Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 232 Explained

Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 232 (P. Oxy. 232 or P. Oxy. II 232; also known as P.Lond.Lit. 128 and Pap.Flor. VIII 35; TM 59591; LDAB 693) is a fragment of Contra Timocratem by Demosthenes, written in Greek. It was discovered in Oxyrhynchus. The manuscript was written on papyrus in the form of a roll. It is dated to the second or third century. Currently it is housed in the British Library (Department of Manuscripts, 787) in London.^[1]

Description

The document was written by an unknown copyist. It contains the text of Contra Timocratem (53-54, 56-58) by Demosthenes. The measurements of the fragment are 130 by 140 mm. The text is written in a medium-sized, sloping uncial hand. Palaeographically it resembles the Oxyrhynchus Homer. There are neither rough breathings nor accents, and only one stop occurs.^[2]

It was discovered by Grenfell and Hunt in 1897 in Oxyrhynchus. The text was published by Grenfell and Hunt in 1899.^[2]

The verso (back) of the roll was reused sometime afterwards to compose what appears to be a letter, dated to the 3rd century CE.^[3]

See also

• Oxyrhynchus Papyri
• Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 231
• Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 233
• Image of the manuscript online at the British Library.

Notes and References

1. http://163.1.169.40/cgi-bin/library?e=d-000-00---0POxy--00-0-0--0prompt-10---4----ded--0-1l--1-en-50---20-about-1708--00031-001-1-0utfZz-8-00&a=d&c=POxy&cl=CL5.1.2&d=HASH66d3681e4cf51cae92ae08 P. Oxy. 232
2. Book: Grenfell . B. P. . Bernard Pyne Grenfell . Hunt . A. S. . Arthur Surridge Hunt . Oxyrhynchus Papyri II . Egypt Exploration Fund . 1898 . London . 132–133 .
3. Web site: Trismegistos Texts.