Oxyrhynchus Papyrus Fragment with Plato's Phaedrus

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Oxyrhynchus Papyrus Fragment with Plato's Phaedrus

Place of OriginEgypt

DateMid-3rd century CE

Dimensionsmaximum: 10 13/16 × 22 13/16 in. (27.5 × 57.9 cm)

MediumIndia ink on papyrus

ClassificationManuscripts

Credit LineGift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1915.38

Not on View

Description This papyrus, written in Greek on both sides, features on the reverse (Oxyrhynchus no. 1016) six columns of the surviving introduction to Plato's Phaedrus, and on the obverse (Oxyrhynchus no. 1044), a tax list (dated 235 CE). It consists of four joined sheets, each made from smaller fragments measuring approximately 27 cm in height and 20 cm in width, with three collemata (text columns) per sheet.

Label TextWhile one side of this papyrus features a mundane 3rd century CE taxing list, the other contains the introduction (or proem) of Plato's Phaedrus, the famous philosophical dialogue on love and rhetoric composed around 370 BCE. In this passage (227a–230e), the dialogue opens with Socrates and Phaedrus meeting outside the city walls of Athens. Phaedrus has just come from hearing a speech by the orator Lysias and is eager to discuss it with Socrates. They decide to take a walk by the river Ilissos, seeking a quiet place to converse. Socrates playfully teases Phaedrus, expressing interest in hearing the speech, especially as Phaedrus claims it contains new ideas about love. This section establishes the setting and sets the stage for a deeper exploration of rhetoric, love, and philosophy.Published References

Hunt, Arthur S., The Oxyrhynchus Papyri, London, 1910, vol. VII, pp. 115-127, pl.V (Cols. V-VI) (no. 1016), and pp. 191-195 (no. 1044.)

"The Oxyrhynchus Papyri," Toledo Museum of Art Museum News, no. 31, March 1918, p. 375.

Pasquali, Giorgio, Storia della tradizione e critica del testo, Florence: Le Monnier, 1934, p. 256.

Diano, Carlo, “Quod semper movetur aeternum est,” La Parola del Passato, vol. 5 (March–July 1947), pp. 189–192.

Vinzent, Otwin, Textkritische Untersuchungen der Phaidros Papyri, Doctoral dissertation, Universität des Saarlandes, Saarbrücken, 1961.

Pautler, Margo L., "Books and Manuscripts," Toledo Museum of Art Museum News, New series, vol. 9, no.2, Summer 1966, repr. p. 30.

Irigoin, Jean, “Philologie grecque,” Annuaire de l’École Pratique des Hautes Études, IVe section, sciences historiques et philologiques (1972–73), p. 203.

Youtie, Louise C., "P. Oxy, VII 1044, " Zeitschrift fur Papyrologie und Epigraphik, vol. 21, 1976, pp. 1-13.

Youtie, Louise C., “A Terminus Post Quem for the Oxyrhynchus Phaedrus.” Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik, vol. 21, 1976, p. 14.

Funghi, Serena, and Gabriella Messeri Savorelli, “Note papirologiche e paleografiche. (ii. POxy. VII 1016 e POxy. LVII 3885: uno stesso scriba),” Tyche, vol. 7, 1992, pp. 75–88.

Puglia, Enzo, La cura del libro nel mondo antico: Guasti e restauri del rotolo di papiro, Naples: Liguori (collana Arctos), 1997, p. 46, notes on pp. 53 and 60.

Ask ChatGPT Easterling, Patricia E., and Handley, Carol (eds.), Greek Scripts: An Illustrated Introduction, London, Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies, 2001, p. 48.

Corpus Dei Papiri Filosofici Greci E Latini (cpf), part 4, vol.2. , 2002, pp. xv, xxiii, xxviii, xxxiv, xxxv, xxxviii, figs. 154-156.

Johnson, William A., Bookrolls and Scribes in Oxyrhynchus, Toronto; Buffalo: University of Toronto Press, 2004, p. 64.

Minutoli, Diletta, and Ucciardello, Giuseppe, “Nota paleografica a P.Cair. J.E. 47991,” Analecta Papyrologica, vol. 16–17 (2004–2005) [published 2007], p. 20.

Ask ChatGPT Del Corso, Lucio, “Lo ‘stile severo’ nei P. Oxy.: una lista,” Aegyptus: rivista italiana di egittologia e papirologia, vol. 86 (2006), pp. 81–106.

Ask ChatGPT Nongbri, Brent, "Reconsidering the Place of Papyrus Bodmer XIV-XV (𝔓75) in the Textual Criticism of the New Testament," in the Journal of Biblical Literature, JBL 135, no. 2, 2016, repr. fig.11, p. 422.