Private Letter
Two letters from Thaisarion to her brothers Serenus and . . ., and to her sister Serapous, both devoted exclusively to family matters
One text, 3 sources · Trismegistos-Text 27118
Two letters from Thaisarion to her brothers and sister Serapous TM 27118Alexandria, province of EgyptIInd century/IIIrd century A.D.
The same ancient text or artifact as recorded by 4 records across 3 independent projects, recognised as one entity by its TM-Text identifier. View on Trismegistos →
A papyrus carrying two private letters from a woman named Thaisarion, one to her brother Serenus and another brother, the other to her sister Serapous and her brothers. She mentions sending sandals and reeds, money spent on her brother Ptolemaios' dinner, asks for radish oil for her coming childbirth and eye-salve, and complains that her family has not written. It dates to the 2nd or 3rd century AD and is associated with Alexandria.
In English machine translation
[recto]
Thaisarion to Serenus and […] her brothers, very many greetings.
Before all else I pray that you are well, and I make obeisance for us before the lord Sarapis. I want you to know that I received from Nilos […]. So you too receive from him a bundle of reeds and 4 pairs of sandals (?) for Herais and 2 for Serenus and 1 for Ammonios and 1 for Ch[…] and a little cloak (?). When our sister […] and […] well, send me a little letter quickly. I greet Ammonios and Sampous. Ptolemaios and Alexandros greet you all.
Thaisarion to Serapous her sister and to her brothers, very many greetings.
Before all else I pray that you are well, and I make obeisance for you before the lord Sarapis. I want you to know that our brother Ptolemaios went up early in the morning at the […] hour on Epeiph 9. And I spent on his dinner what you had sent me. So you too send me the half, 2 jars of radish oil, as the value of what I have spent. For I too need them for when I give birth. For he is your brother too. For Ammonios sailed up with the prefect, being one of his mess-companions, and wherever he may be he has caught up with us. If my mother decides to come with him, let her get herself ready. But you did not even think it worth writing a single letter. And send me a little jar of eye-salve […] I pray for your health.
[verso]
Deliver to Serenus […]
The word sólia is taken here as sandals; its exact sense is uncertain. 'Obeisance' renders proskynema, a customary prayer made on behalf of the addressees before a god.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Thaisarion to Serenus and Serapous). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.
Private Letter
Two letters from Thaisarion to her brothers Serenus and . . ., and to her sister Serapous, both devoted exclusively to family matters
p.mich.8.508
[r] Θαισάριον Σερήνῳ καὶ …[…]…[…]τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς πλεῖστα χαίρειν. πρὸ μὲν πάντων εὔχομαι ὑμᾶςὑγιαίνειν καὶ τὸ προσκύνημα ἡμῶν ποιῶ παρὰ τῷ κυρίῳ Σαράπιδι. γινώσκειν ὑμᾶς θέλω ὅτι ἐκομισάμην παρὰ Νίλου […]φ…[…]. κόμισαι οὖν καὶ σὺ παρʼ αὐτοῦ δεσμὸν καλάμων καὶ σόλια τέσσαρα Ἡραίδι κ…