Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A collection of ancient Gnostic texts: Refers to a specific group of 13 papyrus books (codices) discovered in Egypt in 1945. These books, written in Coptic, are translations from Greek and are a primary source for understanding Gnosticism.
   • A town in Egypt: Refers to a specific settlement located in Upper Egypt, near the place where the ancient texts were found.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun (Texts):
  • The Nag Hammadi library includes the Gospel of Thomas.
  • Scholars study the Nag Hammadi codices to learn about early Christian diversity.
• Proper noun (Town):
  • The manuscripts were found in a jar near Nag Hammadi.
  • Nag Hammadi is a town on the west bank of the Nile.

Advanced Usage

• "Nag Hammadi library": The standard term for the collection of texts.
  • The Nag Hammadi library has revolutionized the study of Gnosticism.
• "Nag Hammadi codices": A formal, academic term for the ancient books themselves.
  • The Nag Hammadi codices are housed in the Coptic Museum in Cairo.

Variants and Related Words

• Gnosticism (n): The religious movement and beliefs documented in the Nag Hammadi texts.
• Codex (plural: Codices) (n): An ancient manuscript in book form, as opposed to a scroll.
• Coptic (n/adj): The final stage of the Egyptian language, used in the Nag Hammadi texts.

Synonyms

• The Nag Hammadi Library: (The most common synonym for the collection of texts.)
• The Chenoboskion Manuscripts: (A less common, alternative name derived from a nearby village.)

Related Phrases

• "discovery at Nag Hammadi": A common phrase used to describe the 1945 find.
  • The discovery at Nag Hammadi was a major archaeological event.
• "texts from Nag Hammadi": A phrase specifying the origin of the manuscripts.
  • Several texts from Nag Hammadi present alternative accounts of creation.

Related Terms

• Apocrypha (n): Writings, especially of biblical style, not accepted into the canonical scriptures. Many Nag Hammadi texts are considered apocryphal.
• Pistis Sophia (n): Another important Gnostic text not found at Nag Hammadi, often discussed in the same context.

Noun

1. a collection of 13 ancient papyrus codices translated from Greek into Coptic that were discovered by farmers near the town of Nag Hammadi in 1945; the codices contain 45 distinct works including the chief sources of firsthand knowledge of Gnosticism
2. a town in Upper Egypt