OPES – Oslo Papyri Electronic System

Background and Physical Properties

Material:

Papyrus

Connections:

–

Size:

7 x 9.8 cm.

Lines:

10

Publication side:

Recto (Verso: blank)

Palaeographic description:

–

State of preservation:

–

Content

Date:

IInd or IIIrd century A.D.

Origin:

Unknown place, province of Egypt

Language:

Greek

Genre:

Documentary

Author:

Horeion

Title / Type of text:

Letter

Content:

Letter from Horeion to Apollonios, asking him to send a medicine chest with some medicines.

Subjects:

Letter Medicine

Named people:

Horeion Apollonios

Named places:

–

English translation:

Horeion to his father Apollonios, greeting. Receive by letter 908 silver drachmae that I sent with a lodger (tenant?).Send me the medicine chest and ask the doctor for the bitter medicine and the other sweeter one. I pray that you are well.

Provenance:

Unknown place, province of Egypt

Acquisition:

Purchased 1928 through British Museum.No I(5) of the inventory list written by H.I.Bell

Acquisition year:

–

Editions

• Eitrem S-Amundsen L, P.Oslo II, 1931, 54

Further Literature

Translations

• Andorlini, I., & A. Marcone. (2004). Medicina, medico e società nel mondo antico. Le Monnier Università. Italian translation p. 190–191 (document no. 9).

Discussions

• Schubert, P. (2021). The bearers of business letters in Roman Egypt. Peeters. On the bearer of business letters as carrier and recipient of other items as well (money and medical supplies in the case of P.Oslo II 54); see pp. 34 & 38.
• Andorlini, I., & A. Marcone. (2004). Medicina, medico e società nel mondo antico. Le Monnier Università. On containers for drugs, and house pharmacies, see p. 189 (cited as document no. 9).
• Skarsouli, E. (2023). Honigsüsse und lastende Worte. Studien zur Äuserung von Emotionen durch metaphorischen Sprachgebrauch im Altgriechischen. Brill-Schöningh. On ἡδύς (l. 9) used literally in the communication of taste; see p. 172.