Coptic Language and Literature

Coptic was the language of Egypt under the Ptolemies, being the development of ancient Egyptian under Semitic influence, with a large admixture of Greek words and forms. It was still in use in the 9th century notwithstanding the Arab conquests and persecutions, and though extinct in Middle and Lower Egypt in the 12th it survived in Upper Egypt until the 17th century. The religious services of the Copts are still conducted in this language, but with Arab interpreters. The ancient demotic alphabet was supplanted by the Greek uncial when Egypt was converted to Christianity, and since the beginning of the 5th century all religious works have been written in this character. There are three dialects, Sahidic, Memphitic, and Bashmuric; the latter, perhaps, most closely resembles the hieroglyphics. The literature consists entirely of religious works, including translations of the Bible.