Previously unknown verses by Empedocles found on papyrus

Post by amelung » Sun, Apr 12, 2026, 2:19 PM UTC

jdnier wrote: post #16

georgearvanitis wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

ΚΑΙ ΤΟΥΤΩ … Η ΜΕΙΖΟΝ… ΑΛΛΑ ΤΑ Δ ΑΜΦΟΤΕ… ΔΗΛΟΥΤΑΙ… ΠΕΥΣΗ ΠΑΝ ΓΑΡ ΦΑΙΝΕΤΑΙ.. ΚΟΙΛΑ.. ΦΑΣΜΑΤΑ … ΓΥΙΩΝ ΟΣΣΟΝ … ΜΕΙΖΟΝΑ … ΚΑΙ ΔΙΑ ΤΟΥΤΟΥ … ΟΥΤΕ ΩΤΑ .. ΟΥΔΑΝ ΓΛΩΣΣΑ …

Not understanding Greek, I ran that through Google Translate (Greek -> English) just to see what it might say. > AND THIS … THE MAJOR … BUT THE BOTH … ARE MEANING … PEUSIS PAN GAR SEEMS.. OBVIOUS.. SPECTRA … OF SONGS SO … MAJOR … AND THEREFORE … NOT EVEN EARS .. NO LANGUAGE What form of Greek would that be? (I don't know much more than "ancient Greek" vs "modern Greek".)

> PEUSIS PAN GAR SEEMS

I think the Greek doesn't read «ΠΕΥΣΗ ΠΑΝ ΓΑΡ» but «ΠΕΥΣΗΙ ΠΑΝ ΓΑΡ» with «Ι», and «ΠΕΥΣΗΙ» = «πευσῃ» could be the 2nd sg. of the future of «πυνθάνομαι» ‹learn›. «ΠΑΝ» would be ‹all, every(thing)›, «ΓΑΡ» ‹namely, because (postponed)›. ‹… you will learn, everything namely …›? I don't know. – The «ΦΑΙΝΕΤΑΙ» ‹seems, appears› is on the next line, after some missing words.

Post by TFNA » Sun, Apr 12, 2026, 5:18 PM UTC

aap_ wrote: post #2

So is there any way to actually read it? Or do i have to buy an obscure french book? can you even buy the book? Academic publishing/gatekeeping is such a joke.

This isn't ready for the general public yet. When a new manuscript is discovered, the first stage is determining readings, which obviously is a process for experts consulting among themselves. Then, an edition of the original-language text is prepared and, again, if you aren't trained in Ancient Greek the text still isn't ready for you. Only then is a translation into a modern language created.

After that, you can probably read it online for free, whether through open access or the shadow libraries. Nobody is keeping anything from you.

Re: Previously unknown verses by Empedocles found on papyrus

Re: Previously unknown verses by Empedocles found on papyrus