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One text, 2 sources · Trismegistos-Text 23384

Letter from Heraklas to his father about repairing a dyke TM 23384Herakleopolites14. Aug. 1

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 private letter from Heraklas to his father urging him to have earth heaped up to repair a small dyke, warning that otherwise the land would go unirrigated and last year's dyke would be lost. He offers money from the household and workers through Horos or Hermas. It was written in the Herakleopolite nome on 14 August AD 1.

In English machine translation

Heraklas to his most divine father, very many greetings and constant good health. I have written to you about other matters too, concerning the little dyke, that by every means you should have the earth heaped up, lest it happen that we also lose […]; so please, when you receive the letter, […] you would do well […]. If you need copper money, exchange it from the household; and if Horos does not find men, I have told Hermas and he will provide them for you. Consider that if this dyke is not worked, the land risks remaining unwatered, besides our also losing last year's dyke. So, I ask you, do not trifle. Above all, take care of yourself so that you stay healthy. Farewell. Year 30 of Caesar, Mesore 21. (Address) To his father.

Year 30 of Caesar refers to the reign of Augustus. 'Unwatered' (abrochos) is the technical term for land not reached by the Nile flood.

Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as 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.

DDbDP-text Full record →

bgu.16.2660

Papyri.info — DDbDP (Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri) — text · 14. Aug. 1 · Herakleopolites

Ἡρακλᾶς τῶι θειοτάτωι πατρὶ πλεῖστα χαίρειν καὶ διὰ παντὸς ἐρρῶσθαι. καὶ ἄλλα σοι ἔγραψα περὶ τοῦ χωματίου ὅπως ἐκ παντὸς τρόπου ποιήσῃς τὸν χοῦν ἀναβληθῆναι, μὴ τύχηι ἡμᾶς καὶ α…δε…θε ἀπολέσαι· διὸ καλῶς ποιήσεις, ἢ ὅταν λάβῃς τὴν ἐπιστολήν, εμ[…]… εὖ ποιήσῃς […] ἐὰν δὲ χρείαν ἔ…