Many letters from theZenon Archive are already available in translation viapapyri.info. Some more translations have been collected here. They include documents in letter format, such as petitions and declarations, as well as private letters.
Most of these letters have been taken from "Selected papyri from the archives of Zenon" by C.C.Edgar, which was published in instalments inASAE up until 1924. All the instalments have been made available online as part of theArchives Perdrizet. In letters taken from this source, a small part of the translator's introduction is displayed before the translation.
The numbers in brackets are the dates (years B.C.).
Contents:- most of the letters are taken from theP.Cair.Zen. series of papyri, with a few from theP.Lond. andPSI series. There are a couple of letters from other sources:PPetr_2.13,5 &PPetr_2.13,11. Translations of theP.Col.Zen.,P.Mich., andP.Ryl. series of papyri are available at papyri.info.
→ (2)Letters of 256-252 B.C. (3)Letters of 251-235 B.C. (4)Undated Letters
This letter is one of the earliest documents in Zenon's archive. It was presumably kept by him for information.
Apollonios to Hikesios greeting. If some of those exporting grain from Syria pay to you the full value or the security, take it from them through the bank and give us sealed receipts in duplicate, writing the name of the man who makes the payment and the amount of money and whether he makes payment in behalf of another. Farewell. Year 25. The twelfth day ofArtemisios.
{Addressed} To Hikesios.
Apollonios toZenon greeting. We have sent to you Nikomachos and Zoilos. Therefore place them on the - or the -boat and may they receive the same salary that is paid to the others. Each of them has twentydrachmas advance payment from us. Farewell. Year 26. The twenty-fifth day ofHyperberetaios.
{Docketed:} Year 26. Of Hyperberetaios . . .
{Addressed} To Zenon.
Demetrios toZenon greeting. InTyre I spent all my travelling allowance in making some purchases. Therefore please give 150drachmas to Nikiadas, who is presenting the letter to you. Charmos has already gone off, otherwise I would have sent him as well. Take care to send Nikiadas safely toBerytos. Write to tell me where I should send the cash. Farewell. Year 27,Apellaios 13.
{Addressed} To Zenon.
{Docketed} From Demetrios the secretary inCyprus,concerning 150 silverdrachmas.
Memorandum toZenon from Herakleides the chariot-driver {s} concerning the activities of Drimylos and Dionysios . . . a slave girl and after using her he handed her over to the desert guard {}, providing her with whatevershe had. And she is in Pēgai with the desert guard. They bought another girl from theAmmonites and they sold her inPtolemais. This is the fourth time he has brought a sacredprostitute down toJoppa. And he went away to Aurana taking a female slave with him and got 150drachmas. And when he returned from there he collected a band ofNabataeans. There was an outcry, and he was taken away to prison, where he was locked up for 7 days. And Drimylos boughtanother slave girl for 300drachmas. They went on outings every day, and they were doing very well for themselves. While they were doing this they paid no attention to the animals, but every day Drimylos heated two cauldrons of water for his girlfriend. He has sold the female donkey and the wild ass. And there are witnesses of these things. You can find out all the truth about the rest, if you ask me.
Apollonios to Zenon greeting. When you wrote to me, we sent a letter fromAlexandria to Andronikos, theoikonomos atPelousion,asking him to hire a boat for you. Therefore wait untilthe boat arrives; for you should have sent us a correction fromGaza beforehand. Farewell. Year 2. . . .
This letter may refer to the same estate inGalilee as the one mentioned inPLond_1948; an official named Melas appears in both letters.
. . . that they had assisted with their own physical labour even though they were not at all that type. But they said in their complaint that they have been robbed . . . Melas proved from the . . . that while the is estimating them 22kors for collection from the crop, they had paid only 12 kors. It seems to us under these circumstances that they still owe for the . . .
. . . [petition?] regarding the grape pressings that were taken away (?). Melasacknowledged to have taken them, because the place suffered from a lack of water and they ruined the grape pressing. He neededwine for the workers he had in the city and most ofthe tenants owned their own vineyards from which they could get pressings. To those who did not own vineyards he promised that he would provide sufficientpressing. But they also complained about the figs because he had collected the three . . . from the crop . . .
. . . injustice . . . that they have produced the figs in the 27th year and that they also have paid to . . . from the fruit they had produced. When I arrive from Egypt . . .
. . . I asked them to stay and to put things in order. If they do this, they will receive all kindnesses from you. Having made these recommendations, I dispatched them. Melas thought it right that I write to you in regard to all these matters. Therefore I have written to you so that you will know. Farewell. Year 27,Audnaios 8.
[Alexan]dros to Oryas, greeting. I have received your letter, to which you added a copy of the letter written byZenon to Jeddous, saying that unless he gave the money to Straton, Zenon's man, we were to hand over his pledge to him {Straton}. I happened to be unwell as a result of taking some medicine, so I sent a lad, a servant of mine, with Straton, and wrote a letter to Jeddous. When they returned they said that he had taken no notice of my letter, but had attacked them and thrown them out of the village. So I am writing to youfor your information. Farewell. Year 27,Peritios intercalary 20.
{Addressed} To Oryas.
