One text, 2 sources · Trismegistos-Text 10018

Letter from Sabicas to Abinnaeus about craftsmen sent to cut timber TM 10018Philadelphia? (Arsinoites)346 - 351

The same ancient text or artifact as recorded by 5 records across 2 independent projects, recognised as one entity by its TM-Text identifier. View on Trismegistos →

Letter from Sabicas, a praepositus, to Flavius Abinnaeus, commander at Dionysias, sending two craftsmen to cut timber for the works of the military unit (vexillatio) and asking him to assist and protect them. He also asks for 15 modii of natron and capers listed in a note to be sent quickly. It belongs to the Abinnaeus archive, AD 346-351.

In English machine translation

To my lord brother Abinnaeus, Sabicas, praepositus, greetings. Before all else I pray to the Lord for your health. I want you to know, brother, about the coppersmiths (?). I have sent you my men […]onas and Paenbous, craftsmen, for the cutting of the timber, so that they may be able to complete the works of the Vexillatio. I write to you to give them help with the cutting of the timber, and do not allow anyone to do them violence, but (treat them) with all honour and good order, above all doing me the greatest favour; and write back about whatever you wish. The note (pittakion) which you gave: fifteen modii of natron and as many capers as you put in the note, send them to me quickly. (Latin) And (I pray) that you be well for many years.

The letter is in Greek but ends with a closing greeting in Latin, typical of military correspondence. The phrase 'about the coppersmiths' is abrupt and its connection to the rest is unclear.

Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below. It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.

p.abinn.16

Papyri.info — DDbDP (Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri) — text · 346 - 351 · Philadelphia? (Arsinoites)

κυρίῳ μου ἀδελφῷ Ἀβιννέῳ Σαβικᾶς πραιπόσιτος χαίρειν. πρὸ μὲν πάντων εὔχομαι τῷ κυρίῳ περὶ τῆς ὁλοκληρίας σου. γιγνώσκειν σε θέλω, ἄδελφε, διὰ τοὺς χαλκεῖς. ἀπέστειλά σοι δὲ τοὺς διαφέροντάς μοι ……ωναν καὶ Παενβοῦν τεχνίτας πρὸς τὴν ἐκκοπὴν τῶν ξύλων ἵνα δυνασθῶσιν τὰ ἔργα τῆς Βι…