o.frange.533
ϩⲁ ⲑⲏ μέν […]ἐλάχιστος […] ⲉⲓⲥϩⲁⲓ ⲉⲓϣⲓⲛⲉ […] ⲙⲙⲉⲣⲓⲧ ⲙⲙⲁⲁⲩ […]ⲧⲏ ⲉⲧⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩⲥ […]… ⲙⲛⲛⲥⲱⲥ […]ⲛⲁϥ… [… ? lines lost …]
One text, 2 sources · Trismegistos-Text 220070
Fragment of a letter with greeting formulas TM 220070Theben
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 →
Fragment of a Coptic letter on an ostracon from Thebes, opening with the usual humble greeting formulas in which the sender calls himself 'the least' and greets a beloved person, probably his mother. Only the opening lines survive.
In English machine translation
Before all things (?)
[…] the least (?)
[…] I write, greeting
[…] my beloved mother (?)
[…] who is good
[…] and after it
[…] to him …
[…]
The reading 'my beloved mother' is uncertain, since ⲙⲙⲁⲁⲩ could also mean 'there'. 'The least' (Greek elachistos) is a standard self-deprecating epithet in Coptic letters, often used by clergy or monks.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below. It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.