Papyri and the Textual Criticism of Greek Authors
Abstract
Abstract This chapter examines the contribution which the discovery of fragmentary ancient manuscripts, usually on papyrus, makes to our understanding of ancient Greek texts preserved in a continuous manuscript tradition. Although such discoveries are inevitably less glamorous than those which recover lost literature, they nevertheless often significantly improve the picture of texts which we already have. Sometimes they support conjectural emendations previously made by scholars; sometimes they produce good readings which no-one had previously imagined. As a result, they remind us of the fragile basis of the ancient Greek texts that have come down to us, and of the need for scholars to be constantly on their guard when relying on the evidence of merely medieval manuscripts.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Historical and Linguistic Studies
Historical
Religious
and Philosophical Studies
Ancient Near East History
Publication details
- Journal / source
- The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Latin Textual Criticism
- Publisher
- Oxford University PressOxford
- Pages
- 349–358
- Publication date
- 8 April 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter