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One text, 2 sources · Trismegistos-Text 28791

Letter from Achillas to Sarapias and his mother about weaving garments TM 28791Arsinoitesspätes 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 Achillas to Sarapias and Thermouthis (his mother) about garments being woven for him, asking that they be made with a very fine weft and reporting the prices of warp thread and purple dye where he is. It comes from the Arsinoite nome in the late 2nd century AD.

In English machine translation

[verso] Achillas to Sarapias and Thermouthis, greeting. Even without my writing, I think that you too have taken care of my garments, the ones issued (?) from my father's, knowing my wish, acting as for one who will notice. So I am writing to you so that, when you work them, you make them with a very fine weft; for I found warp at 8 drachmas per twenty-weight, and very fine. And indeed I am buying purple there at 4 drachmas the stater by weight. […] and when you have […] them, let me know and what I must do. I pray for your health. [recto] To Sarapias and to my mother, from Achillas.

The word rendered 'issued' (egbanton) is obscure; the phrase about the father's garments is uncertain. 'Stathmion' and 'stater' are weight units for pricing thread and dye.

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 Achillas). 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.3.114

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

[v] Ἀχιλλᾶς Σαραπιάδι καὶ Θερμούθει χαίρειν. καὶ χωρὶς τοῦ γράφειν με οἶμαι καὶ ὑμᾶς πεφροντικέναι τῶν ἱματίων μου ἐγβάντων τῶν τοῦ πατρός μου, εἰδυίας μου τὴν προαίρεσιν ὡς αἰσθανομένῳ ποιούσας. ὥστε οὖν γράφω ὑμῖν ὅπως ἐνεργοῦσαι αὐτὰ λίαν ἰσχνοτέραν κρόκην ποιήσητε αὐτά· ἐπειδ…