Introduction
Medical treatise by an unknown author (Oslo, University Library P. 494). Papyrus fragment (9,5x9cm) from Egypt that dates from the early second century AD and comprises 14 lines. Its upper margin is preserved amounting to ca. 3,5cm and the verso is blank. The first nine lines are relatively well preserved, while the remaing lines show lacunas and doubtful readings. Furthermore, l. 1 of the papyrus preserves a diaeresis on the iota of ἰσχάδας. The extract deals with a reasonable diet regarding epilepsy and paraplexy and may have belonged to a treatise about epilepsy (and possibly other nervous disorders) or may have been part of a larger medical work. The parallels to Hippocratic writings suggest that the author was at least familiar with this medical school.
(This papyrus has been digitally edited by Marcel Moser 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 (S. Eitrem - L. Amundsen, P.Oslo III 72).)
DCLP transcription: 63583 [xml]
να α̣ὐστηρὸν, λ̣ούσα̣[σθ]αι ψυχρῷ, οὐκ ὀλί-
γοις αἴτια γεγονότα πολυχρονίου ἐπι-
ληψίας, καὶ ὅτι ἐ̣ρ̣γωδέστερ̣ο̣[ν] μ̣ὲν ὑγιά̣-
5ζο̣νται, οἷς διαμένει ταῦτα ἐν τῇ̣ διαίτ[ῃ],
ῥ̣ᾷ̣ον δὲ, οἷς μ̣ε̣τατίθεται· οὐ̣ πα̣ρὰ̣ λ̣όγον,
εἴπερ ἐν τῷ ἐνκεφάλῳ καὶ τοῖς ἀπὸ τοῦ ἐν̣-
κεφάλου τοῖς ἐπιλήμπτοις καὶ τοῖς παρ̣[α-]
πληκτικοῖς vac. ? (*) μένει, γείνεται τὸ
10μὲν εὐλυτώτερον καὶ εὐκε̣[ινητότερον]
τῷ δυναμένῳ τὸ π̣[- ca.16 -]
[ ̣] ̣σ̣θ̣αι̣(*) θ̣[ᾶ]σ̣σον̣ ἀ̣λ̣λ̣α̣χ[θείσης τῆς διαίτης],
[τ]ὸ δ’ ἧσσον εὐκεί[νητον - ca.12 -](*)
[βρα]δύτερον καὶ ἐργ̣ω̣[δέστερον ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣](*)
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Editorial History; All History; (detailed)
© Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri.
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Notes
- 1-2.
Cf. Hp. Morb. Sacr. 21 towards the end: ὅστις δὲ ἐπίσταται ἐν ἀνθρώποισι ξηρὸν καὶ ὑγρὸν ποιεῖν, καὶ ψυχρὸν καὶ θερμόν, ὑπὸ διαίτης, οὗτος καὶ ταύτην τὴν νοῦσον ἰῷτο ἄν;
- 1.
Some kind of meat is to be supplied along with eggs and dried figs (cf. Hp. Acut. II 46). Also according to Hp. Acut. II 50 birds' eggs are strong and nourishing and windy, wheras dry figs are described as burning, but passing easily by stool (cf. Hp. Acut. II 55). Concerning the wine, the medical literature generally has the same opinion: thick, dark and harsh wine is banished (cf. Hp. Acut. II 52 & III 68), while on the other hand, soft white wine is the next best to drinking-water (cf. Hp. Acut. I 35).
- 2.
For baths as a medical treatment cf. Hp. Acut. I 35 & II 57 and Cael. Aur. Soran. IV 78 & 93.
- 7.
According to Hippocrates and the Hippocratic school (Morb. Sacr. 6 & 20) the brain causes epilepsy being the seat of consciousness. With this theory he may have had a predecessor in Alcmaeon of Croton.
- 9.
According to Kalbfleisch, the scribe left a space between παραπληκτικοῖς and μένει to indicate a lacuna. For a possible supplement vd. apparatus ad loc.