The University of Basel in Switzerland contains an impressive collection of 65 papyri in five languages. Even though all of these documents are an important testament to the past, there's this singular papyrus that has stood out as an oddity. This very famous papyrus has been an enigma for several hundred years. It was first thought that this papyrus might have come from the art collection of Basilius Amerbach, the document is more ancient than the rest of scrolls. While the other parchments and pieces of papyrus were acquired by the university in 1900 for its classical studies curriculum, this particular papyrus dates back to the 16th century and "has puzzled generations of researchers," notes the academic institution. This papyrus that was written in Greek, had mirror text on both sides, with the letters going in the opposite direction than they should.
The Discovery
The University of Basel in Switzerland contains an impressive collection of 65 papyri in five languages. Even though all of these documents are an important testament to the past, there's this singular papyrus that has stood out as an oddity. This very famous papyrus has been an enigma for several hundred years. It was first thought that this papyrus might have come from the art collection of Basilius Amerbach, the document is more ancient than the rest of scrolls. While the other parchments and pieces of papyrus were acquired by the university in 1900 for its classical studies curriculum, this particular papyrus dates back to the 16th century and "has puzzled generations of researchers," notes the academic institution. This papyrus that was written in Greek, had mirror text on both sides, with the letters going in the opposite direction than they should.
The Basel Collection
The Basel Collection
The Basel collection contains 65 documents in five languages from the Ptolemaic and Roman periods and late antiquity. Much of this collection is made up of documentary papyri, which are primarily of social, cultural and religious historical interest as they record the daily life of ordinary people 2,000 years ago. Most of the Basel papyri have not been published and remained largely ignored until now.
The Basel Collection
The Basel collection contains 65 documents in five languages from the Ptolemaic and Roman periods and late antiquity. Much of this collection is made up of documentary papyri, which are primarily of social, cultural and religious historical interest as they record the daily life of ordinary people 2,000 years ago. Most of the Basel papyri have not been published and remained largely ignored until now.
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