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Letter from Taos to Agathopous about an accusation of theft TM 28785unbekanntspätes II

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 a woman named Taos to Agathopous, written in the late 2nd century AD. She reports that Taarmiysis has accused her, Agathopous and others of assaulting her at a feast and stealing her gold jewellery, and asks him to look after her case so she will not have to go to Alexandria; she also passes on a message from Thermouthion about money.

In English machine translation

Taos to her dearest Agathopous, greetings. I want you to know that Taarmiysis summoned us, me and Seias and Faustion and the wool-seller and his wife; and they said that I in particular had attacked her, together with you and a servant, while she was feasting, and that we had stolen her gold jewellery; so she herself says. Please, then, take care of my matter, as you did for the others; not because the affair is yours, but also because I am counting on you, so that you do not drag me to Alexandria. I also had your son write to you about me, and likewise again the wool-seller write to you in his letter. Greet your daughter Arsous and Besas and Heraklas and all who love you. Apollos my son greets you and all yours. Thermouthion says: 'Lysanias told me, "Bring bronze money so that I may take it to him"; but he did not give it.' If you want me to give it, write to me, and I will send you through your brother whatever you need, if he comes out in Phamenoth. So as soon as you receive the letter, write back to us, to me and Thermouthion: to me, so that I may learn whether you are taking care of my matter, and to Thermouthion, so that you may not lack whatever you need. She greets you and all yours. [verso] Deliver to Agathopous from Thermouthion.

The address on the back names Thermouthion as sender, though the letter opens in the name of Taos; Thermouthion seems to share in the letter. The phrase about not being 'dragged' to Alexandria likely refers to a lawsuit before the authorities there.

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 Thaos to Agathopus). 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.mert.2.83

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

[r] Ταῶς Ἀγαθώπου τῶι φιλτάτωι χαίρειν. γινώσκειν σε θέλω ὅτι μετεπέμψατο ἡμᾶς ἡ Τααρμίυσις, ἐμέ τε καὶ Σεΐαν καὶ Φαυστίωνα καὶ τὸν ἐριοπώλην καὶ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ· ἐμὲ δʼ ἔλεγον κατʼ ἐξαίρετον ἐπελθεῖν αὐτῇ σύν σοι καὶ ὑπηρέτῃ εὐωχουμένῃ καὶ ὑφῃρηκέναι ἡμᾶς χρυσία αὐτῆς· ὡς αὐτὴ…