OXYRHYNCHUS PAPYRI Meaning and
Definition
-
Oxyrhynchus Papyri refers to a significant collection of ancient documents discovered in the Egyptian city of Oxyrhynchus, which was once a thriving center of commerce and culture. The Oxyrhynchus Papyri consists of thousands of papyrus fragments that were found during archaeological excavations carried out in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
These papyrus fragments are mostly written in Greek and date from the 3rd century BCE to the 7th century CE, covering a wide range of topics including literature, poetry, philosophy, religious texts, legal documents, letters, and administrative records. The collection has proven to be invaluable in providing insights into various aspects of ancient life, such as religious practices, social customs, economic activities, and political events.
The importance of the Oxyrhynchus Papyri lies in their ability to shed light on the cultural and intellectual development of the ancient world. They have provided scholars with previously unknown works of famous Greek authors like Sophocles, Euripides, and Hesiod, as well as unique insights into everyday life in ancient Egypt.
The papyri were preserved due to the arid climate of Egypt, which helped to prevent them from decomposing over the centuries. They were mainly used in everyday written communication and were eventually discarded or reused for various purposes, such as wrapping materials or stuffing in mummies. The rediscovery of the Oxyrhynchus Papyri has greatly enhanced our understanding of the ancient world and continues to be a valuable resource for scholars and researchers studying the diverse facets of ancient history and literature.
Etymology of OXYRHYNCHUS PAPYRI
The word "Oxyrhynchus" has its origins in ancient Greek. It is derived from the Greek words "oxus", meaning "sharp", and "rhynchos", meaning "snout". This name was given to the town of Oxyrhynchus (modern-day Behnesa) in Egypt because of the shape of its ruins when viewed from a distance, resembling the snout of a sharp-nosed fish.
The term "papyri" refers to the plural form of the word "papyrus", which comes from the ancient Greek word "papuros". Papyrus was a type of paper-like material that ancient Egyptians used to write on, which was made from the stems of the papyrus plant.
