Uncial 069 (P.Oxy. I 3): Mark at Jericho and Bethany

Excavated at Oxyrhynchus in Egypt and published as Oxyrhynchus Papyrus I 3. The Gregory–Aland number GA 069 and the repository designation University of Chicago Library, Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, OIM E 2057 control identity independently of generic labels such as “uncial fragment.” Modern custody does not establish ancient provenance, so this dossier separates find or collection history, likely copying context, publication, and present location. The record was also checked against the live Watchman 33 inventory by GA number, shelfmark, contents, and source URLs before selection. Digital photographs extend access, but the parchment itself remains the archaeological object.

one small parchment leaf fragment, preserving Mark 10:50–51 and 11:11–12, spanning Bartimaeus’s healing and Jesus’ arrival at Bethany. The surviving writing surface uses a narrow fragment about 8 by 4.5 centimeters from a parchment codex, with only portions of the original lines surviving. Material, ruling, lineation, ink, letter formation, corrections, marginal systems, bilingual writing, and reuse are evidence alongside the copied words. The selected image depicts GA 069 itself, not a generic manuscript. It represents one photographed side or leaf and must not be mistaken for every missing page of the original codex.

The display date “Fifth century AD” follows current registry and palaeographic assessment. Letter forms, ruling, page design, material, ink, and comparison with related hands can support a range, but they do not supply an exact calendar year. This manuscript directly preserves Mark 10:50–52; Mark 11:11–12 in the period when it was copied. That is evidence for the transmission and use of those texts, not proof that the physical leaf was present when the narrated events occurred.