Letter November 6, 241 BC
Eukles writes to Zenon asking that he give to Moschion 20 jars of ordinary wine; he adds a statement about money owed by some of Zenon's tenants who were requesting an extension
One text, 3 sources · Trismegistos-Text 1804
Letter from Eukles to Zenon about 20 jars of sour wine TM 1804Philadelphia (Arsinoites)241 BCE
The same ancient text or artifact as recorded by 3 records across 3 independent projects, recognised as one entity by its TM-Text identifier. View on Trismegistos →
A letter from Eukles to Zenon, the estate manager at Philadelphia in the Fayum, asking him to hand over 20 jars of cheap sour wine to the slave Moschion, with payment to follow. Eukles also reports that people owing small sums have asked for ten days' delay during the harvest, and offers to advance money if Zenon needs it.
In English machine translation
[recto]
Eukles to Zenon, greeting. You will oblige me by giving to Moschion the slave the 20 jars of sour wine about which we have reminded you several times. We will pay you the price as soon as we arrive. As for the small change you asked me about, those who hold most of the days asked us to grant them ten days' grace, during which they are harvesting. So as soon as they get it in, if you have need, we will advance it to you.
Farewell. Year 6, Thoth 15.
[verso]
Concerning 20 jars of sour wine. To Zenon.
Eukles. Year 6.
Oxos, literally 'vinegar', here means cheap sour wine drunk by workers. One record dates the letter to 241 BC rather than 242 BC; the phrase about those 'holding most of the days' is obscure.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Eukles to Zenon regarding Native Wine). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.
p.col.4.91
[r] Εὐκλῆς Ζήνωνι χαίρειν. εὐχαριστήσεις μοι τὰ κ κεράμια τοῦ ὄξους περὶ ὧν πλεονάκι σοι ἐμνήσθημεν δοὺς Μοσχίωνι τῶι παιδί. τὴν δὲ τιμὴν ὡς ἂν τάχιστα παραγενηθῶμεν ταξόμεθά σοι. περὶ δὲ τοῦ κερματίου οὗ ἐνετείλω μοι ἠξίωσαν ἡμᾶς οἱ ἔχοντες τὰς πλείστας ἡμέρας αὐτοῖς ἐπισχεῖν δέ…