Home › Spine › TM 26507
One text, 2 sources · Trismegistos-Text 26507

Copy of a letter from Polydeukes to Theon about an uncooperative brother TM 26507unbekanntII - III

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 →

Copy of a private letter from Polydeukes to Theon, complaining about the behaviour of his own brother, who has feigned illness and refuses to be persuaded or compelled. Polydeukes urges Theon not to abandon his brother Chration and to attend confidently to his own affairs. Roman Egypt, 2nd-3rd century AD.

In English machine translation

Copy of a letter. Polydeukes to Theon, most honoured […], greetings. I call all the gods to witness: […] you abandon (?) […] and your brother Chration. For from the hour you went away I have been in an awkward situation with my brother […], as it seems; I am swelling with […] […] of a well-meaning man (?). When he saw it, he immediately understood how to pretend, growing numb in such a way that he appeared to be ill. And until now I did not put it to you, thinking that I would be able either to persuade him or to compel him. But he does not yield to anything at all. […] turned away (?), nor is it profitable for you […] to be neglected by a man disposed in this way. Since other matters concern you, now accept this one too. I advise otherwise, so that […] to consider us […]. And confidently devote yourself to the care of your own affairs.

The text is headed as a copy, not the original letter. Several restorations at the line beginnings are uncertain, and the exact relationship of the brothers is unclear.

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

p.freib.4.68

Papyri.info — DDbDP (Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri) — text · II - III

ἀντίγραφον ἐπιστολῆς. Πολυδεύκης Θέωνι τῶι τιμιωτάτωι […] χαίρειν. ἐπικαλοῦμαι θεοὺς πάντας· μω[…]υν ἀπολίπῃς καὶ τὸν ἀδελφόν σου Χρατίωνα. καὶ γὰρ ἀφʼ ἧς ὥρας ἀπέστης ἐν δυστραπέλωι πράγματί εἰμι τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ μου […]ς ὡς ἔοικεν - διοιδῶ τὴν …ην […]ντος εὐβούλου. ὡς δʼ ἐπεθεώρησεν…