A New End-title in the Herculaneum Papyri and the First Case of a Preserved subscriptio in One of the Books Assigned to Philodemus’ Systematic Arrangement of the Philosophers (PHerc. 327)

Abstract

AbstractPhilodemus’ Systematic Arrangement of the Philosophers is witnessed only once in Greek literature (D.L. 10.3). This notwithstanding, several Herculaneum papyri have been assigned to it on various grounds. However, these assignments rest on varying degrees of probability, not least because the name of the author and the title of the work do not survive in any of these books. PHerc. 327, which hands down the so-called [History of the Eleatic and the Atomistic Schools], represents the first such case. I was able to detect its end-title for the first time and to read the name of its author, who is confirmed to be Philodemus. This increases the probability that also other three books which have historically been assigned to this treatise, and whose hands show a close likeness to each other and to PHerc. 327, effectively belong to it, thereby reinforcing the current communis opinio about its internal arrangement.