papyrus codices buried sealed jar found local farmer named muhammed al samman writings codices comprised fifty two mostly gnostic treatises also include three works belonging ''corpus hermeticum'' partial translation alteration plato 's ''republic'' codices may belonged nearby pachomian monastery buried bishop athanasius condemned use non canonical books festal letter though original language composition probably greek various codices contained collection written coptic st nd century date composition
Humanities Theology Gnosticism