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One text, 2 sources · Trismegistos-Text 28724

Letter from Diomedes to Serenus about Cretan material and a craftsman TM 28724unbekanntII - 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 Diomedes to Serenus, whom he calls his most honoured son, thanking him for his efforts and expressing hope that the material obtained through a craftsman is of Cretan quality, though much waste resulted from processing. It dates to the 2nd or early 3rd century AD and comes from Hermopolis.

In English machine translation

[recto] Diomedes to Serenus, his most honoured son, greetings. I knew well the zeal you would show on our behalf, and I learned the same from Heliodoros and from your letter; trusting in these and in the craftsman's promise, I suppose that I have got Cretan (wool?), and I pray that it may prove so in the work, even though, from the extensive working, the flock-waste came to more than the clean (wool). I pray for your health, and write about whatever you wish. Demetrios greets you, and all my household and friends and acquaintances. Farewell, I pray, most honoured one. Epeiph 2[…] [verso] To Serenus, friend

The noun with 'Cretan' is not expressed; the mention of krokydia (wool flocks or waste fibres) suggests wool or cloth. 'Son' is likely an affectionate address, since the address calls Serenus 'friend'.

Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Letter from Diomedes to 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.herm.12

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

[r] Διομήδης Σερήνωι τῶι τιμιωτάτωι υἱῷ χαίρειν. τὴν ἀπὸ σοῦ γενησομένην πρὸς ἡμᾶς σπουδὴν ἀκριβῶς ᾔδειν καὶ παρʼ Ἡλιοδώρου ὁμοίως ἐπυθόμην καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν σῶν γραμμάτων, οἷς πιστεύσας καὶ τῇ τοῦ τεχνίτου ἐπαγγελίᾳ Κρητικὴν ὑπολαμβάνω ἐσχηκέναι, καὶ οὕτως ἐπὶ τοῦ ἔργου φανῆναι εὔχομα…