Empedocles' Fragment 20 Dk: Some Suggestions

Abstract

It may be assumed that the way in which Empedocles' fragment 20.1 DK was edited by Diels has left many a reader dissatisfied (cf. notes 8, 9, 10 and 11). However, thanks to the discovery of 53 papyrus fragments of an Empedocles text by Professor A. Martin in the University Library of Strasbourg some light may be dawning. The collection was acquired by the library as long ago as 1905 but had gone unnoticed. Alain Martin made his find public in a lecture given at Strasbourg April 14th 1994. I understand that the publication of all 53 fragments will not take place before the spring of 1996. But photographs of two tiny fragments were circulated by Martin printed on the invitation to his lecture, one of which contains remnants of 20 DK. Another line was made available in the handout distributed to his audience on that memorable occasion.