Westermann (on P. Columbia, 3) has argued that the tax which is the main subject of the letter was the sales tax on slaves, and it must be admitted that the use of ōnē in l. 6 gives some support to this view. On the other hand one would expect the sales tax to be paid at the time of the purchase and not at the last moment when the slaves were at the port of embarkation. On the whole it seems to me more probable that the tax in question was an export tax, such as seems to be alluded to, though not actually mentioned, in no. 59093.
Philotas to Zenon greeting. Krotos requested us to write to you about the slaves who escaped from the harbour of Gaza. For I happened to have been called in by Apollophanes and him to help them to settle with the tax-collectors and [recover and dispatch the slaves to them?] with all speed. I therefore went to see Herodes the tax-collector and found that Apollophanes had made an agreement with him to pay a tax of 80drachmas in the name of Apollonios. That contract therefore I annulled, making another in the name of Apollophanes, and I reduced the tax agreed upon by 40drachmas and I conveyed the slaves to the harbour and we brought in the slaves to Herakleides and delivered them to Apollophanes and he said that he would guard them himself and did not let us trouble although we were willing to share the watch. I have therefore written to you to let you know. You would do me a favour by buying and sending me the things about which I gave you the memorandum. And write to us on your part about anything that you want, for we will do it for you willingly. Farewell. Year 28, Panemos 27.
{Addressed} To Zenon.
{Docketed} From Philotas.
On the other side of a papyrus containing an account of a consignment of oil,Zenon wrote the drafts of five letters about some runaway slaves.
To Pasikles. If you are well, that is good. I too am in good health. Krotos reported to me that you had written to him to say that there is information that the slaves who have run away are with Kollochoutos, the brother of Zaidelos, and they are asking one hundreddrachmas for returning them. You would be doing us a service if you would make every effort to recover them . . . handing them over to Straton who is bringing you this letter. If you do this we should be much obliged . . . and if you have expenses, we will pay. There is an alabaster chest which was bought . . . If you don't want it, the man who bought it will return it. If you need anything locally, write to us for we are grateful to you. Farewell.
To Epikrates. When we were staying inMarisa, we bought some slaves from Zaidelos' stock, of whom, while we were on the journey to Egypt, two brothers escaped whose names and descriptions I have attached to this letter. It has been reported to us that they are with Kollochoutos . . . you would oblige us if you would make every effort to recover them and hand them over to Straton. What you spend on getting them back . . .
To Pesistratos {sic}. If you are well that is good. I too am in good health. Krotos has sent information that Pasikles has written to tell us about the runaway slaves which we bought inMarisa from Zaidelos. We therefore wrote asking him to make every effort to bring about their recovery and to hand them over to Straton who is bringing you this letter. We should be much obliged therefore if you reminded him and took the trouble to see that they do not escape. And you will be in our debt if you write . . . if you need anything from the country here. For we shall act as friends do. Farewell.
To Epainetos. Some of our slaves happen to have escaped and they have been said to be inIdumaea. We have sent Straton for that task. You would oblige us by giving instructions to your son not to hinder him in matters concerning taxes so that he can recover the slaves.
To Ammon. Ditto. You would oblige us if you could write to Dorotheos and Demainetos so that he should not be hindered in matters concerning taxes.
Apollonios toZenon, greeting. We have sent you a copy of the letter from Dionysios theoikonomos. Receive therefore the threetalents from Demetrios. Farewell. Year 28,Mesore ...
Dionysios to Apollonios, greeting. As you instructed us, we have given to your servant Demetrios, on account of the allowance accruing to you, in accordance with the warrant written to us by you, threetalents, viz. 1 talent in silver, 1 talent in gold, and l talent in copper at 25½obols to thestater. I have therefore written to you to let you know. Farewell. Year 28, Mesore ...
Most ofZenon's acquaintances wrote letters that were brief and to the point. Herakleitos was the exception; for another example seePCairZen_59093.
Herakleitos to Kriton greeting. [If you are well] . . . we too are well. Zoilos the . . . inPtolemais came to us . . . [that (?) Kallianax] had met with you and talked idlyabout him . . . reporting to Zoilos from you about the cash and that to no-one . . . except toApollonios.Zoilos swore to us by all the gods and [asserted] that Kallianax had [neither done] nor said any such thing; but on the contrary he said . . . you wrote such a thing to him neither previously nor when Zenon was present . . . Kriton it was not fitting to write to you about such things. He said to beware lest you . . . Zenon to follow . . . to vilify me. Now he has changed his mind because of being rebuked by each . . . He said that he wished to give back . . . to agree if anyone was willing to provide the service. Therefore I have written to you about these things.
Zoilos . . . and Nikanor when he came to Ptolemais met with Ammonios and asked . . . toTripolis to gather the band of soldiers for Spintharos thehipparch . . . become sufficient. He said that he would see to it that the horse should be produced for me and . . . After that nothing happened to us until now; for Ammonios is dragged around with . . . to Tripolis, and our travelling allowance has run out and we are eking out our existence by borrowing money. Please write to him and ask him to register us as quickly as possible, because I know that if you write . . . he will appoint us promptly. I would be grateful also if you would . . . from Iatrokles and . . . [send] letters to him so that he exerts himselffor us; for you do not know what a change has happened . . .
