Bernard Pyne Grenfell FBA (16 December 1869 – 18 May 1926) was an English scientist and egyptologist. Excavations he did with Arthur Surridge Hunt uncovered manuscripts including the oldest Oxyrhynchus Papyri.
Bernard Pyne Grenfell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 16 December 1869  Birmingham |
| Died | 18 May 1926 (aged 56) Oxford |
| Occupation | Egyptologist, papyrologist, classical philologist |
Life
Grenfell was the son of John Granville Grenfell FGS and Alice Grenfell. He was born in Birmingham and brought up and educated at Clifton College in Bristol, where his father taught. He obtained a scholarship in 1888 and enrolled at The Queen's College, Oxford.
With his friend and colleague, Arthur Surridge Hunt, he took part in the archaeological dig of Oxyrhynchus and discovered many ancient manuscripts known as the Oxyrhynchus Papyri, including some of the oldest known copies of the New Testament and the Septuagint. Other notable finds are extensive, including previously unknown works by known classical authors. The majority of the find consists of thousands of documentary texts. Parabiblical material, such as copies of the "Logia (words) of Jesus" were also found.
In 1895, Grenfell and Hunt were the first archaeologists to explore the site of Karanis (present Kom Aushim) in Fayum.
His mother, Alice Grenfell, was living with him after his father died in 1897. She took a great interest in Egyptian Scarab shaped artifacts. She taught herself to read hieroglyphics. She published her own papers and a catalogue of the scarab collection belonging to Queen's College.
In 1908, he became professor of papyrology at Oxford and was part of the editing team of The Oxyrynchus Papyri and other similar works. However he was ill for four years and during that time the professorship lapsed. Grenfell was cared for by his mother and he had recovered by 1913. In 1920 he travelled to Egypt for the last time in his life and bought P.Ryl. III 457 (𝔓52), the earliest surviving witness of the Greek New Testament.
He died on 18 May 1926, and was buried in Holywell Cemetery, Oxford.
Publications
- Grenfell, Bernard Pyne; Hunt, Arthur Surridge (1897). Sayings of Our Lord from an Early Greek Papyrus. Egypt Exploration Fund.
- Grenfell, Bernard Pyne; Hunt, Arthur Surridge; Hogarth, David George (1900). Fayûm Towns and Their Papyri. London.
- Grenfell, Bernard Pyne; Hunt, Arthur Surridge, eds. (1909). Hellenica Oxyrhynchia cum Theopompi et Cratippi Fragmentis. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
See also
- Papyrus Revenue Laws
References
- Bell, H. (2004-09-23). Grenfell, Bernard Pyne (1869–1926), papyrologist. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved 18 Jan. 2018, See link
- Bell H I, 'Bernard Pyne Grenfell'. Archived February 26, 2010, at the Wayback Machine In JRH Weaver (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography 1922 - 1930. Oxford University Press
External links
- Bell HI. 'Bernard Pyne Grenfell'. In JRH Weaver (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography 1922 - 1930. Oxford University Press.
- "The Oxyrhynchus papyri, edited with translations and notes by Bernard P. Grenfell and Arthur S. Hunt (Part 10)". Cornell University Library Historical Monographs Collection.. Reprinted by [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1429739711/ Cornell University Library Digital Collections
Bernard Pyne Grenfell FBA 16 December 1869 18 May 1926 was an English scientist and egyptologist Excavations he did with Arthur Surridge Hunt uncovered manuscripts including the oldest Oxyrhynchus Papyri Bernard Pyne GrenfellBorn16 December 1869 Birmingham Died18 May 1926 aged 56 Oxford OccupationEgyptologist papyrologist classical philologist LifeGrenfell was the son of John Granville Grenfell FGS and Alice Grenfell He was born in Birmingham and brought up and educated at Clifton College in Bristol where his father taught He obtained a scholarship in 1888 and enrolled at The Queen s College Oxford With his friend and colleague Arthur Surridge Hunt he took part in the archaeological dig of Oxyrhynchus and discovered many ancient manuscripts known as the Oxyrhynchus Papyri including some of the oldest known copies of the New Testament and the Septuagint Other notable finds are extensive including previously unknown works by known classical authors The majority of the find consists of thousands of documentary texts Parabiblical material such as copies of the Logia words of Jesus were also found In 1895 Grenfell and Hunt were the first archaeologists to explore the site of Karanis present Kom Aushim in Fayum His mother Alice Grenfell was living with him after his father died in 1897 She took a great interest in Egyptian Scarab shaped artifacts She taught herself to read hieroglyphics She published her own papers and a catalogue of the scarab collection belonging to Queen s College In 1908 he became professor of papyrology at Oxford and was part of the editing team of The Oxyrynchus Papyri and other similar works However he was ill for four years and during that time the professorship lapsed Grenfell was cared for by his mother and he had recovered by 1913 In 1920 he travelled to Egypt for the last time in his life and bought P Ryl III 457 𝔓52 the earliest surviving witness of the Greek New Testament He died on 18 May 1926 and was buried in Holywell Cemetery Oxford PublicationsGrenfell Bernard Pyne Hunt Arthur Surridge 1897 Sayings of Our Lord from an Early Greek Papyrus Egypt Exploration Fund Grenfell Bernard Pyne Hunt Arthur Surridge Hogarth David George 1900 Fayum Towns and Their Papyri London Grenfell Bernard Pyne Hunt Arthur Surridge eds 1909 Hellenica Oxyrhynchia cum Theopompi et Cratippi Fragmentis Oxford Clarendon Press See alsoPapyrus Revenue LawsReferencesBell H 2004 09 23 Grenfell Bernard Pyne 1869 1926 papyrologist Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Retrieved 18 Jan 2018 See link Bell H I Bernard Pyne Grenfell Archived February 26 2010 at the Wayback Machine In JRH Weaver ed Dictionary of National Biography 1922 1930 Oxford University PressExternal linksWikimedia Commons has media related to Bernard Pyne Grenfell Bell HI Bernard Pyne Grenfell In JRH Weaver ed Dictionary of National Biography 1922 1930 Oxford University Press The Oxyrhynchus papyri edited with translations and notes by Bernard P Grenfell and Arthur S Hunt Part 10 Cornell University Library Historical Monographs Collection Reprinted by https www amazon com dp 1429739711 Cornell University Library Digital Collections
