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One text, 2 sources · Trismegistos-Text 32674

Letter from Palas to the praepositus Ameinaiothes asking for sheep for his wife TM 32674Philadelphia? (Arsinoites)Mitte IV

The same ancient text or artifact as recorded by 3 records across 2 independent projects, recognised as one entity by its TM-Text identifier. View on Trismegistos →

A private letter from Palas to his patron Ameinaiothes, a praepositus (military commander), asking him to stay at his house when he comes and to give Palas's wife some sheep so she can have a little cash. It belongs to the Abinnaeus archive, mid-4th century AD, probably from Philadelphia in the Arsinoite nome.

In English machine translation

[recto] To the master of my soul and my lord, my praepositus Ameinaiothes, from Palas, greeting. Before all else I pray night and day for your well-being, that you may receive my letter in good health and good spirits. I greet your children. I ask and beg that, if you come, you stay in my (house). By the gods, please give my wife some sheep, so that she too may have a little small change at hand. For you know, my lord, that they are not mine (?). They also wrote to me that […] and they asked that I should know through them (?), and again if I lose […], I am again your slave and I will not desert you, as before. I pray for your health in the Lord for many years, my lord. [verso] Deliver to my patron and lord, the praepositus Ameinaiothes, from Palas his foster-son.

The addressee's name is usually taken as a form of Abinnaeus, the commander of the fort at Dionysias; 'praepositus' was a military commanding officer. The phrase 'by the gods' sits beside the Christian 'in the Lord', and the middle of the letter is damaged and its sense uncertain.

Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below. 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.abinn.36

Papyri.info — DDbDP (Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri) — text · Mitte IV · Philadelphia? (Arsinoites)

[r] τῷ δεσπότῃ μου τῆς ψυχῆς καὶ ἐξουσιαστῇ τῷ ἐμῷ πραιποσίτῳ Ἀμειναιώθει παρὰ Παλᾶτος χαίρειν. προηγουμένως εὔχομαι νυκτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας περὶτῆς σοῦ ὁλοκληρίας ὅπως ὑγιαίνοντος σου καὶ εὐθυμοῦντος προσδέξῃ τὰ ἐμὰ γράμματα. ἀσπάζομαι τὰ τέκνα σου. ἀξιῶ καὶ δέομαι ὅπως, ἐὰν ἀπαντήσῃς…