Please take care of yourself and keep well, because nothing is more important than that, [and let us know that] you are well, so that we do not worry. We hope that you are well both in body . . . as he chooses, because I know that in this respect you are far superior to the others . . . and withyour character. May you prosper and be successful in everything. Farewell. Year 28,Hyperberetaios 23.
Zenon came from Kaunos in Caria and had many friends and relations living there. This letter from Zenon's friend Antimenes sends him word from Caria about the voyage of a lady in whom he evidently took an affectionate interest. Whether she was sailing to Egypt or elsewhere is not quite clear, but we may suppose that she embarked at Kaunos.
Antimenes to Zenon greeting. If you are well it would be excellent. I too am in good health. In the beginning, because of Zenon, son of Heracleides, having misled us many times and because of Doris having been weak and not able to sail, we hesitated to write to you; now know that we have sent her [with Ariston] in Zenon's ship, and we commanded Zenon to take all care of her, and we provided [her with the things that] she requested for the voyage.Farewell. Year 28, Hyperberetaios ..
{Addressed} To Zenonwho is with Apollonios.
Poseidonios, who write this letter, was an official at court in Alexandria.
Poseidonios to Apollonios, greetings. When one of my corn ships was sailing up into the countryside {}, Sosistratos' men in Memphis boarded her and confiscated the iron which needs to be on board in case of emergency. In my view it is not possible for ships to sail without the necessary fitments. And when I wrote to them, on more than one occasion, to give the metal back, they paid no attention, but they sold it. I have written to you therefore to inform you that these are the type of men in charge of the guard-posts. Farewell. Year 28, Dios 21.
{Docketed} To Apollonios.Letter of Poseidonios, steward, about the customs officer.
Satyra was a female harp-player employed in the palace ofApollonios inAlexandria. She did not accompany her master on the long tour of inspection on which he started in the summer of 258 B.C.: and it was probably during his absence that she addressed this complaint toZenon. From no. 10., written in the spring of 257 B. C., we learn that she had lately received two month's wages and was now by Zenon's order about to be paid up to date along with the butler, the gardener and other important members of the household. It appears moreover from no. 77 that, as soon as Zenon returned to Alexandria, a linen garment was given her from the store and that on his departure about two months afterwards, she received another. So whatever the immediate effect of her petition may have been, Satyra did not fare badly in the end .
Satyra to Zenon greeting. Though Apollonios ordered an allowance of clothing to be given to me and my mother, and you will find the memorandum which Apollonios wrote about it, from that day to this we have received nothing, and it is now more than a year ago. Will you kindly then inquire and inform Apollonios . . . remember us and see that we have something to wear. And let him make the gift come privately from you. Inquire also about our wages: only once have we received anything, and that was what you sent to give us at the feast ofDemeter. Will you kindly then inquire about this matter also, if you please, as quickly as possible. Farewell.
{Addressed} To Zenon.
{Docketed} From the girl Satyra.
From a lady, probably a relative or at least a member of the same Carian circle, asking Python and Zenon to look after Panakestor, whom she has left in their charge. Panakestor, who came from Kalynda in Caria and whose father was called Antipatros, must have been either her son or her husband. The hand of the present letter has a family resemblance to that of Panakestor himself.
. . . to Python and Zenon, greeting. If you areboth well and your other affairs are going as you wish, [that would be good]; I too [am well]. You will do well if you continue to show goodwill to Panakestor, as I asked [you when I left] him in your charge. I have also now sent Antipatros and Aia... . . . you may take care of him until, most of all, you are all present in good health, [and if not] . . . his father sends him to me. And for the rest, act like men and take care [of yourselves, that you are well] . . . and I too [will do] what I can for your mother.
{Addressed} To Python and Zenon.
This memorandum is mainly concerned with the affairs of a certain Danaos, who seems to have got into trouble about some money which he owed to the royal Treasury. It is clear that he was living inHalikarnassos or in that neighbourhood. His son Kratinos had apparently agreed with Apollodotos, the representative of the Treasury, that the matter should be settled by the payment of twenty talents; and this proposal had been forwarded toApollonios. Twenty talents is a large sum of money, which Danaos can scarcely have owed as a private individual. But possibly it may have represented the price of some tax or monopoly, for the payment of which he was responsible as a farmer or a surety.
In the first of the remaining paragraphs the pronoun 'you' has been altered to 'him'; and as the person to whom they refer seems certainly to be Apollonios, we may infer that the communication was originally intended for thedioiketes and that the writer on second thoughts addressed it to Zenon, who knew the right way to approach his chief on such matters.
. . . that . . . was sent from the son of Danaos and that letters were written to him {Apollonios} in Xandikos of year 28 from Apollodotos and from Kratinos the son of Danaos, asking that the affair should be settled by payment of twentytalents to the king, but the person sent has not delivered the letters to him, but is living inAlexandria in the house of Aristoboulos, following evil courses; his name is Hedylos. Know also that Pankris, the associate of Danaos, is trying to get the oflice ofnomophylax through Epikydes and the latter is referring the question to your chief; so take care that he does not obtain the slightest favour, for he is hostileto Apollonios and is spreading the slander that it was he who caused the trouble about Danaos.
Get me letters from him to Apollodotos and Laagos and Hikesios, speaking of me in favourable terms, and write yourself also. Get a letter also to Iason the banker, saying thatApollonios has become reconciled through my intercession, for he has already written to Apollodotos.
