Two letters of Isidora to Asklepiades
From cartonnage found in Abusir el meleq. Three columns, the first only contains a few remains. The two complete columns contain the whole second letter.
One text, 3 sources · Trismegistos-Text 18655
Letter from Isidora to her brother Asklas about lentils, blankets and boats TM 18655Busiris (Heracleopolites)Oct. 26th, 28 BC
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 business letter from Isidora to her brother Asklas (Asklepiades) concerning a dispute over sales of lentils and peas, payment for a blanket, and the release of two boats for a trip to Hermopolis. It is dated 26 October 28 BC and comes from Busiris in the Herakleopolite nome; a note records its receipt on Hathyr 8.
In English machine translation
[column 1]
[…]
Phaophi …
[column 2]
Received year 3, Hathyr 8.
Isidora to Asklas her brother, greeting and constant good health, as I pray. I have received the letter you wrote through […] on the 27th. Cleverly you want to write to me the reason for the lentils and peas […]; for you are not even consistent with yourselves, having written to Paniskos that we have sold, when […] we have not sold. Nevertheless, do as you wish. Only be diligent in the counting and in the delivery, so that when Paniskos arrives you do not
[column 3]
fall into blame. I have sent you the price of the blanket (?), 120 drachmas, and you will find out, if you come, who has taken it. It is not worth more. Give Alexion the dyer, in my name, one blanket (?) for the child Artemas, 100 drachmas, a solid one, not thin. Do not detain Achilleus but give him the two boats so that he can go to Hermopolis, and take care of yourself so that you stay healthy.
Farewell. Year 3, Phaophi 28.
[…]
His mother to Asklas, greeting and constant good health, as I pray.
The word enkoimetron, translated 'blanket', is a rare term for some kind of bedding or coverlet. The last line seems to begin another letter, addressed to Asklas by his mother.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Zwei Briefe der Isidora an Asklepiades, zweiter Brief). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.
bgu.4.1205
[column 1] [… ? lines lost …] Φαῶφι … [column 2] ἔλαβον ἔτους γ Ἁθὺρ η Ἰσιδώρα Ἀσκλᾶτι τῶι ἀδελφῶι χαίρειν καὶ διὰ παντὸς ὑγιαίνειν καθάπερ εὔχομαι. κεκόμισμαι ἃ ἐγεγράφεις διὰ […]ατυ[…]ς γράμματα τῆι κζ. κομψῶς ἐμοὶ θέλετε τὴν αἰτίαν γράψαι τοῦ φακοῦ καὶ πίσον […] οὐδὲ γὰρ σύνστ…