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One text, 2 sources · Trismegistos-Text 28368

Letter from Serenos to Isidora lamenting her absence TM 28368OxyrhynchosII

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 Serenos to Isidora, whom he calls sister and lady (probably his wife), lamenting her departure and his grief since they parted. He complains of accusations spread by a certain Kolobos and asks her to tell him whether she is coming back. Written at Oxyrhynchus in the 2nd century AD.

In English machine translation

Serenos to Isidora, his sister and lady, very many greetings. Before all else I pray that you are in good health, and every day and evening I make obeisance on your behalf before Thoeris who loves you. I want you to know that ever since you left me I have been in mourning, weeping by night and mourning by day. Since the 12th of Phaophi, when I bathed with you, I have not bathed nor anointed myself until the 12th of Hathyr. And you sent me letters able to move a stone, so much have your words stirred me. At that very hour I wrote back to you and gave it on the 12th, sealed, together with your letters. But apart from your words and writings, Kolobos has made me a prostitute (?), and he said, 'Your wife sent me a message that he himself has sold the little chain and he himself put me on the boat.' You say these words so that I may no longer be trusted with my cargo (?). See how many times I have sent for you. Whether you are coming or not coming, let me know. [verso] Deliver to Isidora from Serenos.

'Sister' was a common affectionate term for a wife; Thoeris is the Egyptian goddess Taweret. The passage about Kolobos is obscure and its grammar confused, so the translation there is tentative.

Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Letter of Serenus). 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.3.528

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

[r] Σερῆνος Εἰσιδώρᾳ τῇ ἀδελφῇ καὶ κυρίᾳ πλεῖστα χαίρειν. πρὸ μὲν παντὸς εὔχομαί σε ὑγιαίνειν καὶ καθʼ ἑκάστης ἡμέρας καὶ ὀψίας τὸ προσκύνημά σου ποιῶ παρὰ τῇ σε φιλούσῃ Θοήρι. γινώσκειν σε θέλω ἀφʼ ὡς ἐξῆλθες ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ πένθος ἡγούμην νυκτὸς κλαίων ἡμὲρας δὲ πενθῶν. ιβ Φαῶφι ἀφʼ ὅ…