DCLP

Introduction

The text is written against the fibres, on the back of a register of landholdings and taxes dating back to the 2nd cent. AD. The papyrus is of poor quality, and the upright cursive and heavily written handwriting gives a somewhat relaxed impression: see P.Lond. 1.110 (post 10/07/138 AD), and PSI Corr. 240 (2nd cent. AD). The content is not entirely clear: it is not easy to identify whether the terms refer to a person or an animal, nor whether a normal or a pathological state is described. The text may found parallels in physiognomical works, in which many anatomical features are considered significant, but the references to the significance of the anatomical characteristics described on the papyrus are lacking, and descriptions of teeth (see col. II 12) are entirely absent in physiognomical texts. It may also represents a description of a person’s physical characteristics for the purposes of identification, eventhough it appears to correspond better to a description of an animal. Interesting correspondences can be found with Philum. Ven. (whose work is preserved in an epitome) both in individual details and in syntactical structure. The quality of the material suggests that this may be an ad hoc composition rather than a copy of a text.

(This papyrus has been digitally edited by Andrea Bernini as part of the Project "DIGMEDTEXT - Online Humanities Scholarship: A Digital Medical Library based on Ancient Texts" (ERC-AdG-2013, Grant Agreement no. 339828) funded by the European Research Council at the University of Parma (Principal Investigator: Prof. Isabella Andorlini). The digital edition is mostly based on the previous edition (D. Manetti, P.Oxy. LXXIV 4973).)

Apparatus

Notes

• Col. i, 9.

  Vertical extending below the line: rho or phi (iota sometimes extends below the line).

• Col. ii, 3.

  A possible restoration is τετ̣αραγ̣μ[ένον ἢ ὑπ]ό̣χ̣λ̣ω̣ρον̣, with the noun which these terms qualify being perhaps the skin (τὸ δέρμα) or the face (τὸ πρόσωπον). The participle τεταραγμένος is used to describe a 'mottled' complexion or eye colour at Arist. Phgn. 812a, 17 and 812b, 8; [ὑπ]ό̣χ̣λ̣ω̣ρον̣ describes skin colour at Arist. Physiogn. [1.387,2 Foster]. Like all the descriptive elements that follow, this is non-specific by itself and can be found in multiple contexts, as for example in the description of an animal: cf. Philum. pp. 34.21, 36.7ff. W.

• 4.

  The presence of ἢ ὅτι suggests that the previous lines referred to the cause of a pathological state.

• 8-9.

  φλεκτιδώδης is probably an error for φλυκτιδώδης, an unattested adjective that could be derived from φλυκτίς 'pustule'. It can plausibly refer to the eyelids, even if οἱονεί specifies that a pustule-like appearance is meant rather than pustules themselves.

• 10.

  The cheeks are an important element in physognomical texts, and are associated with the jaws, as mentioned here immediately afterwards. The adjective that qualifies them presents a difficulty: there are traces before τωδεις, but space only for two letters, and the traces of the second letter suit well upsilon. Thus the possibilities seem restricted to αὐτώδης and φυτώδες, neither of which fits the context. If, however, we suppose that there was a scribal error as in the previous line, [ῥ]υ̣τ̣ώδε̣ι̣ς might be restored, and emended to [ῥ]υ̣τ̣ιδώδε̣ι̣ς. The adjective is attested in Hp. Prorrh. 2.23 (9, 52.9 L), Arist. HA 604a 28, Phgn. 807b 4, 808a 8, 18,28 etc. and is suited to the context.

• 13.

  Ears with large lobes suggest in particular an animal.

• Col. iii, 5ff..

  We have evidently arrived at the end of the description, which included some comment on nature (πεφυκότες) and weight (βαρεῖς), with the mention of the feet or legs. All these final elements are found in close proximity in Arist. Phgn. 810a 15ff.

• 11.

  Initial epsilon apparently corrected to lambda or accidentally malformed.