Private Letter
Letter from Nemesion to his "brother" Tryphon, complaining that a lawsuit has been brought against him by a certain Papei, acting on behalf of the archimachairophoros
One text, 3 sources · Trismegistos-Text 25892
Letter from Nemesion to Tryphon about harassment by Papeis TM 25892probably Philadelphia, Herakleidou meris, Arsinoite nome, province of Egypt(First half of the) Ist century A.D.
The same ancient text or artifact as recorded by 3 records across 3 independent projects, recognised as one entity by its TM-Text identifier. View on Trismegistos →
A private letter from Nemesion, probably the tax collector known from the Philadelphia archive, to his 'brother' Tryphon, asking him to tell the local officials that a certain Papeis, acting for the chief sword-bearer, is harassing him. Nemesion insists he owes nothing and wants the matter brought before the strategos. First half of the 1st century AD, probably Philadelphia in the Arsinoite nome.
In English machine translation
Nemesion to Tryphon his brother, greeting.
I ask you to go to the archons and point out to them that Papeis, on behalf of the chief sword-bearer, is driving me out of my home with his visits (?), wearing me out. For this reason they must make mention of it to the strategos. I owe nothing, neither arrears posted (?) nor any outstanding liability.
If you do not have him struck down (?), I shall not be at peace.
Farewell.
The archimachairophoros ('chief sword-bearer') was the head of an armed police or guard unit. 'Ekthesis' and 'hypokeimenon' are fiscal terms for posted arrears and outstanding liabilities, so the English renderings are approximate; 'struck' may mean 'checked' or 'restrained'.
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 Nemesion to Tryphon). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.
p.mich.12.656
Νεμεσίων Τρύφωνι τῶι ἀδελφῶι χαίρειν. ἐρωτῶ σε ἀπελθεῖν πρὸς τοὺς ἄρχοντας καὶ ὑποδεῖξαι αὐτοῖς ὅτι Παπεῖ χάριν τοῦ ἀρχιμαχαιροφόρου ἀνάστατόν με ποιεῖ ἐφόδοις κοπῶν με. διʼ ἃ δεῖ αὐτοὺς τῶι στρατηγῶι μνησθῆναι. οὐδὲν ὀφείλω οὔτε ἔκθεσιν οὔτε ὑποκείμενον. ἐὰν αὐτὸν μὴ ποιήσῃς κρο…