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Project / Collection Papyri Collections Name Dioscurides, writer of letters, 3rd century BC Level [40] File

1. Papyrus 507

Reference (shelfmark):
Papyrus 507
Title:
Letter of Introduction (P.Petr. II 2(4), P.Petr. III 28c, P.Lond. III 507descr., TM 7408)
Scope & Content:
Letter of Dioscurides to his father Diophanes, recommending Asclepiades, the bearer of the letter, who is sailing up the Nile, should he need anything. With docket on the back including the name of the sender, the recipient, the Macedonian and Greek dates, and the subject of the letter, which is...
Collection Area:
Western Manuscripts
Languages:
Greek, Ancient
Date Range:
26 April 222 BC
Extent:

Two fragments of a papyrus sheet reused as mummy cartonnage, with some 20 letters lost in between; mutilated at the bottom (front), and with few small insect holes in the preserved fragments. Writing runs across the fibres on the front and along them on the back. On the front, the left fragment bears the beginnings of 3 lines and the right fragment the ends of 6 lines. Both fragments have modern annotations. On the back there are three rubbed lines arranged in one column and a word written next to it; on the other fragment, written in the reverse direction, there is another line. The papyrus is housed in a glass frame.

2. Papyrus 508

Reference (shelfmark):
Papyrus 508
Title:
Letter of Introduction (P.Petr. II 2(4), P.Petr. III 28(d), P.Lond. III 508a descr., TM 7409) and Miscellaneous Fragments
Scope & Content:
A: Fragmentary letter to Diophanes, mentioning his daughter, grandchildren and his son Dioscurides. The writer recommends the bearer of the letter, presumably Asclepiades, should he need anything. B-E: Small fragments of various documents, unpublished.
Collection Area:
Western Manuscripts
Languages:
Greek, Ancient
Date Range:
222-221 BC
Extent:

Five fragments of papyrus sheets from mummy cartonnage, written on one side, with plaster residue especially on the back; mounted in the same glass frame.

A: Lacking the left-hand half; with minor surface damage; 10 lines written across the fibres, lacking the beginnings; lower and right margins minimal; upper margin extant.

B: Small strip with 2 lines running across the fibres and traces of another line.

C: Upper left corner of a sheet, with the beginnings of 4 lines written across the fibres.

D: Fragment with beginnings of 6 lines written along the fibres.

E: With some surface damage; lines run along the fibres; the ink is faint.