Coptic Sahidic Resources

[tomispev]

Here I'd like to share a few resources I often use in my study of Sahidic Coptic. I'll probably be adding more over time.

Dictionaries
Coptic Dictionary Online

Textbooks
Coptic Beginner's Notes
Introduction to Sahidic Coptic (1983) by Thomas O. Lambdin
Coptic in 20 Lessons (2007) by Bentley Layton

Texts
Coptic Scriptorium; all words are linked to the Coptic Dictionary Online
An Interlinear Coptic-English Translation of The Gospel of Thomas
Coptic Magical Papyri
Coptic Apocrypha, Martyrdoms, and Homilies by E. A. Wallis Budge
Coptica; links to files of many out of copyright editions of Coptic texts; the site is in French

[big_anemone]

Thank you for posting this. I'm on an extended break from Coptic, trying to figure out my way back in, starting in another 6-12 months (after I meet some Greek goals). This is all very helpful. My current plan is to go through all of Lambdin followed by Layton's Coptic Gnostic Chrestomathy, but even if that plan is viable your post provides a wealth of supplemental resources.

[tomispev]

Before you get into Layton's Coptic Gnostic Chrestomathy, I recommend you read this review of his English translation of the same texts in The Gnostic Scriptures, by Daniel McBride. Layton's choice of text, translation and interpretation have some serious issues.

[Dante]

you're missing one of the most important ones:

https://youtube.com/channel/UCjLuQOYWne-pi9MmIf2T8JA

has videos of a complete course using Lambdin's textbook and another course based on Allen's Coptic Grammar.

[Barry Hofstetter]

you're missing one of the most important ones:

https://youtube.com/channel/UCjLuQOYWne-pi9MmIf2T8JA

has videos of a complete course using Lambdin's textbook and another course based on Allen's Coptic Grammar.

Thanks all for positing these. I put my Coptic study on hold because (at my age) I started a Ph.D. in Latin literature at U of FL Gainsville. But with these resources I'm seriously tempted to carve out the time. I wonder why the course above calls it "Saidic" when the rest of the world writes Sahidic?

[tomispev]

I wonder why the course above calls it "Saidic" when the rest of the world writes Sahidic?

Because Dr. Casey insists on using "Saidic", which is a rare but acceptable rendition of the Arabic ṣaꜥīdī, and he argues that dropping Ayin <ꜥ> rather than transcribing it with a <h> makes more sense. I personally prefer the older term "Thebaic", but I use "Sahidic" so I don't get curious questions from the uninitiated.

[Barry Hofstetter]

I wonder why the course above calls it "Saidic" when the rest of the world writes Sahidic?

Because Dr. Casey insists on using "Saidic", which is a rare but acceptable rendition of the Arabic ṣaꜥīdī, and he argues that dropping Ayin <ꜥ> rather than transcribing it with a <h> makes more sense. I personally prefer the older term "Thebaic", but I use "Sahidic" so I don't get curious questions from the uninitiated.

Ah, but it is by such questions that they cease to be uninitiated...

[tomispev]

Ah, but it is by such questions that they cease to be uninitiated...

No they don't.