A private letter from Koprys and Sinthonis to their sons Sarapammon and Syra, reporting goods received and transport costs, an unpaid sum of money owed by the priest Petosiris, an inquiry about an heir, and a jar of meat awaiting shipment. It comes from the Oxyrhynchite nome and dates to the 2nd or 3rd century AD.
In English machine translation
[1]
Koprys and Sinthonis to Sarapammon and Syra, their most honoured sons, greeting.
Before all else we pray for your health and we make your obeisance before your ancestral gods. We received from Trophimos and the priest six light loads (?), and we are being asked for freight from Dikomia 6 drachmas 6 obols and for duty 3 drachmas 3 obols; and a flask (?) and 4 pairs of sandals; and from the letter-carrier we received your letters and a rag in which there are gold leaves, which we have given to Trophimos. You informed us that we should receive from Petosiris the priest 500 drachmas, and up to now we have not received them. For they are not being unreasonable; for they told us: "We are collecting it." For they were saying: "It is 448 drachmas." So if this is the amount, tell us. For we are dealing with them on this point, whether you want the 500 drachmas from us and to give us the document. But they themselves say: "Take what we deposited in the temple through Trophimos." If we receive it back, we shall inform you. Tell us whether you want to pay Apphys out of what is deposited. It is lying here until you inform us. You wrote to us: "Who is the heir of the deceased?" We inquired and found the one whom he begot, but the people of Petosiris' household are the next of kin. Theon, the father of Petosiris, gave you a jar
[2]
of meat. For we did not find a safe person who would bring it to you. If you write to Theon, tell him that you received the jar of meat. If the inundation rises, I shall send it to you by the usual sailors. Greet our son Paapis and Thaesis our daughter. Your brother Serenos greets you, and Dioskoros and Ophelina and Ptolemaios and Heras. The sheets of papyrus that you sent we gave to Thonis the son of Kephalas. We pray for your health and prosperity. See that you do not neglect the matters about which Apphys informed you.
The meaning of kouphon (here "light loads") and ambulla ("flask") is uncertain. "Sons" is used of both addressees although Syra appears to be a woman, perhaps a daughter-in-law.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Coprys and Sinthonis to Sarapammon and Syra). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.