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One text, 2 sources · Trismegistos-Text 33734

Letter from Didymos to Theodotos about Asion and the deserted estate TM 33734OxyrhynchosIV

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 Didymos to his 'son' Theodotos, from 4th-century AD Oxyrhynchus. Didymos complains that Asion has abandoned an estate and orders Theodotos to force Asion to bring his wife, her children and the son-in-law to work the vineyard before Didymos leaves for the city.

In English machine translation

To my lord son Theodotos, Didymos. […] Asion has mocked his own fortune and not mine, leaving the estate deserted. For, being satisfied (?) on behalf of his wife, show (him) that he must bring her children to work the vines of the estate. Knowing, then, that I am needed in the city, especially because of the public dues and the other matters, make haste at this very moment to compel Asion to produce his wife together with her children. And send the son-in-law along with them before I set out for the city, so that I may be able to arrange the estate properly before travelling. So send Asion along with them under torture (?). I pray for your health for many years, my lord son. ⟦Provide Isak Phanbartos for the completion⟧ Under torture (?) make Hermias deliver the two double [garments ?] of Athanasios […]

The phrase 'meta strebloseos' literally means 'with twisting/torture' and may mean harsh coercion rather than literal torture. 'Son' is probably a term of address, not necessarily kinship; the meaning of 'diplā' (doubles) in the last line 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 from Didymus to Theodotus). 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.48.3430

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

κυρίῳ μου υἱῷ Θεοδότῳ Δίδυμος. …[…]…[…] Ἀσίων τὴν τύχην ἑαυτοῦ ἐχλεύασεν καὶ οὐχὶ τὴν ἐμὴν ἐάσας τὸ χωρίον εἰς ἔρημον· ἀρκεσθεὶς γὰρ ὑπὲρ τῆς γυναικὸς δείκνυ ὥστε τὰ τέκνα αὐτῆς ἐνέγκαι εἰς ἀμπελουργίαν τοῦ χωρίου. εἰδὼς οὖν ὅτι χρεία μού ἐστιν ἐπὶ τῆς πόλεως μάλιστα διὰ τὰ δημόσ…