 01923, USA. Fees are sullject to change. PRINTED IN THE NETHERLANDS MEDITERRANEAN SEA Menouthis Canopus / Alexandria L. Abu Mena" ARABIA FAYYUM Siwa L. Moeris Oasis .. _.- HEPTANOMIA ·---... ,/Qxyrhynchus ... 7B~),d;iya :' Oasis Bahr Yusef Hermopolis Magna &.· PORPIIYRITES 1\10'-IS ;:'Atripe .PanOpOiiS_.·· CLAU~IANUS : MONS f Abydos Nag Hammadi .· Dakhla Oasis / THE BAlD / · K~\li~':·(··_- ... ······--./::·.·.·.·: ... ····· ~ .. ,•' :. ----- Klwrga Oasis : Kysis ;-..------- Syene Philae Is. DODECASCHOENUS ROMAN 1: AND COPTIC EGYPT o-----====-----====~--2-00km 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