Collection items

Aristophanes of Byzantium, De Animalibus

Papyrus Created date: 2nd century–3rd century

Aristophanes of Byzantium, who lived between the third and the second century BC, was well known for his studies on ling...

Fragment of an illuminated papyrus

Papyrus Created date: 3rd century–6th century

A small fragment is all that survives of an ancient illuminated book (whether it was a roll or codex is unclear). The sc...

Gospel of John papyrus

Papyrus Created date: 3rd century

These two papyrus fragments are from a 3rd-century papyrus codex containing the Gospel of John. They were found at Oxyrh...

Letter about funeral expenses

Papyrus Created date: 260–275

Among the documents shedding light on funeral practices in Graeco-Roman Egypt is this incomplete sheet of papyrus from t...

Letter from a schoolboy to his father

Papyrus Created date: 3rd century

This reused papyrus sheet was cut out from a larger piece preserving some official document. The blank back of the papyr...

Letter to a son-in-law

Papyrus Created date: 249–299

Writing appears on both sides of this fragmentary papyrus. The text on the front, which runs parallel to the fibres, is...

Magical handbook

Papyrus Created date: 3rd century

Originally, this third-century papyrus roll was over two metres long. It is an opistograph, a roll bearing writing on ei...

Petition to the prefect of Egypt

Papyrus Created date: 263

A document addressed to the prefect of Egypt is preserved in this papyrus sheet. A certain woman called Aurelia Thaisous...

Will of Lucius Ignatius Rufinus

Papyrus Created date: 211

Produced during the early third century, this is one of the Latin papyri of the British Library collections. It originat...