OPES – Oslo Papyri Electronic System

Background and Physical Properties

Material:

Papyrus

Connections:

–

Size:

15.5 x 14.5 cm.

Lines:

Recto - 19;Verso - 4

Publication side:

Recto; Verso adress

Palaeographic description:

On the verso the first line (numbered line 20 by the eds.) gives the address , a cross is written in each of lines 2-4

State of preservation:

The top part of the papyrus is missing

Content

Date:

Late IIIrd/Early IV century A.D.

Origin:

Unknown place, province of Egypt

Language:

Greek

Genre:

Documentary

Author:

Cornelius

Title / Type of text:

Private letter

Content:

Letter from Cornelius to his mother, asking her to buy various things and have them sent down to him

Subjects:

Letter Family Clothing Food

Named people:

Cornelius Attion Heraklea Mia Pathermoutis, ploumarios Aphthonios

Named places:

–

English translation:

.................. so that the illness ?) ... I received, then, from the wife of Attion the cloak and a spathion of garum. Do everything to buy and send me ten litres of flax. Greetings to my lady sister ...rion, Heraklea, Mia and their children who may remain unharmed by the evil eye [In some editions the adjective abaskantos is translated ""may he/she etc. remain unharmed by the evil eye, while in others - notably in POxy - it is left untranslated]. Greet on my behalf your brother and father. I wish you continuing health, my lady mother.I sent you along with this letter the cheirographon (contract), so that you can request from Pathermoutis, the embroiderer, the seven talents stated in it. But if you lack the courage to ask him, ask Aphthonios and he will require them on your behalf. If he wishes to put off payment, write to me and I will make it so that he will be brought in here.Verso:... from (your) son Cornelius.

Provenance:

Unknown place, province of Egypt

Acquisition:

Purchased by S. Eitrem in Egypt 1920

Acquisition year:

–

Editions

• Eitrem S-Amundsen L, P.Oslo III, 1936, 161
  ▾ Corrections:

  • Pruneti P in: Antinoe cent' anni dopo (1998), p. 147, n. 8 (date)

Further Literature

Choat-M, Belief and cult in fourth-century papyri. 2006, p. 158