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 on an ostracon from Leontas to Successus at the Roman quarry site of Mons Claudianus, around AD 107. Leontas reports that his water-skins are worn out and water is scarce, and asks for new or serviceable old skins, a rope, a double cloak, a ladder and quarrying wedges.
The 'rope of palm fibre' rests on a restoration (sebeninon) of a damaged word. Wedges (sphenes) and shims were standard tools for splitting stone in the quarries.
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 Leontas to Successus). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.
Λεοντᾶς Σουκκέσσῳ χαίρειν. γεινώσκειν σε θέλω ὅτι οἱ ἀσκοί μου πάντες ἄχρηστοι γεγόνασι καὶ τὸ ὕδωρ σπανίζεται. καλῶς οὖν ποιήσεις ἐὰν θέλῃς πέμψαι μοι ἀσκοὺς καινοὺς καὶ γράψον μοι. ἐὰν δὲ μὴ θέλῃς, διάλεξόν μοι ἐκ τῶν παλαιῶν ἕως Ἐπαφρόδειτος ἀναβῇ. καὶ σχοινίον μοι πέμψον σεβέ…
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