Private letter
Letter from Dioskourides to his sister Eudaimonis. Koptos and Sinary mentioned.
One text, 3 sources · Trismegistos-Text 33593
Letter from Dioskourides to his sister Eudaimonis about a hearing before the prefect TM 33593Unknown place, province of Egypt1st half of the IVth century A.D.
The same ancient text or artifact as recorded by 3 records across 3 independent projects, recognised as one entity by its TM-Text identifier. View on Trismegistos →
A private letter from Dioskourides to his sister Eudaimonis, written in the first half of the 4th century AD. He reports that the prefect of Egypt agreed to hear his case on the return voyage downstream, that he is travelling with the official Severus as far as Koptos before coming home, and he mentions the sale of wine belonging to the nomarch of Sinary.
In English machine translation
[verso]
Dioskourides to Eudaimonis, his sweetest sister, greetings.
I greet you, sister, through this letter of mine, and I pray to all the gods that on my speedy return I may find you in good health. I went to the most illustrious prefect. He accepted the matter, saying that he would hear it at the downstream voyage. And as far as Koptos I am with the most excellent Severus, and from there, the gods willing, I am coming back to you. I think that the wine of the nomarch of Sinary has been sold at a very good price. But if not at a very good [price] […] and the wine […]
[…]
[recto]
[…]
To Eudaimonis, his sister, from Dioskourides.
[…]
The "downstream voyage" (kataplous) refers to the prefect's return trip down the Nile during which he held hearings. "Sister" may be a term of affection or for a wife rather than a literal sibling.
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.
p.oslo.2.62
[v] Διοσκουρίδης Εὐδαιμονίδι τῆι γλυκυτάτηι ἀδελφῇ χαίρειν. ἀσπάζομαί σε, ἀδελφή, διὰ τούτων μου τῶν γραμμάτων καὶ εὔχομαι πᾶσι τοῖς θεοῖς εὐθέως ἐπανελθόντα με καταλαβεῖν σε ὑγιαίνουσαν. τῷ λαμπροτάτῳ ἡγεμόνι προσῆλθον. προσεδέξατο τὸ πρᾶγμα εἰπὼν ἀκούσεσθαι τῷ καταπλόῳ. καὶ μέχ…