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Select Papyri, Volume III (Loeb Classical Library No. 360)

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This edition is not a book but a library. It shows us the almost uncountable amount of writers who published in Antiquity but who are unknown by most of the readers. As in all Loeb Editions the original Greek text is included alongside the translations. The notes on the text - both Greek and translations - are conveniently placed at the end of the page.

Of the papyri found in Egypt which have yielded fragments large and small of ancient literary authors, in this volume III is offered Greek poetry. From tragedy, 5th-4th centuries BC, are included fragments of 2 plays (one a satyr play) by Aeschylos , of 5 by Sophocles (two of them satyric including more than 300 lines of the 'Ichneutai', 'Searches'); of 10 by Euripides (including nearly 350 lines of 'Hypsipyle'); of one by Ion. From Old Comedy, 5th century, we have fragments of one play each of Epicharmus, Cratinus, Pherecrates, Eupolis, and Plato, and some fragments of Aristhophanes.

From Middle Comedy and New Comedy, 4th and 3rd centuries, are 26 items including at least 3 by Menander and one each by Philemon, Timocles, and Straton . From mimes there are a fragment of Sophron and 6 anonymous , including 112 lines of clownish doings by the Indian Ocean. The lyric poetry, 7th century BC - 4th AD, 21 mostly anonymous items, includes some of Sappho, Corinna, Pindar, Philicus, fragments of of dithyrambic poetry, hymns, songs and so on. The collection of elegiac and iambic, 7th century BC-3rd AD, 17 items, includes some Mimnermus, Amynthas, Leonidas, Antipater of Sidon, and Possidipus.

The 30 items of hexameter poetry, 5th century BC - 6th AD, are mostly unassignable but include Panyasis, Erinna (a lovely fragment of her 'Distaff'), Euphorion, Pancrates, and Dionysius (the 'Bassarica').