A private letter from Apia to her mother Serapias at Oxyrhynchus, sent with a mender who carries saffron-coloured linen garments for Serapias' daughter and for Heraklammon. Apia reassures her mother that all are well, mentions that Agathos will bring things for a festival, and sends greetings to family members. It dates to the 3rd century AD.
In English machine translation
[recto]
Apia […] to Serapias, her lady mother, greetings.
I greet you warmly, lady, praying for all the best for you. Receive, lady, from the mender the saffron-coloured linen garments of your daughter, a tunic and a heratianon (?), and a tunic for Heraklammon. I think you will recognize which are your daughter's, for I wrapped them up together. The mender will pass on to you by word of mouth all that I told her, for I wrote this to you very late. Agathos will perhaps come to you on the ninth to bring you some things for the festival. So, lady, do not be anxious; we are well. Your son Serenos greets you warmly, and Loukis and Techosis and the children and Taamois and all our people. I greet our people. I greet warmly my brother Loukammon, whom I ask to write to us whether he received his tunic from Leukos, since Beryllos forgot to take it. I greet Alexandros and Kyrillous warmly. I pray for your health.
[verso]
To Serapias, her mother, from Apia.
The garment called heratianon (or eratianon) is otherwise unknown and its meaning is uncertain. The ēpētria was a woman who mended or repaired clothes.
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 Apia to Serapias). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.