A rare artifact has been accidentally discovered in the collections of the Carl von Ossietzky State and University Library in Hamburg, Germany. For many years, a papyrus containing text in Greek, dating back to late Ancient Egypt, went unnoticed.
The sensational find was made by papyrologists Lajos Berkes from Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany, and Gabriel Nokki Masedo from the University of Liège, Belgium. They dated the manuscript to the 4th-5th centuries AD, as reported by the Daily Mail.
What We Know About the Discovery
Experts examined a fragment of papyrus measuring 5 by 11 centimeters, which had been cataloged in the library under the number P.Hamb.Graec. 1011. The fragment reveals 13 lines, each containing up to 10 letters.
Most importantly, the researchers were able to decipher the content of the manuscript. It turns out that the ancient papyrus recounts the story of the “second miracle” from the Gospel of Thomas, detailing how a five-year-old Jesus brought clay sparrows to life. The original account of this miracle is believed to have been written around the 2nd century AD. However, the portion of the Gospel of Thomas that described Christ’s early years was excluded from the Bible, which focused solely on Jesus’s ministry and the events leading to his crucifixion.
The story of the “second miracle” describes how young Jesus molded 12 sparrows from clay. While engaged in this activity, he was discovered by his father, who asked him to stop because it was the Sabbath—a day of rest and worship when work is prohibited. In response, the boy commanded the clay figures to “fly like living birds,” and they did, as Professor Gabriel Nokki Masedo recounted.
His colleague, Dr. Lajos Berkes, noted the awkwardness of the handwriting in which the text was written. At first glance, it could be mistaken for mundane notes, like a shopping list. However, the deciphered content led the scholars to believe it might be a student exercise.
The research duo has promised to prepare a critical analysis of the discovery and commentary on the manuscript. Their findings will be published in The Journal of Papyrology and Epigraphy.
Brooklyn Museum