Private Letter
Private letter from a son to his father about sending of supplies, a letter of introduction and another document
One text, 3 sources · Trismegistos-Text 27233
Letter from Ammonianos to his father Apolinarios about a basket and a patron TM 27233Alexandria170 CE – 199 CE
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 Ammonianos to his father Apolinarios, written in Alexandria in the late 2nd century AD. He asks whether the family should stay for the winter, lists items sent in a basket (salted fish, sandals, a letter of recommendation and a registration document of Herennius), and reports that a beneficiarius named Maris is ready to help his father.
In English machine translation
Ammonianos to Apolinarios his father, very many greetings. Before all else I pray that you are in good health, and I make obeisance for you before the lord Sarapis every day.
I informed you also through Antas that if you want us to stay here for the winter, let us know quickly, so that we may see what you want and act accordingly. I sent you through him a small basket in which there are 10 salted fish and 4 pairs of sandals (?) and 4 koikia of empty jars (?) and the letter of recommendation and the professio of Herennius. I want you to know that Maris the beneficiarius took your name and description and says, 'Let him come to me and he will find me ready for whatever he wants.' For Julianus gave him many instructions about you; for he is a very close friend of his. My mother greets you all, and Julianus and Kyrillos and Kyria and Ignatios and Paulinos and Isiakos. Greet warmly my father Diogenas and all those at home by name. I pray for your health.
[verso]
[…] Deliver to Apolinarios from Ammonianos his son.
A beneficiarius was a soldier seconded to an officer for administrative and police duties; the professio was a Latin-style official declaration or registration. The writer also calls Diogenas 'my father', so Apolinarios may be a father in a looser sense.
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.
p.col.8.225
[r] Ἀμμωνιανὸς Ἀπολιναρίῳ τῷ πατρὶ πολλὰ χαίρειν· πρὸ μὲν πάντων εὔχομαί σε ὑγιαίνειν καὶ τὸ προσκύνημά σου ποιῶ παρὰ τῷ κυρίῳ Σεράπιδι καθʼ ἑκάστην ἡμέραν. ἐδήλωσά σοι καὶ διʼ Ἀντᾶτος ὅτι ἐὰν θέλῃς ἵνα μείνωμεν ὧδετὸν χειμῶνα, δήλωσον ἡμῖν ἐν τάχει ἵνα ἴδωμεν τί θέλεις καὶ οὕτως…