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Fragmentary Latin letter on an ostracon from Aelius Silvinus to a 'brother' named Cre[…], written at the Roman fort of Didymoi in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. He says he has had nothing for a long time and asks the recipient to buy lentils, cheeses and dates for him. It dates to the first half of the 3rd century AD.
The matium is a dry measure attested in Eastern Desert ostraca. 'Pentecedecate' appears to be a Latinized Greek word for the fifteenth (day), so the reading of that line 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 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 Cre[…]fratri salutem. scias me …[…]…usque pentecedecate hic fa cere. scias me iam olim nil habere. bonam rem facies si emitis lenticularum matium et caseos XI unum palmularum matium quare aqua[…] tutum laborem […] [… ? lines lost …]
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