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Letter from Somoelis to Zenon
Description
Somoelis, the Jewish guard of the granary at Philadelphia, reports that he has sown a certain piece of land and that he is therefore entering in his account with Zenon twenty artabs of wheat for the sowing. He complains of being oppressed by Etearchos and begs Zenon to write and ask him to be more considerate, and he offers to buy him 1000 artabs of barley from the cavalrymen. If possible, he would like to have an additional granary, the present one not being large enough to hold this year's crop. For guarding the granary there he receives nothing except an artab and a half of wheat per month given him by the inhabitants of Philadelphia, a pittance which does not even suffice to feed his children, unless he himself earns something extra.
Inscriptions (1)
Inscription #1
· Greek
Translations (1)
To Zenon, greetings, Somoelis, phylax from Philadelphia. We have sown the [land?] of Amand[ --- ]. There belongs to you from me 20 artabas of grain for seed. I am sending these up to you; and let nothing be wronged by Etearchos, with regard to this or anything else. For he has worn me down… pressing me into service for everything. Therefore, you would do well to write a letter to him for me, so that he may know about us in advance, and we may not be wronged. And I am able, also, to buy up for you 1000 artabas of barley from the hippeis, but not from any farmer, so that no one may disagree (?). And if it is possible, get ready in advance another granary. For the one you have is not sufficient to contain the grain from this year. I am guarding the granary here, though I get nothing, but those from Philadelphia are giving me 1.5 artabas of grain. This, however, is not enough to feed my children, if I don’t get something in addition. Farewell. (J. Bauschatz, Law and Enforcement, pp143–144)
Connections
Cross-references (5)
- TM-Text 1147 primary
- APIS-Text oxford-ipap.apis.983 tier-1
- DDbDP-Text p.cair.zen;3;59509 tier-1
- DDbDP-Text p.cair.zen.3.59509 tier-1
- HGV-Text 1147 tier-1
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