Digital Papyri at Houghton Library

Houghton Library’s collection of papyri consists of 84 manuscripts dating from the 3rd century BC to the 6th century AD. Most of the papyri come from Oxyrhynchus, but there are also papyri from Hibeh and from the Fayûm. The collection comprises both literary and documentary texts. They are all written in Greek except for one (P. Oxy. 6.987), which is a bookplate written in Coptic. These papyri were given to the Semitic Museum at Harvard by the Egypt Exploration Fund, London, between 1901 and 1909. The Semitic Museum received this “gift” in return for the purchase of a life membership in the Egypt Exploration Fund for $125 by Jacob H. Schiff, the museum’s principal benefactor. In 1960 the papyri were transferred to Houghton Library.

The papyri from Oxyrhynchus were first published by B. P. Grenfell, A. S. Hunt in the first six volumes of the Oxyrhynchus Papyri (London, 1898-1908). The papyri from Fayûm were published by B.P. Grenfell, A.S. Hunt and D.G. Hogarth in Fayûm Towns and their Papyri (London, 1900) and those from Hibeh by B.P. Grenfell and A.S. Hunt in The Hibeh Papyri, I (London, 1906). Among the literary texts, the most notable and best preserved is a papyrus of the Panegyricus of Isocrates (SM 6261). The collection holds also papyri of Homer, Plato, Thucydides, Demosthenes, Menander, and the Gospels. The documentary texts include contracts, petitions, lists, tax receipts, letters and other types of documents. They are primary sources for the study of the political, administrative and social history of the Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt.

This Web site provides strategies for searching Houghton's papyri as well as links to bibliographies related to these materials that were compiled by the Library. Permission to publish from any papyrus is granted at the discretion of the Curator. See Houghton's Reproductions and Permissions page for more information.

 

