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One text, 2 sources · Trismegistos-Text 118478

Letter from Apollonios to Leon concerning charcoal and the smith TM 118478Mons Claudianus

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

A private letter on a potsherd from Apollonios to his "brother" Leon at the quarry site of Mons Claudianus. He explains that he issued no receipt for a delivery of charcoal because Monatios opened the basket and took half, passes on the smith's request for grease, and confirms he has sent something across as Leon asked.

In English machine translation

Apollonios to Leon his brother, very many greetings. Before all else I pray that you are in good health. I did not give a receipt for the charcoal because Monatios undid the palm-leaf basket and took half of it. The smith says this: "I am tempering (the tools) here." He also says, about the grease, that you should bring it. I have sent it across in accordance with the ostrakon you wrote to me. Farewell, brother.

The smith's verb stomoō refers to hardening or tempering the edge of iron tools, an essential task at a stone quarry. "Brother" may be a term of familiarity rather than kinship.

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

DDbDP-text Full record →

o.claud.4.826

Papyri.info — DDbDP (Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri) — text · Mons Claudianus

Ἀπολλώνιος Λέοντι τῷ ἀδελφῷ πλεῖστα χαίρειν. πρὸ μὲν πάντων εὔχομαί σε ὑγιαίνειν. οὐκ ἔδωκα ἀποχὴν τοῦ ἄνθρακος ὅτι Μονάτιος ἔλυσε τὸν κόικα καὶ ἦρκε τὸ ἥμισυ αὐτοῦ. ὁ χαλκεὺς λέγει ὧδε στομόω. λέγει δὲ περὶ ἀλοιφῶν ἵνα ἐνέγκῃς. κατὰ τὸ ὄστρακον ὃ ἔγραψές μοι ἐπεραίωσα. ἔρρωσό μο…