This letter probably refers to the early stages of the building work at Philadelphia.
[Diodoro]s toApollonios, greetings. I am sending you an account of the state that the project for thebuilding-works is in, for your information. In the case of the stone and brick supplies, there will be no delay; but the wood supplies will hold us back. For there is no stock of wood either for lintels or for architraves.Farewell. Year 28, M...
{Addressed:} To Apollonios.
This letter is followed by a list, comprising fig-trees of six different kinds, a special sort of pomegranate, an early apple or apricot, an apple that bore fruit twice in the year (the malus bifera of the Romans), and no less than eleven varieties of vine. Yet Nikias speaks apologetically of his plantations and regrets that a messenger had not been sent on to Lysimachos inAlexandria. The letters ofApollonios himself are full of instructions about the planting of fruit-trees, and evidently the rich land-holders in the interior took good care to have their orchards and vineyards stocked with the best varieties and to make their surroundings as pleasant as nature allowed.
Nikias to Apollonios greeting. You wrote to Lysimachos about fruit-trees, asking him to give some to your people. Now Lysimachos happened to be in Alexandria, but I took your messengers round all the orchards and showed them that we have no young shoots nor are they wont to grow here, of which indeed they were themselves aware, but that we have them brought from the Isle of Arsinoē, for there by work . . . because water is always procurable: and I advised that one of your people should be despatched to Lysimachos , who could have given them a supply from down the river. But they said it was enough for them if they got something to plant from our stock here. So we gave them as much as they wanted , and below is a detailed list. Farewell. Year 28,Athyr 25.
Zoilos of Aspendos . . ., who was recommended to you by the friends of the king, greets Apollonios. It happened to me as I was paying worship to the god Sarapis on behalf of your health and success with King Ptolemy that Sarapis instructed me again and again in my sleep that I should sail over to you and inform you of this oracle that there must be constructed for him [(?) a temple] and sacred precinct in the Greek . . . near the harbour and a priest must preside and sacrifice at the altar on behalf of you [(?) and your household]. Because I implored [(?) the god Sarapis] that he excuse me from (?) this work, he visited upon me an illness so great that I was in danger of my life. When I had offered up prayers to him, that if he should heal [me] I would perform this service and do what had been ordered by him, and when I quickly had recovered, a certain individual from Knidos appeared who undertook to build a Sarapieion in that place and brought in stones; thereupon, however, the god forbade him from building, and he left. When I had come to Alexandria and hesitated to talk to you concerning these matters instead of the business matters which you had agreed to with me, once again I suffered a relapse that lasted for four months, on account of which I was unable to come to you right away. Therefore, Apollonios, it would be good for you to heed the god's commands so that Sarapis will be merciful to you and greatly enhance your status with the king and give you good health. So, do not be disheartened about the cost, as will arise from a great expenditure by you - on the contrary, it will be altogether profitable for you, for I will jointly supervise everything. Farewell.
{Docketed} From Zoilos, concerning Sarapis. To Apollonios.
{Dated} Year 28, Audnaios 9, at Berenikēs Hormos.
The Haven is the Berenikēs Hormos whereApollonios andZenon were then staying, perhaps on board their boats. I believe that it lay somewhere below (or downstream from)Memphis. Amyntas lived inAlexandria and held a position of authority in the household of Apollonios. He returns to the same subject in no. 81, in which the misfortunes of Demetrios and his own perplexities are recapitulated in fuller detail.
Amyntas to Zenon greeting. Demetrios . . . . . being ill provided, we lent him at his request some drinking-vessels, a small wine-cooler standing on its own base, holding achous and rather more, which Apollonios left abroad in the hands of Tryphera, two Antipater-cups which do not match, a wine-cooler and a ladle. But we hear that he has been arrested . . . So if you approve, will you kindly recover them if his belongings are being confiscated to the Treasury, and if not, allow him to keep them. And for the rest you will do me a favour by showing him as much consideration as possible until we find a good opportunity of entreating Apollonios on his behalf. Farewell.
{Docketed} From Amyntas about the silver vessels lent to Demetrios.
{Dated} Year 28,Audnaios 25, at the Haven.
The word seems to be used in this letter simply as an insult; see T.Stafford, 'The Wages of Effeminacy?: Kinaidoi in Greek Documents from Egypt', p. 112 (PDF ).
Amyntas toZenon, greetings. Kallianax the builder, the , got drunk and . . . the couches which he has readied forApollonios. And he, receiving in advance from us for . . . money, they are altering . . . by us . . . the debt collector, he has sailed up, as it seems, to have an audience with Apollonios against the . . . the man who tracked him down. If, therefore, you meet somewhere, it is good that you should not be unaware . . . to explain to Apollonios not to trust him. Farewell . . .
{Addressed} To Zenon.
{Docketed} From Amyntas concerning Kallianax. Year 28,Audnaios 25, at the Haven.
Ammonios to Zenon, greetings. I have sentApollonios the 400 garlands of pomegranate blossoms, which he wrote to me about preparing for the king. You will therefore do well to ensure that they are taken promptly by . . . And regarding the red dye, you must know that your agent bought as much as he said he needed, 3talents at 25drachmas per talent, although it was sold (at that time) for 30 drachmas. I have written to you so that you may know. And I will also immediately send to you the slave Charmos, who is instructed about everything.
