Parthenope’s novel: P.Berol. 7927 + 9588 + 21179, II column revisited

Abstract

Our aim is to provide a new edition with translation and commentary of the second  column of P. Berol. 7927 + 9588 + 21179, corresponding to the so-called Parthenope’s Novel. The first column was also edited by us in The Journal of Juristic Papyrology 28(2016), pp. 235–50. The original, perhaps one of the first Greek novels, produced a long and complex tradition with versions in prose and verse and a Christian martyrology, and was translated into different languages (Greek, Arab, Persian and Coptic). Although our text is badly preserved and difficult to read, we offer new proposals of reading that allow a better understanding of the novel and its rich literary context.