PREFACE

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In the preface to Oxyrhynchus Papyri, Part I, we stated our intention of adopting a chronological system in future volumes. The present work is accordingly devoted to first century B. C. or first century A. D. papyri, with the exception of the theological and some of the classical fragments, and the ‘Petition of Dionysia’ (No. ccxxxvii), which on account of its great size and importance we wished to publish as soon as possible.

The 193 selected texts in this volume do not by any means exhaust the first century papyri found at Oxyrhynchus; but it is probable that we have examined all the most important documents of that period. The bulk of the papyri of the second and third centuries, and of the Byzantine period, has not yet been touched.

In editing the new classical fragments (ccxi–ccxxii), we have once more to acknowledge our great obligations to Professor Blass, who again visited us last Easter. To him we owe a large part of the restorations of the texts and many suggestions in the commentaries. Some help which we have received on special points from other scholars is noted in connexion with the individual papyri.