The Tebtunis Papyri Database

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Introduction

The Tebtunis Papyri Database contains detailed records for over 1900 papyrus documents, and a small group of ostraka. It is expected to grow in the coming years. Since this project is ongoing, some of these records in the database are incomplete. We are continually adding to and updating this resource, so please check back often.

These detailed records in the database represent a small percentage of the papyrus collection of The Bancroft Library. They were selected according to one or more of the following criteria:

• Risk of physical damage:  Many of the papyri housed in vinylite (plastic) had suffered severely from their mounts:  Bits of papyrus had broken off; dirt and tiny fragments were hindering study of the papyrus; etc. These texts have now been taken from the harmful vinylite mounts, cleaned, and placed under glass. The papyri most at risk were those that came from crocodile cartonnage, so many of these have been included.
• Representation:  The collection contains many interesting documents that cover all fields of papyrology. We have tried to include a sample of each category in the database to show the depth of the collection.
• Subject:  The texts in the collection are not only of interest to papyrologists and historians of Greco-Roman Egypt; they also possess data that is relevant for Egyptologists, historians of the ancient world, philologists, historians of law, etc. Texts have been selected to demonstrate the collection's relevance to all of these (and other) fields.

Each database record contains information about one intellectual item, a text. In most cases, the text is contained on a single fragment of papyrus; in a number of cases, however, the text is just one of many on a single fragment of papyrus, or runs on to several fragments. The physical properties of each intellectual item (text) are presented in detail in each record, as are the precise relations with other physical items.

The Records

The contents of the database are presented on two levels. In the first instance, a brief record is shown which only records the following information of the intellectual item (text):

• Holding institution
• Call number
• Author
• Title
• Modern date

From each of the brief records there is a direct link to a detailed view, which provides information about the following aspects:

• Holding Institution
• Call Number
• Shelving information, including number of frames
• Author
• Type of Text (for documentary texts), or Title (for literary texts)
• Section/Side
• Publication/Side
• Connections (This field identifies whether the text is connected with another known text, either within the collection itself or in another collection.)
• Number of fragments
• Dimensions (sizes)
• Number of (columns and) lines
• Physical properties (margins; sheet joins; secondary information [text numbers and T-numbers] written on the papyrus)
• Paleographic description
• Textual date
• Modern date 
• Origin
• Provenance (crocodiles, town, mummy, etc.)
• Language
• Content  
• Context (This field indicates that the text forms part of an archive or dossier)
• Persons (individuals other than author mentioned in the text)
• Geographica (places mentioned in the text)
• Publications
• Bibliographical information, including corrections
• Translation (if available)

The detailed view is followed by images of the papyrus, when available.

There are also a large number of brief records in the database.  These represent chiefly unmounted fragments yet to be studied in detail.  They are mostly documentary texts, in Greek or Demotic. The approximate date or period of the fragment is given, along with its provenance, when known.

Restricted Originals and Images

Use or reproduction of original papyrus fragments, or images thereof, only by permission of the appropriate Curator.

All requests for permission to publish texts or reproduce images must be submitted in writing to:

The Bancroft Library

Todd Hickey, Tebtunis Papyri Curator, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-6000.

Partners:

Bade Institute of Biblical Archaeology

Aaron Brody, Director, Bade Institute of Biblical Archaeology, Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA  94709.

California State University, Sacramento

Sheila O'Neill, Head, Archives and Special Collections, Library, California State University, Sacramento, CA 95819.

Stanford University

Joseph G. Manning, Department of Classics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-2080.

Washington State University, Pullman

Laila Miletic-Vejzovic, Head, Manuscripts, Archives and Special Collections, The Libraries, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-5610.