PREFACE

Section I of this volume contains new texts of Greek drama: 4639 offers a tragic rhesis speech or set piece, probably by Euripides; 4640 provides plot-summaries of two tragedies (both items may have some connection with the lost Hippolytos Kalyptomenos); 4641–6 continue our publication of comedy; 4641 is a useful addition to Act II of Menander’s Epitrepontes; 4642 and 4643 are perhaps assignable to Kitharistes and Hymnis; in unassigned fragments we hear of a patriot and shouting (4645) and of a formal betrothal (4646). The section continues with unknown prose texts: a rhetorical exercise, Enkomion of the Horse (4647), and a learned treatise on star-signs as evidenced in Greek poets (4648); 4649–51 also quote Hesiod, while 4652 contains a glossary to the Hesiodic Scutum.

The Hesiodic reference continues in Section II. 4653–66 include all the remaining papyri of Theogony, Works and Days, and Shield thus far identified in the holdings of the Egypt Exploration Society; their textual interest lies above all in their omission or inclusion of verses suspected by ancient scholars and modern editors. We have added two rarities (4667–8): a fragment with Homeric Hymns 18 and 7 (consecutively), and the first known papyrus of Batrachomyomachia.

Section III contains three writing exercises and the like, chosen for their palaeographic interest (4669–71); and three pieces of erotic magic (4672–4).

The documentary texts in Section IV come mostly from the fifth century AD (a period from which we have relatively few papyri). They have been chosen primarily for their chronological and prosopographical interest. Many provide the earliest or latest known dates for the use in Egypt of certain consulates for dating purposes; this and any other relevant information has been made available to Professors Bagnall and Worp for the new edition of their Chronological Systems of Byzantine Egypt. Others attest Oxyrhynchite magnates with titles of nobility and so offer glimpses of the provincial elite of the Later Roman Empire. 4703–4 provide rare examples of Oxyrhynchite documents from the period of Persian rule in Egypt. At the same time the texts illustrate the continuing flow of essential business: loans, supplies of wine, leases of land and houses and individual rooms, the maintenance of irrigation machines (4697) and the transport down river of the grain owed to the state (4685).

Dr Gonis and Dr Obbink prepared the indexes for the literary and subliterary texts (4641–2 were indexed by Dr R. Nünlist); Ms L. Capponi and Dr Gonis indexed the documentary texts. The plates have been produced from digital images created by Dr R. Hatzilambrou and Mr P. Micklem.

We record our gratitude to all the contributors; to Dr Jeffrey Dean for the deftness and precision with which he formatted the text; and to Messrs Charlesworth for their dispatch in the printing and binding. Dr Rea and Professor Thomas read and commented on large parts of the volume in draft; Dr Coles worked through the texts of Comedy and Magic, greatly to their benefit. The British Academy has readopted The Oxyrhynchus Papyri as one of its Major Research Projects; but we have a great additional debt to the Arts and Humanities Research Board for the generous grant which has made it possible to continue the whole enterprise.

The signatures below reflect a reconstitution of the editorial board. In future the Advisory Editors will contribute by reading and commenting on the material at an early stage; the General Editors will carry through the final revision and the process of production.

October 2003

R. A. COLES
J. R. REA
J. D. THOMAS
Advisory Editors

N. GONIS
D. OBBINK
P. J. PARSONS
General editors