Oxyrhynchus Papyrus Fragment with Plato's Phaedrus

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Oxyrhynchus Papyrus Fragment with Plato's Phaedrus

Place of OriginEgypt

Dateobverse 233-235 CE, reverse mid 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 obverse (Oxyrhynchus no. 1016) six columns of the surviving introduction to Plato's Phaedrus, and on the reverse (Oxyrhynchus no. 1044), a tax list. 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.

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

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

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

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.