The Derveni Papyrus, discovered in Greece in 1962, is one of the oldest Greek papyri ever found. The work it contains was written at the end of the 5th century BCE by an unknown author, who allegorizes an Orphic myth into a physical account of the creation of the universe. This text provides us with fascinating new insights in the areas of Greek religion, Orphic poetry, early Greek philosophy, and early Greek allegorical interpretation. Mirjam E. Kotwick makes the work available for the first time in German translation and provides an extensive commentary. Kotwick's commentary and translation are based on an improved text of the papyrus by Richard Janko relying on new imaging techniques.
Mirjam E. Kotwick, The New School for Social Research, New York, USA. "In conclusion, Kotwick's is an excellent book, with important new readings in many
passages of the Orphic poem and of the prose treatise and a much-needed complete
translation into German. [...] It is a fundamental
contribution for scholars and readers of the German language, but also for anyone
interested in ancient Greek religion, philosophy or literature, who will find its
consultation and reading highly rewarding for the richness of its content and ideas."
Marco Antonio Santamaría Álvarez in: Bryn Mawr Classical Review, 2020.05.13, https://bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2020/2020.05.13/ (17.09.2020)
