OPES – Oslo Papyri Electronic System

Background and Physical Properties

Material:

Papyrus

Connections:

–

Size:

11 x 9.5 cm.

Lines:

11: 10 (R), 1 (V)

Publication side:

Recto; Verso

Palaeographic description:

One hand. Semi cursive. The address on the verso is written along the fibers in the same hand than that of the recto in large letters. The last visible letters are somewhat faded. Black ink. Medium pen.

State of preservation:

Medium brown colour. Left and right edges neatly cut. Left margin at 1.5 cm, upper margin at 1. 5 cm. Line ends reach up to the right edge. The lower part of the sheet is torn. 5 vertical folding marks at regular intervals (ca. 2 cm.)

Content

Date:

Ist-IInd century CE

Origin:

Kom Aushim (ancient Karanis), Egypt?

Language:

Greek

Genre:

Documentary

Author:

Severus

Title / Type of text:

Private letter / Letter

Content:

Private letter from Severus to Limnaios, complaining that the latter did not meet him when the former visited the capital of the Arsinoite nome.

Subjects:

Letter Travel Complaint Friend Enemy

Named people:

Severus Limnaios

Named places:

Arsinoiton polis Alexandria

English translation:

Severus to the most esteemed Limnaios, greetings. I wish you to know that, being in the (capital) city of the Arsinoite, you got to know that I came (5) from Alexandria and did not come to visit me. I was not expecting such things from you. For I considered you a brother but (in this way?) I have got an enemy (...) (10). (Verso) Deliver at Karanis(?) ...

Provenance:

Cairo or Fayûm, Egypt

Acquisition:

Purchased by Samson Eitrem

Acquisition year:

1920

Editions

• Eitrem, S and Amundsen, L., P.Oslo II, 1931, pp. 124-125 (no. 50)

Further Literature

Catalogues

TM 25904

Translations

• Arzt-Grabner, P. (2014). 2. Korinther. Papyrologische Kommentare zum Neuen Testament. Band 4. (p. 250). Göttingen. (German translation of ll. 3-10)

Discussions

• Schmidt, W. F. K. (1932). Göttingische Gel. Anz., 194, p. 283. (cf. BL III, pp. 122-123) (ll. 2-10).
• Arzt-Grabner, P. (2014). 2. Korinther. Papyrologische Kommentare zum Neuen Testament. Band 4. (p. 250). Göttingen.
• Papathomas, A. (2016). Die Enttäuschung des belesenen Severus: Eine Anspielung auf Herodot I 44,2 im Brief P.Oslo II 50. Tyche, 31, pp. 235- 238.