OPES – Oslo Papyri Electronic System

Background and Physical Properties

Material:

Papyrus

Connections:

–

Size:

14.6 x 15.4 cm.

Lines:

14

Publication side:

Recto, the Verso is blank

Palaeographic description:

Written by a scribe who writes in a rather uneven, angular style, which gives the impression of a 'private' hand. The author, Herennia, has only been able to add the valediction at the bottom of her message

State of preservation:

–

Content

Date:

Ist century A.D.

Origin:

Unknown place, province of Egypt

Language:

Greek

Genre:

Documentary

Author:

Herennia

Title / Type of text:

Private letter

Content:

Letter from Herennia to Pompeius, about some purchases she wishes him to carry out for her.

Subjects:

Letter Clothing

Named people:

Herennia Pompeius Pration Thaisous Antiphanes Pompeis

Named places:

Arsinoiton polis

English translation:

Herennia to Pompeius ... very many greetings and all good wishes for his health, and I salute my mother. I beg you to remind my father to buy a coloured, decent outer garment. Let yourself be satisfied (paid) ... the house ... with the price of the garment ... the Arsinoite. Don't forget to buy (another, similar to?) the coloured one for Pration. Receive two measures of lentils from Thaisous. And Antiphanes wrote me in order that there may be sale there ... I ask you to send me three staters of parrot-cloth for headbands. Pompeis junior sends his regards to you, his father and mother. We send our regards to your children and those at home. April 1st(With her own hand:) Be of good health.

Provenance:

Unknown place, province of Egypt

Acquisition:

Purchased in 1934 from Maurice Nahman, Cairo

Acquisition year:

–

Editions

• Eitrem S-Amundsen L, Aegyptus 31, 1951, 181-183
  SB: VI 9122

Further Literature

Mentioned in White, John L., Light from ancient letters, Philadelphia c1986, in connection with two other letters (inv. 1475 and 1460), involving the same family members (or some of them).Bagnall & Cribiore, Women's letters from ancient Egypt 300 BC-AD 800, 2006, p. 132