One text, 2 sources · Trismegistos-Text 22517
Letter to the logistes requesting a craftsman to plaster the fort at Psobthis TM 22517Oxyrhynchos340
The same ancient text or artifact as recorded by 4 records across 2 independent projects, recognised as one entity by its TM-Text identifier. View on Trismegistos →
An official letter of AD 340 from Oxyrhynchus, in which an officer commissioned by the dux Flavius Valacius to inspect the forts of the province reports to the logistes of the Oxyrhynchite nome that the walls of the fort at Psobthis need plastering. Since the garrison has no craftsman, he asks the logistes to send one for a few days.
In English machine translation
[…] Mesore 12.
Flavius […] to […] logistes (curator) of the Oxyrhynchite, greetings.
Since the authority of my lord the most eminent dux Flavius Valacius ordered my humble self to inspect all the forts that are in this province, and, if I should find any forts lacking any repair or renovation whatsoever, to bring […] to his knowledge, and since, having inspected also the forts of Psobthis under Heraclianus the prefect, I found […] the walls in need of plastering, and they affirmed that they have no craftsman […], I therefore thought it necessary to write to your sagacity so that you may send them […] craftsman for a few days with […] a courier (?) in accordance with the earlier […] so that no excuse […] about this may be able […].
(Latin) I pray that you fare well for many years.
[…] the most illustrious consuls.
The Greek letter closes with a Latin farewell and consular dating formula, typical of military administration. The dux was the military commander of the province, and the logistes was the chief financial official of the city..
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Official Correspondence). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.
chla.47.1426
p.oxy.55.3793
[…] Μεσορὴ ιβ. Φλάουϊος[…]……[…] λογιστῇ […] Ὀξυρυγχίτου χαίρειν. ἐπεὶ μὲν ἡ τοῦ κυρίου μου τοῦ διασημοτάτου δουκὸς ΦλαουΐουΟὐαλακίου ἐξουσία τῇ ἐμῇ μετριότητι ἐκέλευσεν ὅλα τὰ κάστρα τὰ ὄντα ἐπὶ τῆσδε τῆς ἐπαρχείου ἐπιθεωρῆσαὶ με καὶ οἱασδήποτε ἐπισκευῆς ἢ ἀνανεώσεως λιπεῖν τινα …