Private Letter
Letter from Apol... to Apollinarius, urging him to visit the writer, as Apollinarius is not far away, at Bacchias
One text, 3 sources · Trismegistos-Text 27106
Letter from Apol... to Apollinarios at Bakchias urging a visit TM 27106probably Karanis, Herakleidou meris, Arsinoite nome, province of EgyptIInd 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 a man whose name begins Apol... to his 'brother' Apollinarios, who is staying at Bakchias. He complains of receiving few letters, confirms receipt of cloaks but not a piglet, sends vegetables and fish, and with Theon urges Apollinarios to visit, since the trip takes only a couple of hours.
In English machine translation
Apol[…] to Apollinarios his brother, greetings.
Having learned that you are in Bakchias, I greet you, brother, and now urge you to write to us about your health. For I have already used up a sheet of papyrus writing to you, and I have barely received one little letter from you, in which you indicated that I had received the cloaks and the piglet. The piglet I did not receive, but the cloaks I got. I pray for your health, brother, and that you are in good spirits. Receive 4 fine lettuces and a bundle of beet and 21 bulbs, 16 green ... (?) and 3 fine maiotai (fish?) of half-nome (?) size. Theon your brother greets you and urges you
Farewell. Pharmouthi 4.
to come to us from Bakchias. For see, those coming from there arrive by the second hour.
[verso]
To Apollinarios, friend.
The closing lines are written out of order, with the farewell and date inserted before the end of Theon's invitation. The meaning of 'chlous', 'maiotas' and 'heminerous' is uncertain; maiotai may be a kind of fish.'Brother' may be a term of affection rather than kinship.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Apol... to Apollinarius). 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.8.496
[r] Ἀπολ[…]…ς Ἀπολιναρίωι τῶι ἀδελφῶι χαίρειν. πυθόμενος ἐν Βαχιάδι σε εἶναι ἀσπάζομαί σε, ἄδελφε, καὶ ἤδη προτρέπομαι ἐπιστέλλειν ἡμῖν περὶ τῆς ὑγιείας σου. ἐγὼ γὰρ ἤδη χάρτην ἀνήλωσα γράφων σοι καὶ μόγις ἓν ἐπιστόλιόν σου ἐκομισάμην ἐν ᾧ ἐδήλους τοὺς φαινόλας με καὶ τὸν δέλφακα…