A Coptic Interpretation of the Biblical List of Twelve Jewels
Smagina Evgenia B.
The article analyzes the interpretation of the list of 12 jewels in an apocryphal Coptic writing. Comparing this passage with its biblical sources, with different Jewish and Christian exegeses and with the legend on jewels from Eden in the Biblical Antiquities of Pseudo-Philo, the author draws the conclusion that there was an apocryphal writing in Late Antiquity, ascribed to the prophet Ezekiel, combining the motifs of the jewels from Eden, of the 12 jewels in the high priest’s garment and of the 12 foundations of heavenly Jerusalem.
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