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A Latin letter on an ostracon from the Roman fort of Didymoi in the Eastern Desert, in which Iulius writes to his 'brother' Gaius Valerius Iustus, urging him to ask the centurion for permission to come, since this is a better post. He mentions a letter for Sabinus, a cavalryman from Commagene, and passes on greetings from Laelius.
Praesidium means a fortified garrison post, one of the small forts along the desert roads; 'brother' may be a term of comradeship among soldiers. The word after praesidium is illegible, so the sense of that sentence is uncertain.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Letters from Iulius to Valerius, Antonius, and Dolens. Sertorius). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.
Iulius Caio Valerio Iusto fratri plurimam salutem ante omnia opto deos ut bene ualeas quod meum uotum est. si potes operam dare ut roges centurioni ut uenias, hoc melius praesidium … est epistula Sabino equiti Commageno. salutat te Laelius. uale.
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