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One text, 2 sources · Trismegistos-Text 21122

Letter of recommendation from Anatolios to Ambrosios for Theophanes TM 21122Hermopolis (?)

The same ancient text or artifact as recorded by 2 records across 2 independent projects, recognised as one entity by its TM-Text identifier. View on Trismegistos →

A letter of recommendation from Anatolios, a chief prophet, to the learned Ambrosios, praised as champion of Greek wisdom, introducing Theophanes, who is travelling to him and carrying Anatolios' greetings. It closes with a pagan blessing invoking Hermes Trismegistos and all the gods, and probably comes from Hermopolis.

In English machine translation

[recto] To my lord, the all-wise Ambrosios, Anatolios, greetings. It is necessary to address you, the champion of the wisdom of the Hellenes, who is to us also pleasant and good; but it is the work of the gods to provide the occasions. It has indeed been my good fortune to meet the best of men, my lord brother Theophanes, who is coming to you and bringing my greeting. For both [...] he who introduces and he who receives; for he [...] I greet, the power (?) of you both [...] benefit. Greet my friend and brother [...]thon. May thrice-great Hermes himself and all the gods grant that you be fortunate to the end. [verso] To the all-wise Ambrosios, Anatolios, chief prophet.

"Hellenes" here likely carries the late antique sense of pagans, so Ambrosios is honoured as a leader of pagan learning. The Theophanes introduced is probably the known Hermopolitan official of the early 4th century AD.

Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Letter from Anatolius to Ambrosius). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.

DDbDP-text Full record →

p.herm.3

Papyri.info — DDbDP (Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri) — text · Hermopolis (?)

[r] τῶι κυρίωι μου πανσόφῳ Ἀμβροσίωι Ἀνατόλιος χαίρειν. προσειπεῖν σε ἀναγκαῖον τὸν τῆς τῶν Ἑλλήνων σοφίας προστάτην καὶ ἡμῖν ἡδὺν καὶ χρηστόν· θεῶν δὲ ἔργον παρασχέσθαι τὰς ἀφορμάς. ηὐτύχηται γοῦν μοι τὸ τυχεῖν τοῦ ἀρίστου τῶν ἀνδρῶν τοῦ κυρίου μου ἀδελφοῦ Θεοφάνους, ἥκοντος ὡς …