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      Figure 7.2 P.Oxy. 25.2430; fragments of Simonides (= fr. 519). (Courtesy of The Egypt Exploration Society and the University of Oxford Imaging Papyri Project.)

      The order in which various aspects of the process are presented below in no way reflects a standardized technique: every papyrus is unique, and yields insights on its own terms as its readings are confirmed and its text stabilized. A papyrologist invariably wears many hats in the course of completing the job (Youtie 1963; Turner 1968: 54–73), but all responsible editions will include some combination of the following.

      Figure 7.3 Excavating for papyri at Oxyrhynchus (al-Bahnasa). (GR.NEG.048, courtesy of the Egypt Exploration Society.)

       Physical Description and Layout

      Before an editor begins to transcribe a text, all aspects of the physical papyrus are measured and described:

       the dimensions of the fragment(s)

       the color and quality of the papyrus

       the direction of the fibers

       the location and size of holes

       the direction and orientation of any folds

       the presence of any sheet-joins (= kollēseis)

       the extent of the header, footer, margins, intercolumnar space, and leading (= the space between lines), where extant

       the number of lines, letters per line, and width of the lines

       the size of the letters

       the presence of marginalia, symbols, or corrections (see further, below)

       if the obverse also preserves writing, it is similarly scrutinized

      Among the insights potentially resulting from physical examination is the type of ancient book from which the fragment derives (i.e., bookroll or codex). But more significant findings are possible, as well. New analyses of the columns in P.Oxy. 10.1232, for example, have clarified the organization of Sappho fr. 44 (Sampson 2016; de Kreij 2020). Regularly recurring folds or wormholes, similarly, can permit the modeling of a bookroll, facilitating the placement of fragments (or columns) relative to one another. And where the fibers of the papyrus align, disparate fragments can be rejoined with some confidence.

       Palaeography

      A familiarity with ancient handwriting styles (and their evolution) is essential for the papyrologist: due to abrasion, dirt, holes, or other damage, letters can be quite unclear and educated guesswork is therefore inevitable. In order to produce good readings, it is often necessary to produce an alphabet of letter shapes drawn by a particular scribe, the recourse to which helps to narrow the possibilities for fragmentary letters.

      Figure 7.4 P.Tebt. 2.684 (= Pindar, Ol. 9 and 10). The clear script is an example of biblical majuscule. (Courtesy of the Center for the Tebtunis Papyri, University of California, Berkeley.)

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