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One text, 2 sources · Trismegistos-Text 129777

Letter from Georgios asking release of a conscripted brother sent to Babylon TM 129777Hermopolites

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 letter from a certain Georgios to a high-ranking official, asking him to release a man's brother who had been seized for service at Babylon (Old Cairo), since another brother had already been taken with the family donkey. Georgios proposes that the second brother be released until the first returns, so they can serve in turn. It comes from the Hermopolite nome.

In English machine translation

[recto] † † As I have on other occasions also entreated you, God-protected ones, through my pitiable letters on behalf of the letter-carrier Anagnostes (?), and your mercy reached him: a few days ago his brother was seized along with the donkey, and they were sent to Babylon, and I did not wish to trouble you. And yesterday again his other brother was seized, and I think, master, as you teach, they ought not to have sent the two together and left his animals behind. I therefore entreat you, God-protected ones, to order that this one be released until the other comes back; he is ready to go down and take his turn in relief of him. I kiss the feet of your God-protected selves until I see you. † [verso] … in all things † to the one worthy of honour † … notary and chartularius † † Georgios † †

"Anagnostes" may be a personal name or the title "reader" (a church lector). The addressee on the verso is a notary and chartularius; the requisitions probably relate to labour or transport levies for Babylon in the early Arab period.

Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Georgios a Senouthios anystes (?). Contro l'impiego contemporaneo di due fratelli a Babylon). 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 →

cpr.30.20

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

[r] † † καθὼς καὶ ἄλλοτε παρεκάλεσα τοὺς θεοφυλάκτους ὑμᾶς διὰ τῶν οἰκτρῶν μου γραμμάτων χάριν τοῦ γραμματηφόρου ἀναγνώστου καὶ τὸ ἔλεος ὑμῶν κατέλαβεν αὐτὸν· καὶ πρὸ ἡμερῶν ἐκρατήθη ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸ γαιδάριν καὶ ἐπέμφθησαν ἐν Βαβυλῶνι καὶ οὐκ ἠθέλησα ὀχλῆσαι ὑμῖν καὶ χθὲς …