How many original copies of Aristotle are left?

Answer 1

There are no original copies of Aristotle's works extant, as is the case with most ancient literature. Books were originally not books aswe know them, but written on papyrus scrolls, which were subject to irreparable deterioration, and consequently had to be recopied (no printing presses or photocopiers of course). We have copies of copies of copies. Some of Aristotle's books were re-copied by monks, others by Arab scholars, without whom there would be nothing left. A copy of his Constitution of Athensappeared in Alexandria at the end of the 19th Century CE, probably found by the seller in an old Egyptian rubbish tip.