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One text, 2 sources · Trismegistos-Text 27153

Letter from Hermias to Sarapion about purchases and debt collection for the new year TM 27153unbekanntEnde II - Anfang 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 →

A private letter from Hermias to his brother Sarapion. Hermias reports selling 50 artabas of wheat to Paris for 900 drachmas, asks Sarapion to use the balance to buy coverlets, towels and dishes, and to collect debts from a fuller, an oil-maker and a man called Tannous so the textiles can be laid out for New Year's Day. Late 2nd or early 3rd century AD.

In English machine translation

[recto] Greetings, brother […] Sarapion, from Hermias. After much effort I barely persuaded our brother Paris to confirm the 50 artabas of wheat for the 900 drachmas, and I received 560 drachmas. So you, taking the other 340 drachmas, buy for Paris pair(s) […] of coverlets, and 2 pairs of bath towels and 4 small dishes, for his children 1 pair, and for me 1 pair of good, large coverlets. Please be so kind as to demand from Syras the fuller twenty-four drachmas, 24, and the remaining 5 drachmas to complete the 120 drachmas; and demand from Tannous […] drachmas, and go to Onnophris the oil-maker and learn from the receipt what he has paid, and demand the remainder to complete the 144 drachmas. You know also that Tannous still owes 48 of the drachmas; learn from the receipt what he owes and exact it from him. If you collect all this, they must be bought and spread out for the 1st of the new year; for you know the custom, which I urge you not to neglect. I pray for your health throughout your whole life. [verso] To Sarapion, […]

The coverlets were to be bought and spread out for the 1st of the new year, apparently a festive custom (likely 1 Thoth). '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 Hermias an Sarapion). 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.iand.6.94

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

[r] χαίροις, ἄδελφε[…] Σαραπίων, παρὰ Ἑρμίου. μετὰ πολλὰ μόλις ἔπεισα τὸν ἀδελφὸν Πάριν κυρῶσαι τῶν δραχμῶν ϡ τὰς τοῦ πυροῦ ἀρτάβας ν καὶ ἔσχον δραχμὰς φξ· σὺ οὖν λαβὼν τὰς ἄλλας δραχμὰς τμ ἀγόρασον Πάριδι ζευγ … περιστρωμάτων καὶ β ζεύγη βαλαναρίων καὶ δ δισκάρια, τοῖς παιδίοις …