Introduction
Fragment of catechism on anatomy (P.Lund I 7). Fragmentary page of a papyrus codex (12x16 cm) palaeographically dated to the 3rd-4th cent. AD and containing a catechism on anatomy. The extant part deals with anatomical information in the form of question and answer about intestines: the blind gut (its denomination and function), the colon (very fragmentary), the rectum (its position and denomination), and the sphinkter (its position, nature and function). The linguistic features point to a later stage than Rufus, a contemporary or later one than Galen. The handwriting is a straight and irregular uncial with ligatures, suggesting that the book was a personal copy. Diacritical marks (a paragraphos, five diplai obelismenai) divide the surviving sections of the text.
DCLP transcription: 64316 [xml]
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1Traces 1 line
2 ̣ ̣ ̣απ ̣ ̣ τ̣ὸν ἀέρα ̣β ̣ι ̣ ̣
διὰ [τί τ]υφλὸν ἔντερον προσαγο[ρεύεται;]
ἀπὸ τοῦ π̣[όρο]ν μὴ ἔχειν, τῶν ἄλλων [ἐντέρων](*)
5πόρον ἐχόντων [κ]αὶ πεποροποιημ[ένων].
πρ[ὸς τ]ὶ πεποίηται τὸ τυφλὸν ἔ[ντερον;]
ἕκαστον [ὄργανον] μὲν χαίρει ἐπὶ τοῖς [κατὰ τὸ]
ἔ̣θος ὑπ’ αὐ[το]ῦ παρεχομένοις, ὡς ἔστ[ιν αἰσθέ-]
σθαι κατὰ πρῶτον λόγον ἐπὶ τοῦ τῆς χ[ολῆς ἀγ-]
10γίου(*)· τοῦ γὰρ χολώ[δ]ους πικροτάτου ὑ[πάρχον-]
τος καὶ πυρωδεστάτου, τὸ μὲν πρῶτο[ν ἀφλέγ-]
μ̣αντον δ̣ι̣αμένει τὸ ἀγγῖον, οὐδὲν δὲ ἔλα[τ-]
[τ]ον καὶ ἐν χολημεσίᾳ [ἀ]παντληθέντος τοῦ
[π]εριέχ[οντος ὀργάνου] κινδύνει τὸ ζῶ-
15[ο]ν κατὰ ἀ[- ca.9 - τοῦ] τῆς χολῆς ἀγγίου
[ -ca.?- ] τὸν αὐτὸν οὖν τρό-
[πον -ca.?- ]ο ἐντέρου ἀπο
[ -ca.?- ] ̣ς ἀποταμιεύε-
[ται (?) -ca.?- ]νας ῥύσεσιν
20[ -ca.?- ] ̣ φυτονα
[ -ca.?- ] ̣ αὐτῷ
[ -ca.?- ] ἵστησι ⤚
[ -ca.?- ] •
[ -ca.?- ]κότες·
25[ -ca.?- ] ̣ ̣
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1[ἐφίδρυται](*) γὰρ τ̣ὸ [ἀ]πευθυσ[μέν]ο[ν]
[ἐπὶ τὸ ἱε]ρ[ὸ]ν ὀστέον. ⤚
ἀπὸ τίνος εἴρηται ἀπευθυσ[μένον;]
[ἀπὸ τ]οῦ ἐπ’ εὐθίας κεῖσθαι τῶν [ἄλλων ἐντέ-]
5[ρων] ἑλικη̣δ̣ὸ̣ν ἑαυτ[οὺ]ς κατατορ̣[νευ]ό̣[ντων.]
[ ̣ ̣ ̣]ι̣ν̣ο̣ς̣(*). Λέγεται δὲ καὶ ἀ̣ρ̣χ̣ό̣ς̣. ⤚
ποῦ κεῖται ὁ σφιγκτήρ;
[κατ]ὰ τὰ τελευταῖα μέρη̣ τ[οῦ ἀ]π̣ευθυσ[μένου]
[ἐν]τέρου. ⤚
10 ποταπὸς ἐστιν̣;
[νε]υροχονδρώ[δης.] ⤚
πρὸς τ[ὶ π]εποί[ηται;]
πρὸς συνοχὴν [ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣]φ̣[ -ca.?- ]
ἀπευθυσμεν[ -ca.?- ]
15συνερχομεν[ -ca.?- ]
ὡς μὴ ῥαδ[ίως -ca.?- ]
δοσιν τοῖς [ -ca.?- ]
ἐπιτηδειο[ -ca.?- ]
γοτομι[ -ca.?- ]
20βιος δ[ -ca.?- ]
τω[ -ca.?- ]
——
vac. ? [ -ca.?- ]
ορ[ -ca.?- ]
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Editorial History; All History; (detailed)
© Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Notes
- 7.
ὄργανον: the same word, speaking of the gall bladder, is used by Galen, De usu partium V 6.
- 10.
χολώδους: the adjective used as a noun indicates the yellow bile as in Gal. In Epid. II 8.
- 11-12.
ἀφλέγμαντον: for the use of this adjective in a medical context see especially Hp. Acut. 46,1.
- 1.
ἐφίδρυται can be supplied after Gal. De uteri dissect. II 888; ἐπίκειται after Gal. In Hipp. Artic. comment. III 41.
- 5.
κατατορνευόντων: the metaphorical use of the verb κατατορνεύω "to lathe" is unparalleled. The only attestation in its proper meaning is in Her. Pneum. I 28. However, compare the parallel expression in Rufus, Anat. 41: ἀπὸ δὲ ταύτης ἐκφύεται τὰ ἔντερα ἑλικηδὸν εἰλημένα πρὸς παραδοχὴν τῶν [ἐκ] τῆς κοιλίας ὑποβιβαζομένων σιτίων κτλ.
- 6.
Μαρῖνος: it can be a reference to the famous anatomist (2nd cent. AD in.), who certainly dealt with intestines in the 13th book of his Anatomy (Gal. De libr. propr. 3). He might have been cited as the source for the definition of the rectum.
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APIS Translation (English)
Recto: Why is it called blind gut? Because it does not have an opening, while all the others have an opening and are provided with passages. Why has the blind gut been created? Every ... is pleased at ... furnished by it, as you can understand according to the first argument on the gall bladder. Since, when there is something which is bilious, very pungent and betokening inflammation ... first ... the bladder / vessel, not less is there a danger to life in vomiting of bile, when what is contained is lessened, ... the gall bladder ... Verso: For what reason is it called straightened? Because it lies straight while the others ... revolving themselves in circles ... It is also called the rectum. Where is the closing muscle situated? In the final parts of the rectum. What is it like? With sinews and cartilage. For what purpose has it been created? For contraction ... rectum ... so that not easily ...