Private Letter
Letter written to the physician(?) Maximus by his brother Longinus Celer to allay the former's anxiety concerning the whereaboyts of their brother Sempronius
One text, 3 sources · Trismegistos-Text 28795
Letter from Longinus Celer to his brother Maximus about their brother Sempronius TM 28795OxyrhynchosIInd century A.D.
The same ancient text or artifact as recorded by 3 records across 3 independent projects, recognised as one entity by its TM-Text identifier. View on Trismegistos →
A private letter from Longinus Celer to his brother Maximus, reassuring him that their brother Sempronius has been found by Tiberinus aboard a boat bound for Taposiris, carrying bread for soldiers there. Longinus also reports that he has taken charge of a money-belt until Maximus arrives. It dates to the 2nd century AD and is attributed to Oxyrhynchus.
In English machine translation
Longinus Celer to the most honoured Maximus, greeting.
Before all else I pray that you are well, together with all your people. I make known to you, brother, that Tiberinus found our brother Sempronius, with the tunic which you sent him, on a boat going to Taposiris, one day before (reaching?) Alexandria. He was carrying away bread for the soldiers there. Do not think that he went out on this business at random, but he chose it just now; for he is getting on well. So that you may know, I instructed Tiberinus at that very hour as follows: "Give me the money-belt, and when I have received it I will inform Celer." Therefore I make known to you that I have received it (and will keep it) until you arrive in good health. And if you are asked, and you have need of anything here, let me know and I will send it at once. Greet all your people by name. All my people greet you and all yours by name.
I pray for your health and greater prosperity.
[verso]
Deliver to Maximus Celer from his brother Longinus Celer.
Several words in the middle of the letter are restored, so the exact arrangement over the money-belt (hypozonion) is somewhat uncertain. Taposiris is a town west of Alexandria.
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 Longinus Celer to Maximus). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.
p.mich.3.206
[r] Λονγῖνος Κέλερ Μαξίμῳ τῷ τιμιωτάτῳ χαίρειν. πρὸ τῶν ὅλων ἐρρῶσθαι σοι εὔχομαι μετὰ καὶ τῶν σῶν πάντων. φανερόν σοι ποιῶ, ἄδελφε, τὸν Τιβερῖνον εὑρηκέναι τὸν ἀδελφὸν Σεμπρώνιον μετὰ τοῦ χιτωνίου οὗ ἔπεμψας αὐτῷ ἐν πλοίῳ ὑπάγοντι εἰς Ταποσῖριν πρὸ μιᾶς ἡμέρας Ἀλεξανδρίας. ἀπέφε…