Alexander the Great conquered Egypt in 332 B.C. He established the city of Alexandria. After his death, in 323 BC, his empire was divided among his generals. Egypt was given to Ptolemy I Soter. However, Greek did not manage to impose itself in Egypt, for Egyptian (Demotic at this point, but later called Coptic) continued to be the language of the masses. It also managed to influence Greek. Coptic language flourished in Egypt until about 1000 A.D., by which time it had been replaced by Arabic as the language of daily life in Egypt. After the Arab conquest of Egypt in the 7th century A.D., the use of Coptic survived in the administrative structure of the government for some decades. After the 11th century A.D., Arabic replaced Greek and Coptic as the principal language of Alexandria. Coptic language ceased to be widely spoken in Lower Egypt after the 10th century, and in Upper Egypt after the 15th century.
Why learn Coptic?
Almost all the best commentaries and biblical studies require a knowledge of Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, Syriac, Latin, Coptic, and Arabic. The Coptic tradition states that the first Egyptian to be converted by Mark the Evangelist was Anianus. About 1/4 of the Sahidic Coptic New Testament word list is Greco-Coptic (i.e. words adopted from Greek). The liturgy of the present day Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt is written in a mixture of Arabic, Greek, and Bohairic Coptic dialect.
Learning Coptic offers a unique gateway to understanding one of the earliest Christian cultures and the last phase of the ancient Egyptian language. Here are several compelling reasons to study it:
1. Unlock Egypt’s Cultural Continuity: Coptic serves as the bridge between ancient Egypt and the Christian era, representing the final stage of the Egyptian language. By learning Coptic, you gain direct access to a civilization that spans over 3,000 years, from the hieroglyphs of the pharaohs to the prayers of early Christian monks.
2. Explore Early Christian Texts: Many early Christian theological works, gospels, and scriptures were written in Coptic. Key texts like the Gnostic Gospels, including the Gospel of Thomas, are preserved in Coptic. Mastering the language enables you to read these documents in their original form, offering a deeper understanding of early Christian thought and history.
3. Access to Untapped Historical Insights: A significant number of ancient documents, manuscripts, and religious writings have never been fully translated into modern languages. By learning Coptic, you open doors to potentially uncharted research, making contributions to fields such as history, archaeology, religious studies, and linguistics.
4. Linguistic and Cognitive Benefits: Coptic, with its unique script derived from the Greek alphabet and additional Demotic symbols, challenges your mind in fresh ways. Learning Coptic can improve your cognitive skills, especially in terms of memorization, pattern recognition, and problem-solving, due to its complex structure and vocabulary.
5. Preserving an Endangered Language: Coptic, while no longer widely spoken, remains the liturgical language of the Coptic Orthodox Church. By studying and promoting it, you contribute to the preservation of a language and culture with deep historical significance, helping ensure its survival for future generations.
In essence, learning Coptic provides a rare opportunity to connect with a language that embodies the intersection of ancient Egyptian heritage and early Christian civilization, offering intellectual, cultural, and spiritual rewards that few other languages can match.