DCLP Transcription [xml]
Introduction
List of items. The fragment (4.5x4 cm) is a piece of thick, poor quality papyrus, originally with a horizontal fold in the centre. The text is written against the fibres, while the other side is blank, and all margins save the upper survive. The lines exhibit a marked downward slope. The semi-cursive hand is very small, written with a relatively thick nib and assignable to the 2nd or 3rd cent. AD. The text is a simple list, with each item recorded in the nominative singular on a new line. The fact that all the terms found here can refer to objects or substances attested as having some therapeutic purpose might point to a broadly medical context, and it may be that the list represents some sort of inventory or ‘shopping list’ associated with a doctor’s surgery (see perhaps P. Michael.36). On the other hand, since some of the terms listed refer to everyday items of personal property, the medical aspect should not be pressed.
(This papyrus has been digitally edited by Margherita Centenari 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. Leith, P.Oxy. LXXIV 4979).)
Apparatus
Notes
- 2.
The πιλίον, diminutive of πῖλος, generally designates an article of clothing made of felt, most commonly used of a cap worn on the head. The connotations of protectiveness implicit in this kind of caps are perhaps further highlighted by the use of cognate terms in several sources for certain kinds of medical covering for the head (see Pl. R. 406d; Aët. 6.1 [CMG 8.2, 124 Oliv.]; Sor. Fasc. 2 [CMG 4, 159 Ilb.]).
- 3.
A variety of spellings of γλωσσόκομον is attested on papyrus; see P.Tebt. 2.414.21; P.Mil. 2.76.21; PGM 13.1009; SB 8.9834b.46. The γλωσσόκομον standardly refers to a chest or case of varying size for the storage of valuables, generally made of wood. In a surgical context it refers to a box-splint, open at both ends and placed over a fractured leg to prevent movement (see Gal. In Hipp.Fract.comment. 2.64 [18.2, 501–5 K]). The standard meaning of the term as a chest, however, may point to an inventory list, the other items found here perhaps having been contained in the chest, although its position in the list would then be more difficult to explain.