Palimpsest

A palimpsest on is a writing surface on which the original text has been erased to allow for a second writing, yet traces of the original text remain faintly visible parchment or on other writing surfaces. In antiquity, parchment was made from the skin of lamb, calf, or kid and served as an expensive writing material that was not always readily available. Once used, these parchments were not discarded but reused for new writings by removing the original text from the surface savings. The original text was typically removed by scraping or washing.

Etimology

The English term “palimpsest” derives from the Latin palimpsestus, which in turn comes from the Greek palimpsestos. In Greek, this term means “scraped again” or “erased again.” The Greek word palin means “again” or “once more,” while psao means “to scrape” or “to rub off.” In Latin, codex rescriptus (a reused manuscript) is known in Arabic as tırs or tıls. West

Usage and examples

The original text erased from the surface is called the “underwriting” (Scriptio inferior), while the newer text written over it is termed the “overwriting” (Scriptio superior). The overwriting may be in a different language or belong to a different or the same textual tradition hat, and the underwriting may be older than or contemporary with the overwriting. Evidence exists that some Arabic papyrus palimpsests have survived to the present day, along with a few reused parchment fragments. The two oldest known parchment palimpsests are believed to contain fragments of the Qur’an and were sold at an auction in London between 1992 and 2000. Analysis conducted by Alba Fedeli on these two palimpsests close reveals differences between both the underwriting and the standard Osman Mushaf.

(A fragment of one of the earliest surviving copies of the Qur’an, written on a palimpsest parchment. Both the lower and upper texts belong to Surah Al-Baqarah.)