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One text, 2 sources · Trismegistos-Text 36107

Letter replying to an enquiry, with instructions about selling tunics TM 36107unbekanntVI

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 sixth-century letter from a man, possibly a deacon, to a respected 'father' replying to an enquiry: he has just arrived in the village, has not yet dealt with the matter, and will come to the city after the grain sowing, being busy because of a failed Nile flood this year. He also asks the recipient to sell two tunics for him or return them with another garment.

In English machine translation

[recto] To my master, truly most honoured father, […] deacon (?) […] I received the news about your health and on reading it I was filled with great joy. Concerning the matter about which you wrote back to me, as God knows, on this very day I have come to the village. As yet no consideration has been given by us to this, because I have not yet met with those who concern me, but, God permitting, after the sowing of the grain I shall come to the city, and so we shall deal with you about what ought to be done. For you know that at present we are busy on account of the lack of flooding (abrochia) that has befallen us this year. Greet on my behalf your kindly household. Concerning the two kolobia (sleeveless tunics) which I gave you for sale, if you can, do everything, sell them; but if they do not find a buyer, send them to the village and add also the sticharion (tunic), but the […] I wish you good health […] I greet all the brothers. [verso] To my master […] in all things most admirable patrikios (?).

Abrochia refers to land left unflooded by the Nile and so unsown, a serious agricultural and tax problem. The reading 'patrikios' in the address is uncertain; it may be a title or a name.

Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Beantwortung einer Anfrage). 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.iand.6.102

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

[r] τῷ δεσπότῃ μου ὡς ἀληθῶς τιμιωτάτῳ πατρί μου[…]…μων διάκων[…] ἐδεξάμην τὰ περὶ τῆς σῆς ὑγιείας καὶ ἀναγνοὺς πάνυ χαρᾶς ἐπλήσθην. περὶ δὲ τοῦ πράγματος οὗ μοι ἀντέγραψας, ὡς οἶδεν ὁ θεός, κατὰ τὴν παροῦσαν ἡμέραν ἐπελήλυθα εἰς τὴν κώμην· οὔπω τέως σκέψις ἐγένετο παρʼ ἡμῶν περὶ…