The Contribution of Greek Papyrus Lexica to the Tradition and Understanding of Ancient Texts

The study and edition of exegetical and erudite materials provide an opportunity to carry out scholarly researches, contribute to the constitutio textus of the classics, and exercise conjectural acumen. They enrich our knowledge of the Greek language and literature and ultimately give us a better understanding of the circulation, use, transmission, and reception of classical texts in the Byzantine world and in later periods. Lexicography, in particular, is one of the main tools through which the Greek world interpreted the masterpieces of its past. In this paper, through careful examination of examples, I will focus on the functions of quotations and, more generally, on the contribution of the papyrus lexica to the transmission and understanding of ancient Greek texts, culture, and society