The earlier portions of the text are derived mainly from
Eusebius and Coptic tradition. But from the 6th century onwards, the biographies grow longer and often seem to derive from documents written by eyewitnesses of the events recorded. The portion on the 6th century history of the Coptic patriarchs, as well as the
Muslim conquest of Egypt, the biographies of
Pope Benjamin I of Alexandria and his four successors until
Pope Simeon I of Alexandria, are recorded by George the Archdeacon in the early eighth century. A vivid eyewitness account of the overthrow of the last
Umayyad Caliph,
Marwan II, is also included. In the tenth century, the Coptic bishop of
Hermopolis,
Severus Ibn al-Muqaffaʿ, compiled the book in
Arabic. Severus also relates the famous
miracle of moving the Mokattam Mountain during the ruling of the Fatimid Caliph
Al-Muizz around 975 (as an eyewitness of that period). It was subsequently continued by others including Michael,
bishop of Tinnis (11th century, writing in
Coptic, covering 880 to 1046), Mawhub ibn Mansur ibn Mufarrig, deacon of Alexandria, and
Pope Mark III of Alexandria (for 1131 to 1167). The complete text has since then been expanded with appendices and continuations running up to 1894. Indeed, one unpublished manuscript continues the text until 1923. ==Translations==