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One text, 2 sources · Trismegistos-Text 33790

Letter from Hermapollon to his brother Koprias TM 33790unbekanntIV

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 Hermapollon to Koprias, whom he calls his master, brother and lord of his soul, full of effusive affection and Christian-style piety. He says he prays night and day to see Koprias well again, thanks him for kindnesses reported by his mother, and mentions news from a lady Loura that his mother could not come to meet him. The letter dates to the 4th century AD.

In English machine translation

[recto] To my master and brother and lord of my soul, Koprias, Hermapollon. First of all I greet you warmly, night and day, before the most high God, and before all people I make obeisance to your beautiful and cheerful face, first and foremost. After God I have no other brother, nor true friend, nor well-disposed person, except you alone. For the Lord God is witness that I do not even sleep at night, weeping and praying and beseeching God that I may receive you back in good spirits and in good health and safe and sound. For my mother informed me about your kindnesses, my lord brother, […] It was testified to me, my lord brother, by my lady Loura that my mother was not able to come to meet me because she did not have […] and […] […] my mother that […] […] my lord brother, that […] […] [… lines lost …] [verso] Deliver to my master […]

"Brother" may be a term of affection or a religious form of address rather than a literal family tie. The phrase "most high God" and the references to the Lord God suggest a Christian or Jewish writer.

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.lond.3.1244

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

[r] τῷ δεσπότῃ μου καὶ ἀδελφῷ καὶ κυρίῳ τῆς ψυχῆς μου Κοπρέᾳ Ἑρμαπόλλων. προηγουμένως πολλά σε προσαγορεύω νυκτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας τῷ ὑψίστῳ θεῷ καὶ παρὰ πᾶσι ἀνθρώποις προσκυνῆσαί σου τὸ εὔμορφον καὶ ἱλαρὸν πρόσωπον πρωτοτύπως. μετὰ τὸν θεὸν ἄλλον ἀδελφὸν οὐκ ἔχω οὔτε φίλον γνήσιον οὔ…