Introduction
Bernard Pyne Grenfell (16 December 1869 – 18 May 1926) was an English scientist and Egyptologist, born in Birmingham. He was a member of 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 archaeologically to explore the site of Karanis (present Kom Aushim) in Fayum.
In 1908, he became Professor of Papyrology at Oxford and was part of the editing team of The Oxyrynchus Papyri and other similar works.
He died on 18 May 1926, and was buried in Holywell Cemetery, Oxford.
Publications
- B. P. Grenfell and A. S. Hunt, Sayings of Our Lord from an Early Greek Papyrus (Egypt Exploration Fund; 1897).
- B. P. Grenfell, A. S. Hunt, and D. G. Hogarth, Fayûm Towns and Their Papyri (London 1900).