You would do me a favour if you see to it that my remaining letters are delivered to Apollonios in time, and if you ensure that he replies promptly to everything. Farewell.Year 28,Tybi 7.
{Addressed:} To Zenon.
{Docketed:} From Ammonios, concerning wreaths. Year 28,Audnaios 28, in Berenikes Hormos.
Athenodotos to Zenon, greetings. Do not be surprised that we did not put in an appearance. For when we had settled with [Zoilos], just on the terms he wished, and when he had agreed with us [to meet] about our release, he kept putting it off, until you had moved on. So he forced us to sail up to the Lake {Faiyûm}. Because of this, we could not sail down together with you. Therefore, I beg you, and I ask both for Dionysodoros' sake, your friend, who introducedus, and indeed for our own sake for perhaps somehow even we shall in some way be of service to you, if we are rescued write a polite letter to Zoilos, so that he may release us. For we are aged and powerless. Philiskos will relate our plight to you, until you decide to give him his instructions as quickly as possible. Farewell. Year 28,Tubi
{Addressed:} To Zenon.
{Docketed:} From Athenodotos. Year 28,Audnaios 30, in Berenikes Hormos.
It appears from the text that a certain Herakleides or Herakleitos, had sent his son to obtain from the dioiketes a bounty to which he and his companions were entitled. The fact that the request was made through Amyntas, who does not seem to have been a government official, and his proposal to deliver the money personally might suggest that this was a private grant from the purse of Apollonios. But there is a strong presumption that they were in fact recipients of a grant from the Crown. If they received a small subsidy from state funds, they would naturally apply to Apollonios or, if he were absent, to his chief agent in Alexandria. And the reason why Amyntas wrote to Kriton rather than to Zenon may have been that Kriton was acquainted with the applicant, being himself a sailor.
Amyntas to Kriton greeting. Charminos who brings you the letter is a son of Herakleides the under-officer on the sacred ship and he has been sent by his father and the other recipients of the grant to get it for them. You will do me a favour then if you help him to obtain it as soon as possible and put him on a boat if any is sailing down, for he is inexperienced, or else take the money from him under seal and send it to us to pay to them. Farewell.
{Addressed} To Kriton.
{Docketed} From Amyntas about Charminos. Year 28, Peritios 5, in Berenikes Hormos.
Apollodotos toZenon greeting. If you yourself are well, and the rest of your affairs are satisfactory, that would be as we wish. We too are well . . . your father andyour brothers met us inKaunos. We made . . . to them and we urged them in the future too . . . [when] they meet with us. Please write to them . . . to say about what they need, and write to us [to say what] we can do to oblige you. For now in all . . . we are wondering what the reason is [that we have not heard] from you. Farewell. Year 28,Peritios 10.
{Addressed} To Zenon.
{Docketed} From Apollodotos, a friendly message aboutmy father. Year 28,Dystros 24, inMemphis.
Amyntas to Zenon, greetings. The has come to me with a request to write to you so that he will not be treated unjustly. You will do well, therefore, to release him if he has not committed a serious offence. And in the future, he promises to fulfil his duty punctually; for I, too, have often reproached him for loitering and not working. And he wishes to be left behind inMemphis to work. Therefore, unlessApollonios orders otherwise, you will do well to allow him to do so. Farewell.
{Addressed:} To Zenon.
{Docketed:} Amyntas, concerning Chares the . Year 28,Peritios 12, inBoubastos.
Amyntas toZenon greeting. We wrote to you before that the servants are pestering us for their wages, and now they are demanding that something is given to them, to ensure that they remain dutiful. Therefore please write to us to say whether you will give them something. ForApollonios [has no time] to think of such things. Farewell.
{Addressed} To Zenon.
{Docketed} From Amyntas, about wages for the slave-boys. Year 28,Peritios 20, inBoubastos.
We learn from the copy that Demetrios had formerly been an , or controller of the accounts of the , in theProsopite nome. WhenApollonios was sailing up the river in the preceding summer, he had sent Demetrios on Government business toHerakleia inPhoenicia. When Demetrios returned toAlexandria, he apparently fell under suspicion and was detained there by Apollonios' order. It was then that Amyntas rather rashly lent him the silver vases. We may suppose that Demetrios was next summoned to appear before Apollonios , who placed him under arrest and ordered his property to be confiscated to the Crown.
[Amyntas toZenon greeting. We wrote you lately about Demetrios, to whom on his return from] Herakleia we lent some silver plate. And now again, as he is under arrest and his belongings are being sold up, we have written a letter to Apollonios, of which a copy is subjoined for you to see. You will oblige me then by taking counsel withArtemidoros the physician whether you think it advisable to deliver the letter to him or to let it be hanged. For to show that the silver vessels mentioned below are ours, the wine-cooler and the little wine-cooler and one of the Antipater-vases are described in a list, now in possession of the king, in the letter from Hikesios, and there is also a declaration in the Exchange, while of the other vases we possess the rest of the set. But if you think it best not to deliver the letter, you will at least do me a favour by looking after Demetrios, for now we hear he is being badly treated. Farewell.
