Documentary papyrus
This photograph shows the front of the papyrus containing the fragment of Euclid. Only a few faded lines of text are preserved, but it most likely deals with official or business affairs. Scholars hypothesize that a teacher later took this document — apparently not important anymore — and copied Euclid’s text on the back to use as part of a lesson plan.
![](https://apps.lib.umich.edu/online-exhibits/files/fullsize/dbd0c6474aa4507975c80774527d5505.jpg)
Euclid, Elements I, Definitions 1-10
![](https://apps.lib.umich.edu/online-exhibits/files/fullsize/7b1a8b7ca6ebba975d2442825dd287ab.jpg)
Letter from Apollinarius to his Mother, Taesis