Obituary: Theodore Cressy Skeat

Abstract

"Theodore Skeat's death at the age of 96 has ended a lifetime devoted to ancient, classical and biblical literature. After studies in Cambridge and a spell at the British School of Archaeology in Athens, Skeat worked at the British Museum from 1931, rising to Keeper of Manuscripts. After retirement in 1972 from that position, he continued writing and publishing on palaeography. 2. Early in his career as librarian two momentous acquisitions put his name in the public arena. He helped H. Idris Bell edit a newly purchased apocryphal gospel now known as the Egerton 2 Papyrus, but then published under the title Fragments of an Unknown Gospel. This collection of hitherto unknown sayings of Jesus caused great public interest. As these fragments are probably the oldest Christian writing extant, the publication has maintained its popularity and influence."(pg 1)