To Apollonios. Demetrios, the controller appointed by you in the Prosopitenome, having left home without intending to be long away and having moreover been fleeced of his travelling-allowance and his servant by Lysimachos the robber, as he was being detained by you, begged us to advance him a little cash, that he might provide himself with the necessaries of life. Money we had none to advance him, but we lent him some of the plate which you left abroad in the hands of Tryphera , a little wine-cooler standing on its own base, holding rather more than achous and weighing . . . according to the list in our possession , another wine-cooler , two Antipater-vases . . . Will you kindly grant us your pardon, for we never dreamed that he would so shortly have come to grief. Farewell.
{Docketed} Amyntas, about Demetrios. Year 28,Peritios 22, inBoubastos.
The writer of this letter is apparently different from the Amyntas of letter 81. The letter exhibitsZenon in the character of a tactful private secretary who receives callers and chooses the opportune moment for presenting them to the Minister, who, one imagines, was not the easiest of men to approach. In the present case Zenon would be all the more willing to help as Zopyros belonged to aKaunian family, and was therefore a fellow countryman of his own.
Amyntas to Zenon greeting. Zopyros the bearer of this letter is a son of Sosigenes the Kaunian; and we have also written toApollonios about him, at the request of certain people. You will oblige me then by presenting him as soon as you find Apollonios in a favourable mood, in order that he may speak of the matter for which be has made the journey. Farewell.
{Docketed} Amyntas about Zopyros the son of Sosigenes. Year 28,Peritios 22, inBoubastos.
Nikon to Zenon, greetings. As you wrote to us, we have given the gardeners their wages for the month ofTybi. Write to us also if we should give them . . . If not, they have said they will leave. Now, the need is urgent at the moment, because they have to dig around the vineyard. Farewell. Year 28,Mecheir 8 (?).
{Addressed:} To Zenon.
Ammonios to Zenon, greeting. In [response to your order] for withdrawal of 2,000 silverdrachmas, we have given your agent Theodoros 1,000 in silver and copper. Iatrokles and Theodoros will explain to you that we [intended to] send you the whole sum but could not because the soldiers arrived needing [money for] rations. Therefore please be so kind as to excuse us. Goodbye. Year 29, Mecheir 9.
{Addressed:} To Zenon
{Docketed:} Year 28, Dystros 4, in Leontopolis. Ammonios, about the silver and copper that has been given to Theodoros.
Amyntas toZenon greeting. You must know that the cook whom you bought ran away taking with him the 80drachmas which he received for buying hay for the horses. He was met by some people nearAthribis. He is now with the Cappadocians who have their camp there. You would do well if you would announce to all our servants, and if you would write to everybody whom you find useful, to catch him and to help in sending him to [you]. Farewell. Year 28 . . .
{Addressed} To Zenon.
{Docketed} Year 28,Dystros 8, inMendes. From Amyntas, about the runaway cook.
Zo[ilo]s toApollonios greeting. If you are well, it would be good; I too am well. Know that I [have] not . . . therefore I thought it best to write to you before reacting, so that . . . Please write to meand ask me to come to you, so that I can give you an account about everything in detail; for I have decided not to leave here without your permission. Do not overlook us while we are ruined, but come to our assistance. For you considered that we should receive honour, but this man has brought me into the greatest dishonour. Concerning the sum of money, I am not discussing how much I have paid, when I was violently and unlawfully abused. Year 28,Dystros 18.
{Addressed} To Apollonios.
PSI 330, which was addressed by Zoilos toApollonios himself and was written a few days before the present letter, contains a bitter complaint about his treatment by a certain individual. He now appeals to a friend to help him; but it is doubtful if Alexandros did anything more than transmit the letter, somewhat indiscreetly, toZenon.
Zoilos to Alexandros greeting. I trust that you are in good health, as I am myself. I received the letters and am not neglecting anything about which you write to me. And on your side, please endeavour to get the things I requested done for me according to the memorandum; and if you succeed, be sure that I will owe you no end of gratitude. Bring some others then from among your friends to speak to Apollonios, and . . . if Antiochos also approves. Do not be idle then. And from Zenon, Apollonios' friend, get a donkey, any that he will give you, and export it to me; and be serious about it; for I know that you will be able to manage the exportation. Farewell. Year 28,Dystros 22.
{Addressed} To thehipparch, the son of Nikanor, Alexandros.
Amyntas to Zenon, greeting. When you come, please bring two (?) of the large mattresses, as fine as possible, and a pair of fine pillows, for my mother. Farewell.
{Addressed:} To Zenon.
{Docketed:} Amyntas, about the linens. Year 29,Xandikos 2, inMemphis.
This letter is similar to the following letter from Hierokles toZenon (SelPap. 1.88).
Hierokles to Zenon greeting. If you are well, and in other matters you are getting along as you wish, that would be good. I also am well. You wrote to me about Pyrrhos, to train him if we know for certain that he will win, but if not, that it should not happen both that he is distracted from his studies and that useless expense is incurred. Well, far from being distracted from his lessons, he is making good progress in them, and in his other studies as well. As for "knowing for certain", only the gods would know; but Ptolemaios says that he will be far superior to the existing competitors, despite the fact that at the moment he lags behind them, because they have got a long start and we have only just begun training. You should also know that Ptolemaios does not charge any fees, as do the other trainers, but simply hopes to win you the crown in return for the kindnesses that you, when a complete stranger, volunteered to him and are continuing concerning thepalaistra. Don't forget to bring the mattress about which I wrote to you previously. Also, buy a chest for sixdrachmas and bring it down; and send two jars of honey for us to have, because it is useful.
