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A short private letter from Hermogenes to Ischyras, whom he calls brother, asking him to ship 200 empty jars and noting money already sent through Saras (16 drachmas) and Hermas (12 drachmas). It also mentions bringing down the wheel of a machine, probably a water-lifting device. Written at Oxyrhynchus around AD 30.
'Kenomata' are empty vessels, probably wine jars. 'Brother' may be a term of affection rather than a family relationship, and the 'machine' (mechane) is likely an irrigation waterwheel.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Letter of Hermogenes). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.
[r] Ἑρμογένης Ἰσχυρᾶτι τῶι ἀδελφῶι χαίρειν. εὖ ποιήσεις ἐμβαλόμενός μοι κενώματα διακόσια , ὡς σὲ καὶ πρὶν ἠρώτησα. ἔχεις δὲ τὰς διὰ Σαρᾶτος ἀργυρίου δραχμὰς ιϛ, καὶ ἔδωκα Ἑρμᾶτι δοῦναί σοι δραχμὰς ιβ. ἐὰν δὲ χρείαν ἔχῃς μάλιστα ξυλαρίων δύο ἵνα μοι τὸν τροχὸν τῆς μηχανῆς κατενέγ…
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