Letter
Fragment of a letter, of uncertain subject
One text, 3 sources · Trismegistos-Text 1959
Fragment of a letter requesting official action, with copy of a letter enclosed TM 1959Philadelphia (Arsinoites)October-November, 248 B.C.
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 →
Fragment of a letter from Philadelphia in the Arsinoite nome, dated to year 38 (248 BC), in which the writer asks the addressee to have a matter officially dealt with. The bearer is bringing a copy of a letter, and the writer offers to do whatever the addressee may need in return.
In English machine translation
[… lines lost …]
[…] I ask you, therefore, if it seems good to you […]
[…] so that it may also be dealt with officially, in order that […]
[…] is bringing you a copy of the letter […]
[…] the letter(s), to whom also […]
[…] and by doing this you will do me a favour […]
[…] whatever you may need, so that […]
Farewell. Year 38, Thoth […]
The beginning of the letter is lost, so the sender, the addressee and the subject are unknown. The verb rendered 'dealt with officially' (chrematizein) can also mean 'registered' or 'acted on' by an official.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Fragment of Letter). 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.mich.1.59
[… ? lines lost …] […]δέομαι οὖν σου, εἴ σοι δοκεῖ […] […]ὅπως καὶ χρηματισθῆι ἵνα […] […]κομίζει σοι ἀντίγραφον τῆς ἐπιστολῆς[…] […]τὰ γράμματα, ὧι καὶ ἐντε[…] […] τοῦτο δὲ ποιήσας εὐχαριστήσεις[…] […] ὧν ἂν χρείαν ἔχηις, ἵνα […] ἔρρωσο. ἔτους λη, Θῶυθ[…]