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One text, 2 sources · Trismegistos-Text 27848

Letter from Aelius Theon to Herminos about sweets for his daughter TM 27848AlexandriaII

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 Aelius Theon, apparently in Alexandria, to Herminos, apologizing that he has not yet sent sweets to Herminos' daughter Dionysia because the new produce has not arrived, and reporting daily prayers for the family before Sarapis. A postscript mentions his man Diogas travelling upriver and complains of a merchant, Sarapiodoros, opposing him.

In English machine translation

[recto] Aelius Theon to Herminos his brother, greetings. Some days ago too I wrote to you, greeting you and my lady your daughter Dionysia and her mother. And now I do the same, and I beg you to forgive me if I have not yet sent sweetmeats to our same lady. For the new produce has not yet sailed down. But when it has been brought down, I shall send her things worthy of her, and anything else if I can. Every day, however, I make the act of worship for her before the god […] the lord Sarapis, and for you and her mother. Greet her, then, and her mother, with whom I pray that you are well for many years, and your whole household. Farewell. Pachon 22. My Diogas has sailed up; he will inform you on what terms, as will my sister and Dionysios the legal scribe and Ptolemaios the gymnasiarch-designate, whom you will assist, unless I am mistaken. Sarapiodoros the friend, the merchant, who has often grieved me, is now also opposing me in the matter of Diogas. This alone I call you to witness. For I will not bring myself to imitate him. [verso] From Aelius Theon to Herminos his friend.

The proskynema is a formulaic act of worship made on someone's behalf before a god, here Sarapis, probably at the Alexandrian Serapeum. 'Brother' in the address is a term of affection; the verso calls Herminos a friend.

Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Aelius Theon to Herminus). 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.oxy.59.3992

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

[r] Αἴλιος Θέων Ἑρμίνωι τῶι ἀδελφῶι χαίρειν. καὶ πρὸ ἡμερῶν ἔγραψά σοι ἀσπαζόμενός σε καὶ τὴν κυρίαν μου θυγατέρα σου Διονυσίαν καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτῆς. καὶ νῦν τὸ αὐτὸ ποιῶ καὶ παρακαλῶ συγγνῶναί μοι εἰ μήπω τῆι αὐτῆι κυρίαι ἡμῶν πέπομφα τραγημάτια. οὔπω γὰρ τὰ νέα κατέπλευσεν. ὅτα…