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A Latin letter on an ostracon from the Roman fort of Didymoi in the Eastern Desert, in which Aelius Silvinus asks Secundinus and a certain Talauges to send him provisions, 11 cheeses and a measure of small dates. He promises to repay them if he survives and sends greetings to Secundinus' wife, son and to Lucianus.
A matium is a dry measure; the phrase 'ego Silvinus qui fui' is syntactically obscure and its sense uncertain. The Latin is colloquial, with dropped final -m throughout.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Fort: North-West Corner: Aelius Silvinus). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.
Aelius Siluinus Secundino salutem. saluto te, frater. bonam rem facietis si mittitis mi cibaria tu, et Talauges caseos XI et palmularum matium. utique ego Siluinus qui fui saluta uxorem tuam et filium si uixero reddam uobis. saluta Lucianum.
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