Philodemus’ On Rhetoric was in 20 Books

Abstract

PHerc 1669, formerly identified with book 5, book 7 and book 10 of Philodemus’ On Rhetoric, actually transmits book 20. The book number – a clear Κ – is still legible in the final title of the papyrus. This means that On Rhetoric was in precisely or at least 20 books, depending on whether or not PHerc 1669 is to be considered the final book of the work.

Is ϝ-shaped digamma attested as a numerical sign in Greek papyri? Once more on P.Herc. 1669 and P.Oxy. 1176

“…29 See Ranocchia (2018) Even if Dorandi's readings of the book numbers in the end-titles of P.Oxy. 1176 and P.Herc.…”

“…31 26 See Ranocchia (2018) 204-05. 27 See Ranocchia (2018) 208. 28 The presence of the digamma here, noticed for the first time by Crönert (1903) 200, has been confirmed -pace Wilamowitz-Moellendorff (1914) 240 -by the most recent editor of this book (Romeo (1988) ad loc.…”