{Addressed} To Zenon.
{Docketed} From Hierokles, about the boy. Year 29,Xandikos 2, inMemphis.
Hierokles to Zenon, greeting. Apollodoros, the bearer of this letter, is a friend of mine. Now he is sailing up toHerakleopolis, and I have requested him to bring back to me some cloaks and tunics. So please be so kind as to introduce him to ...des and Lysimachos, so that they may write letters for him to the upper toll station in order that they may treat him fairly. And introduce him also to ...imachos, the customs officer. I have also written to thestrategos at Herakleopolis about him, so that everything needful may be supplied to him.
{Docketed:} Hierokles about Apollodorosfor Nikanor. Year 29, Xandikos 3, inMemphis.
Hierokles to Nikanor, greeting. If you are in health and in other respects are progressing according to your intention, it would be well. I also am in good health. Apollodoros, the bearer of this letter, is a friend of mine and is sailing up toHerakleopolis; for he has an allotment there. I have asked him to bring back some clothes for me, so please write on his behalf to ...des and Lysimachos so that they may write on his behalf to the . . . and for the rest that they treat him fairly. And if he needs money to enable him to stay on for some days, give it him. I have also written a letter to Zenon about him; so please introduce him. In so acting you will be doing me a great pleasure. And do you write about anything you have need of; for we shall do everything for you most willingly.
{Addressed:} To Zenon {sic}.
{Docketed:} Hierokles.
Theudoros to Zenon, greeting. When I departed from you toAthribis, I found both Python and Ammonios besieged by Antiochos for money. Nevertheless, when I delivered your letter to Python, he by all possible means and putting everything aside . .. 1,000drachmas . .. for the purchase of the asses. So please on your part when you receive from the bearer the letter from my brother Amyntas toApollonios about Python, present it at a favourable opportunity and also add your zealous entreaties concerning the salary due to him, so that word may be sent quickly and priority be given to its issue, thereby showing him that you are ready to concern yourself about whatsoever he may write to you.
{Addressed:} To Zenon.
{Docketed:} Theudoros the agent about the 1,000drachmas which he received from Python. Year 29, Xandikos 3.
Python to Zenon, greeting. As you wrote to me, I paid out the 1,000drachmas for the asses to your agent Theodoros because Ammonios was not yet able to give it him. I have sent Leon with a letter from Amyntas toApollonios. You will gratify me by delivering it at a timely moment, using your good offices so that he may order eachletter to be endorsed for such-and-such an amount (?). If not, in whatsoever way seems best to him, in order that the warrants may be delivered to me. And write yourself about anything you have need of. Farewell.
{Addressed:} To Zenon.
{Docketed:} Python the banker, about the 1,000drachmas he has given Theodoros for the purchase of asses. Year 29, Xandikos 3.
We know that Krotos was trading inPalestine about the beginning of year 29, and it may be assumed that the present letter was written from abroad. For some reason which can only be guessed at, it took two months or more to reach its destination. Certain persons who had sailed in charge of a cargo of olive oil, presumably from Palestine to Egypt, had not fulfilled their financial engagements towards Krotos, and a judgement had been given against them. But Alexis, apparently the local officer responsible for the execution of the judgement, had taken no steps in the matter.
Krotos toZenon greeting. Know that Alexis has done nothing about the slave-girl, who was offered to us as surety by the men who were sailing in charge of the oil, in accordance with the judgement made againstthem, for they have not given us either the money or the slave-girl. It is a similarsituation with Theron, the sailor from the boat, becauseAlexis has let him out of the prison, and he is nowhere to be found. Farewell. Year 29,Xandikos 5.
{Addressed} To Zenon.
{Docketed} [From Krotos],concerning the slave-girl, who was offered to him as surety by the men who were sailing in charge of the oil, andconcerning Theron from the boat. Year 29,Daisios [.., in]Alexandria.
Baitanōta or Baitanata was the biblicalBeth-Anath, inGalilee.
Glaukias toApollonios greeting. About the things you instructed me to report to Nikanor and Antiochos, we reported them. Know that they are conforming to them. The other things we will report to you whenever we arrive. Arriving at Baitanōta and taking Melas with me, I visited the plants and all the other things. Well, they seem to me to be satisfactorily cultivated, and he said the vineyard was 80,000in number. He has also constructed a well and a satisfactory building. He gave me the wine to taste, and I did not distinguish whether it wasChian or local. So you are doing well, with good luck in all things. Farewell. Year 29,Xandikos 7.
{Addressed} To Apollonios.
{Docketed} From Glaukias, about what he was told to report to Antiochos and Nikanor, and about the wine in Baitanata. Year 29, Xandikos .., inAlexandria.
