Associations in the Greco-Roman World (AGRW)

An expanding collection of inscriptions, papyri, and other sources in translation (run by Philip A. Harland)

Letter Regarding Fees for a Banquet for Sarapis (200-250 CE) Memphis (or Ptolemais Euergetis) - Delta region


Memphis (or Ptolemais Euergetis) (Delta region, Egypt — Pleiades map), 200-250 CE
GRA III 240 = PMich VIII 511 = Youtie 1948 = Papyri.info TM 30511 = AGRW ID# 25332


bibliography            

Papyrus measuring 9.5 x 16.2 cm.

Ptolemaios to his father, greetings.  I want you and my mother to know that the secretive fee (siōpētikon) for the banquet (klinē) is 24 drachmas and the fee for a seat a further 22 drachmas.  (5) For this reason, I have chosen to be the financial manager (agoranomos) so that I will not pay either the secretive or seat fee but will also receive double portions, and I will supply the wood for them. For this reason, consider this issue and if you come up you will receive the freight charges (10) for the donkeys.  For we need 5 donkey-loads.  If you need me, send word and I will come down with two friends so that you don’t have (15) to do the work.  For it isn’t possible for a person to refuse Lord Sarapis.  It is another two months until the banquet.  If you are able to bring it up with your own donkey, bring it up, and (20) you will get drachmas for your expenses.  (second hand) Farewell.

Translation by: Harland and Kloppenborg



Πτολεμαῖος τῷ πατρὶ χαίρειν. | γεινωσκιν <γινώσειν> σε θέλω καὶ τὴν μη|τέρα μου ὅτι σιωπητικοῦ τῆς | κλείνης <κλίνης> (δραχμαὶ) κδ καὶ τόπου ἄλλαι (δραχμαὶ) κβ. || λογισάμενος οὖν ἦρκα ἀγορανο|μίαν ἵνα <ϊνα> μήτε σιωπητικοῦ μήτε | τόπου δῶ, ἀλλὰ καὶ διπλᾶ μέρη λαμ|βάνω καὶ χορηγῶ αὐτοῖς ξύλα. | ἀπʼ ἐντεῦθεν οὖν φρόντισον καὶ || ἐὰν ἀναβῇς λήμψῃ τὸ ναῦλον | τῶν ὄνων. χρεία γάρ ἐστιν ε | γόμων. ἐὰν δὲ χρεία μου ἠν <ᾖ> πέμ|ψεν <πέμ|ψον> μοι φάσιν καὶ καταβήσομαι | μετὰ ἄλλων δύο φίλων ἵνα <ϊνα> μὴ σὺ || κοπιᾷς. καὶ γὰρ ἀντιπῖν <ἀντειπεῖν> ἄνθρωπος | οὐ δύναται τῷ κυρίωι Σαράπιδι. ἄλλη | γὰρ δίμηνός ἐστιν ὥς<ἕως> τῆς | κλείνης <κλίνης>. ἐὰν δύνῃ τῷ σῷ ὄνῳ | ἀνενέγκαι αὐτά ἀνένεγκον καὶ || εὑρήσης <εὑρήσεις> εἰς τὴν δαπάνην σου | τὰς δραχμάς. | (hand 2) ἔρρωσσο <ἔρρωσο>.

Item added: June 20, 2019
Item modified: February 5, 2020
ID number: 25332
Short link address:
http://www.philipharland.com/greco-roman-associations/?p=25332

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