Unearthed papyrus contains lost scenes from two of Euripides’ plays, one of the most significant new finds in Greek literature in this century

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"For centuries, questions have loomed about two of Euripides’ lesser-known tragedies, “Ino” and “Polyidus,” with only a smattering of text fragments and plot summaries available to offer glimpses into their narratives.

Now, in a groundbreaking find, two Harvard alumni have identified and worked to decipher 97 lines from these plays on a papyrus from the third century A.D. ...

The papyrus was discovered in 2022 in a burial shaft at the ancient necropolis of Philadelphia, Egypt, by a team from the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities. ..."

"The Euripidean text dates to the 3rd century CE. It is written on the back of a land survey from the late 2nd century CE or early 3rd century CE.

It contains an excerpt from Ino in the first column and an excerpt from Polyidos in the first and second columns. The title “Of Polyidos” (indicated by the red arrow) separates the two excerpts. ..."

Unearthed papyrus contains lost scenes from Euripides’ plays — Harvard Gazette "Alums help identify, decipher ‘one of the most significant new finds in Greek literature in this century’"

The Papyrus

The papyrus as it was uncovered at the ancient necropolis.

The red arrow separates the two texts