MS Gr SM2211	P.Oxy.1.8	Poem in hexameters, [ca. 50-150]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM2212	P.Oxy.1.46	Letter from Phanias and Diogenes to the agoranomi concerning land distribution, [100]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM2213	P.Oxy.1.92	Order to pay ten jars of wine, 335?	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM2214	P.Oxy.1.109	List of personal property, chiefly clothes, [ca. 275-ca. 399]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM2215	P.Oxy.1.170	Letter to the agoranomi : [ca. 77-ca. 83]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM2216	P.Oxy.1.180	Account: order to a banker : [2--?]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM2217	P.Oxy.1.200	Agreement by three parties to become sureties for a fourth, [5--]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM2218	P.Oxy.2.209	Romans 1:1-7, [ca. 300-ca. 350]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM2219	P.Oxy.1.284	Petition alleging extortion by a tax collector, [ca. 50]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM2220	P.Oxy.1.314	Receipt for taxes paid, [ca. 1 - ca. 50]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM2221	P.Oxy.1.328	Notice of a sale of land, [ca. 85]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM2222	P.Oxy.1.362	Acknowledgement of the repayment of a loan, 75	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM2223	P.Fay.92	Bill of sale for a donkey, 126	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM2224	P.Fay.157	Odyssey : 10. 366, 367, 373-402. [ca. 1 - ca. 200]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM2225	P.Fay.168	Receipt for tax, 175 or 176	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM2226	P.Fay.197	Receipt for tax, 190	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM2227	P.Fay.350	Receipt for poll tax, 170	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM2228	P.Fay.360	Certificate for five days’ work at Theadelphia, 160	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM2229	P.Fay.362	Certificate for five days’ work at Theadelphia, [between 138 and 161]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3734	P.Oxy.2.211	Perikeiromenē, [ca. 75-ca. 125]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3735	P.Oxy.3.401	Gospel of Matthew, [4-- or 5--]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3736	P.Oxy.3.402	First epistle of John in Greek, [4--]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3737	P.Oxy.3.446	The Iliad, [ca. 150-ca. 225]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3738	P.Oxy.3.447	The Iliad, [1--]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3739	P.Oxy.3.455	The Republic, [ca. 250-ca. 300]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3740	P.Oxy.3.456	The Republic, [ca. 175-ca. 225]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3741	P.Oxy.3.460	De pace, [ca. 200]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3742	P.Oxy.3.452	History of the Peloponnesian War, [1-- or 2--]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3743	P.Oxy.3.453	History of the Peloponnesian War, [ca. 175-ca. 225]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3744	P.Oxy.3.458	De falsa legatione, [2--]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3745	P.Oxy.3.461	On the crown, [2--]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3746	P.Oxy.3.462	On the crown, [2--]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3747	P.Oxy.3.552	Iliad, [1--]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3748	P.Oxy.3.553	The Iliad, [2--]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3749	P.Oxy.3.555	The Iliad, [2--]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3750	P.Oxy.3.556	The Iliad, [1-- or 2--]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3751	P.Oxy.3.557	The Iliad, [2--]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3752	P.Oxy.3.558	The Iliad, [ca. 175-ca. 300]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3753	P.Oxy.3.559	The Iliad, [1--]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3754	P.Fay.145	Order to make a payment, [1st cent. B.C.]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3755	P.Fay.147	Order to pay 2 artabae of wheat [1st cent. B.C.]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3756	P.Fay.148	Order to Acusilaus to pay 2 artabae of wheat, [1st cent. B.C.]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3757	P.Fay.149	Order to pay, [1st cent. B.C.]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3758	P.Fay.150	Order to pay various sums of wheat, [1st cent. B.C.]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3759	P.Fay.218	List of payments of various taxes, [1--]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3760	P.Fay.219	Receipt for payment of beer, [between 41 and 68]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3761	P.Fay.222	Document addressed to Philip the haigialophylax, [2--]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3762	P.Fay.225	Letter (?) to a thēsaurophylax, [1-- or 2--]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3763	P.Fay.227	List of payments from different villages, [2--]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3764	P.Fay.230	Report on taxes paid by different villages, 26	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3765	P.Fay.299	Return of persons "epi xenēs", 30 or 31	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3766	P.Fay.320	Account, [1-- or 2--]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM3767	P.Fay.321	Receipt for the payment of taxes, 62 or 63	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM4356	P.Oxy.2.271	Contract transferring a debt, 56	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM4357	P.Oxy.3.418	Commentary on Iliad 1, [ca. 175-ca. 225]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM4358	P.Oxy.3.533	Letter of Apion to his son Apion and Horion, [ca. 175-ca. 225]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM4359	P.Oxy.3.421	Poem in hexameters, [1--]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM4360	P.Oxy.3.422	Epic poem, [2--]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM4361	P.Oxy.3.428	Poem in iambics, [1--]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM4362	P.Oxy.3.423	Poem in hexameters, [2--]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM4363	P.Oxy.3.430	Poem in comic iambics, [ca. 175-ca. 225]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM4364	P.Oxy.3.431	Poem in comic iambics, [1--]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM4365	P.Oxy.3.434	Poem in hexameters, [2--]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM4366	P.Oxy.3.506	Contract for a loan, 143	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM4367	P.Oxy.4.655	Gospel of Thomas, [ca. 200-ca. 250]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM4368	P.Oxy.4.700	De corona, [ca. 100 - ca. 199]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM4369	P.Oxy.4.701	Contra Timocratem, [ca. 175 - ca. 250]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM4370	P.Oxy.4.702	Contra Boeotum, [ca. 100-ca. 199]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM4371	P.Oxy.3.761	The Iliad, [ca. 50 B.C. - ca. 1 B.C]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM4372	P.Oxy.4.764	The Iliad, [2--]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM4373	P.Oxy.3.765	The Iliad, [2--]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM4374	P.Oxy.4.803	Letter, [ca. 50-100]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM4375	P.Hib.35	Petition by the administrators of a temple, [ca. 250 B.C.]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM4376	P.Hib.36	Report of the loss of a sheep, [229 or 228 B.C.]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM4377	P.Hib.83	Letter urging a payment of grain, [ca. 258-257 B.C.]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM4378	P.Hib.157	Account, [between 264 and 262 B.C.]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM4379	P.Hib.158	Document concerning wheat and olyra, [ca. 251 B.C.]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM4380		Text, [2--?]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM6158	P.Hib.9	Epic poetry, [ca. 300 - ca. 280 B.C.]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM6159	P.Hib.93	Contract of surety, [ca. 250 B.C.]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM6160	P.Hib.119	Account of rent, [ca. 260 B.C.]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM6161	P.Hib.166	Account of rent, [ca. 260 B.C.]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM6162a	P.Oxy.5.844	Panegyricus, [ca. 100-130]	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM6162b	"	"	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM6162c	"	"	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM6162d	"	"	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM6162e	"	"	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM6162f	"	"	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM6162g(A)	"	"	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM6162g(B)	"	"	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM6162h	"	"	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM6162i	"	"	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM6162j	"	"	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Gr SM6162k	"	"	Bibliography	Digital Images
MS Coptic 10	P.Oxy.6.987	Name within an ornamental border, [4--?]	Bibliography	Digital Images