Home › Spine › TM 31347
One text, 2 sources · Trismegistos-Text 31347

Letter from Isidoros to Aurelius with instructions on estate work TM 31347OxyrhynchosIII

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 Isidoros to Aurelius, apparently his estate manager or associate, giving instructions about digging up two acacia trees, keeping the bulls and carpenters working, and bundling branches for hauling. It dates to the 3rd century AD and comes from Oxyrhynchus.

In English machine translation

Isidoros to Aurelius his brother, very many greetings. As I told you about the two acacia trees, that they should give them to us, let them dig around them this very day. Let Phaneias himself compel them to be dug up. If he is unwilling, write to me so that I may know. For perhaps tomorrow we are coming to seal them. Hurry with this, then, so that I may know. As for the bulls, let them work. Do not let them be idle at all. Bring all the branches to the road so that he may tie them in threes and drag them. Do this, and it is to your advantage. Do not pretend anything to their owners. Perhaps I give him nothing. I am doing them a great favour. Do not let the carpenters be idle at all; press them. I pray for your health.

"Brother" is a common term of address and need not indicate kinship. The sentences about the owners and giving "him" nothing are elliptical and their exact sense 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 Letter). 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.oxy.1.121

Papyri.info — DDbDP (Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri) — text · III · Oxyrhynchos

Ἰσίδωρος Αὐρηλίῳ τῷ ἀδελφῷ πλεῖστα χαίρειν. καθὼς εἶπά σοι περὶ τῶν δύο ἀκάνθων ἵνα δώσωσιν ἡμῖν αὐτά, ἤδη ἐν τῇ σήμερον περιορυγήτωσαν. αὐτὸς ὁ Φανείας ἀναγκασάτω αὐτὰς ὀρυγῆναι. ἂν μὴ θέλῃ, γράψον μοι ἵνʼ εἰδῶ. καὶ γὰρ τάχα ἐν τῇ αὔριον ἐρχόμεθα σφραγεῖσαι. σπεῦσον οὖν τοῦτο, ἵ…