o.claud.2.241
[…]Ἑρμῆτι τῷ ἀδελφῷ χαίρειν. εἰ ἠγόρασας τὰ ὀψάρια, πέμψον μοι. εἰ μή, τὸν χαλκόν μοι πέμψον. εἰ καὶ ἀπὸ θαλάσσης οὐκ ἐνήνοχις, μέγα πρᾶγμα ἦν εἰ ἠγόραζες μοι ἀπὸ Κλαυδιανοῦ καὶ πέμψεις τοῦ ἐμοῦ χαλκοῦ. ἀσπάζου Βησοῦν καὶ […] ἐρως.
One text, 2 sources · Trismegistos-Text 29809
Letter to Hermes about buying fish TM 29809Mons ClaudianusMitte 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 on an ostracon to Hermes, addressed as brother, asking him to send fish he was to buy, or else return the money, and suggesting he buy some at Mons Claudianus if none came from the sea. It dates to the mid-2nd century AD and was found at the quarry site of Mons Claudianus in Egypt's Eastern Desert.
In English machine translation
[…] to Hermes his brother, greetings.
[If] you have bought the little fish, send them to me. If not, send me the money. Even if you have not brought any from the sea, it would be a great thing if you bought (some) for me from Claudianus and sent (them) with my money.
[Gree]t Besous and […] farewell (?).
Opsaria are small fish, often preserved, eaten as a relish; 'Claudianus' here refers to the quarry settlement itself. The sender's name is lost, and the final word may be the end of a farewell formula.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Letter to Hermes concerning Fish). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.