Nag Hammadi
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Definition
- 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
- 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
- a town in Upper Egypt