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An ostracon letter from Serapion, curator of the fort at Raima, to Serenus, curator of the quarry at Mons Claudianus, reporting that he has sent the soldier Horion and two familiares carrying official letters and asking that they be sent back quickly. It dates to the mid-2nd century AD, from the Eastern Desert of Egypt.
Familiares were servants or attendants attached to soldiers or officials; 'the lord's letters' are probably imperial or official dispatches. The meaning of 'lytai' (loose, unsealed?) is uncertain.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Lettre de Sarapion, curator du praesidium de Raima à Aelius Serenus, curator des carrières du Claudianus). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.
Σεραπίων κουράτωρ πραισιδίου Ῥαειμα Σερήνῳ κουράτορι μετάλλου Κλαυδιανοῦ χαίρειν. ἀπέλυσα Ὡρίωνα στρατιώτην μετὰ δύο φαμηλιαρίων Ἑρμαπόλλωνος καὶ Ῥούφου μετʼ ἐπιστολῶν κυριακῶν […] ὧν ἓξ λυταί. ἀπόλυσον αὐτοὺς ἐν τάχει ὧδε διότι […] καὶ πέμψον [… 10 lines lost …] ὥρᾳ θ τῆς ἡμέρας…
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