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Glossary
This guide to papyrologese is still in its early stages: please contact us to suggest additions.
A- B- C- D- E- F- G- H- I- J- K- L- M- N- O- P- Q- R- S- T- U- V- W- X- Y- Z-
A
AnnonaAntichretic loan
Athenaeus Third century AD sophist: wrote Deipnosophists ('Pundits at Supper'), a very thorough literary anthology on dinners
B
Bahr Yusuf Branch of the Nile that feeds into the FayumBeneficarius
C
Comes Aegypti Constantinople Aqueduct TaxD
E
F
FayumFertile irrigated oasis area centring on Lake Moeris, fed by the Bahr Yusuf
G
H
I
J
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LogistesM
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Nome Administrative unit of Hellenistic and Roman Egypt, inherited from the Dynastic period. Oxyrhynchus is in the southern part (the 'Division of Polemon') of the Arsinoite NomeO
Oxyrhynchus Regional capital in Hellenistic and Roman Egypt: the Oxyrhynchus Papyri were dug out of its rubbish dumps. See feature: Waste Paper CityOxyrhynchus Fish Literally, 'sharp-nose': a local fish worshipped by the people of Oxyrhynchus as their patron deity. Genus is Mormyrus: the sharp nose, soft and fleshy, is for poking around in the river mud for food.
P
Papyrus A reed growing in the Nile, made into
a paper by pasting split fibres at right angles
Pater Poleos
Praepositus pagi
Praeses
Q
R
Recto The 'front' side of a papyrus roll. The fibres run horizontally: better to write on. The 'back' is the verso.Riparius
S
Sophist A professional rhetorician or pundit of the early centuries ADStationarii
Strategus Literally, 'general': local magistrate in the Hellenistic infrastructure inherited by the Romans, in overall charge of a nome. Addressee of many written complaints and petitions!