Late Antique Historiography

On the mystery of the letters

Title(s):
  • On the mystery of the letters
  • Περὶ τοῦ μυστηρίου τῶν γραμμάτων
    (Peri tou mystēriou tōn grammatōn, About the mystery of the letters)
Author:
Period covered:
Creation-Christ
Language:
Greek
State of Preservation:
Full
Genre:
  • Exegesis
  • Sacred history
Remarks:
This is an exegetical treatise with numerous references to sacred history. It covers biblical history from the Creation to Christ, with brief references to emperors involved in the persecution of Christians (Hadrian, Diocletian, Maximinian and Julian). There exist Coptic and Arabic versions.
Edition - Translation:
  • C. Bandt (2007) Der Traktat 'Vom Mysterium der Buchstaben': Kritischer Tekst mit Einführung, Übersetzung und Anmerkungen von Cordula Bandt (Texte und Untersuchungen zur Geschichte der altchristlichen Literatur, 162). Berlin.
Fragments:
Users:
Sources:
Bibliography:
  • E. Amélineau (1890) "Les Traités Gnostiques d'Oxford: Étude critique". Revue de l'histoire des religions 21: 176-215, 261-294.
  • J. Paramelle (1979-1980) 'Le mystère des lettres grecques'. Annuaire de l'École Pratique des Hautes Études: Ve Section, 88: 385-386.