One text, 2 sources · Trismegistos-Text 40821

Letter from Diogenes to his brother Dorion about oil prices and timber TM 40821unknownDecember 2, 88 A.D.

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 Diogenes to his brother Dorion about the high price of olive oil where Dorion lives and about some pieces of wood Diogenes wants sent to him. He asks for one metretes of good oil at the current price and promises to pay the freight. Dated 2 December AD 88.

In English machine translation

[recto] Diogenes to Dorion his brother, greeting. I thought it necessary to greet you by letter before all else. You wrote to me about the price of the oil, that it is now at a high price where you are, and it does not seem good to me to buy at a high price. And the other day I wrote to you about the pieces of wood, that you should send them to me. So if they are delivered to me, I will give them the freight charge. And you will send me a metretes of oil at the current price, only good quality. Farewell. Greet Polydas our friend and all your people. Year 8 of Imperator Caesar Domitian Augustus Germanicus, Choiak 6. [verso] From Diogenes to Dorion his brother.

A metretes is a liquid measure used for oil and wine. The word for "wood" is a diminutive and may refer to small timbers or planks.

Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as private 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.

APIS-papyrus Full record →

private letter

Papyri.info — APIS (Advanced Papyrological Information System) — papyri · P.Mich.inv. 6656 · December 2, 88 A.D. · unknown

Diogenes writes to his brother Dorion concerning the high prices on olive oil in his brother's village. The price is not indicated in the letter. Diogenes further states his opininion that olive oil should not be purchased at such a high rate.

DDbDP-text Full record →

p.mich.mchl.25

Papyri.info — DDbDP (Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri) — text · December 2, 88 A.D.

[r] Διογένης Δωρίωνι τῶι ἀδελφῶι χαίρειν. ἀναγκαῖον ἡγησάμην διὰ γραπτοῦ πρὸ πάντων ἀσπάσασθαί σε. ἔγραψάς μοι περὶ τῆς τιμῆς τοῦ ἐλαίου ὅτι νῦν ἐστιν τιμῆς πολλῆς παρά σοι καὶ οὐ δοκεῖ μοι πολλοῦ ἀγοράσαι. καὶ πρώην σοι ἔγραψα περὶ τῶν ξυλαρίων ἵνα μοι αὐτὰ πέμψῃς. ἐὰν οὖν κομισ…