Toubias was probably the chief personage in the district east of the Jordan. He addresses Ptolemy with the respect due from a subject, putting the king's naine before his own and ending with the formula "may you prosper", whereas in writing to Apollonios he uses the ordinary forms of address. The offerings of Toubias consisted of animais from his province, including some experiments in cross-breeding. This was the sort of gift that would please the king, whose taste for collecting strange animals has been recorded by Diodoros, iii.36.
Toubias toApollonios, greetings. As you wrote to me to send [gifts in this] month, I have sent to you on the tenth ofXandikos Aineas one of our staff taking two horses, six dogs, one mule bred from an ass, two white Arabian beasts of burden {probably donkeys}, two colts of a half-onager, and one colt of an onager; these are domesticated. And I have sent to you the letter written by us concerning the gifts to the king, and likewise the copy of it so that you might know. Farewell. Year 29, of Xandikos the 10th day.
To kingPtolemy, greetings from Toubias. I have sent to you two horses, six dogs, one mule bred from an ass, two white Arabian beasts of burden, two colts of a half-onager and one colt of an onager. May you prosper.
{Addressed:} To Apollonios.
{Docketed:} Toubias about the things sent to the king and the copy of the letter sent to the king. Year 29,Artemisios 16, inAlexandria.
This letter was sent on the same day, and received at the same time, as the previous letter. It does not appear that the eunuch and the slaves are being sent in answer to a letter on the subject from Apollonios. Rather it would seem that Toubias at the time of sending the animals to Ptolemy thought that it would be a gracious act on his part to send an additional gift to Apollonios. He was already perhaps acquainted with Apollonios' fondness for slaves, and especially young ones, as Zenon on his mission two years before had bought a young slave from him, or rather from Nikanor, one of his men.
Toubias to Apollonios greeting. If you are well and everything of yours is to your mind, there should be much thankfulness to the gods. I myself have been well and have kept in constant memory of you, as was right. I have sent to you Aineas with one eunuch and four young slaves [who are] . . . and well-born, of whom two are circumcised. We have added below for you descriptions of the slaves, so that you may know. Goodbye. Year 29, of Xandikos the 10th day.
Haimos about ten years old, complexion dark, hair curly, eyes black, jaws prominent, and moles on the right jaw, uncircumcised.
Atikos about eight years old, complexion of honey, hair curly, nose slightly flat, eyes black, mole {possibly scar} under the right eye, uncircumcised.
Audomos about ten years old, eyes black, hair curly, flattish nose, protruding lips, mole {possibly scar} beside the right brow, circumcised.
Okaimos about seven years old, face round, flattish nose, eyes gray, hair red and smooth, mole {possibly scar} on forehead above right brow, circumcised.
{Addressed:} To Apollonios.
{Docketed:} Toubias to Apollonios about the eunuch and four young slaves sent to him. Year 29, Artemisios 16, in Alexandria.
Nikanor to Zenon and Kriton greetings. I have sent Leonidas to bring on the little boat {}, for delivery toApollonios, both the wine and the other things that belong to him and I have arranged to unload them for him after sailing toMemphis. If it is necessary to disembark in a village . . .
cheese fromChios : 1 jar
olives : 1 jar
olive oil : 10keramia
ripe olives : 2keramia
mullets : 2 jars
tunny bellies : 1 jar
flesh of stag : 1keramion
. . . : ?keramia
and the things that came from Melas from the vineyard inBaitanata :
Syrian wine : 15 jars
wine sealed (?) with wax : 40 jars
mellowwine : 2 jars
{Docketed:} Friendly gifts from Nikanor to Zenon (and) Kriton.
See the comments on this letter in the History for Writers blog,Bad Day at the Office, 257 BCE.
Panakestor toZenon greeting. If you are well, and other matters are turning out in a satisfactory way for you, that would be as we wish. We too are well. Please remember us, and when you find a suitable moment withApollonios, remind him about the notes I gave you inMemphis, and you said that you would take care of it. Be sure to remind him that he should get instructions from the king, as he agreed with us; for I know that if you want, everything will beachieved for us. I have appended for you a copy of the letter sent to me by Apollonios, and alsoa copy of the letter I sent to him. Farewell. Year 29,Pachons 15.
From Apolloniosto Panakestor . I was astounded at your negligence that you have written nothing, either about the estimation or about the harvest of the grain. Write to me now how each matter stands. Year 29,Artemisios 23,Pharmouthi 30.
From Panakestor to Apollonios. I received your letter on 14th of Pachons from Zoilos, in which you write that you are astonished that I have sent you nothing concerning the estimation or the harvest of the crop. I happened to be present inPhiladelphia on the 16th ofPhamenoth and wrote at once to Zoilos and Zopyrion and to the royal scribes to join me and help manage the operation. Now, Zoilos happened to be making the inspection rounds with Telestes; he was therefore unavailable, but the royal scribes and Pauēs, Zopyrion's assistant, came twelve days later. Together we went out into the fields and spent five days measuring the land by farmer and by crop.
We completed this, sent for the farmers, and announced your order to them. We then thought it right to call on them to make an estimation, just as you directed, or to work with us and draw up plans for an alternative. They said that they would inform us when they had considered the matter. Four days later they sat down in the temple and said they would not make an estimation, justly or unjustly, but would rather abandon the crop, for there was already an agreement that they should give you a third of the produce. Damis and I said many things to them, but we accomplished nothing; so we went to Zoilos and asked him to come along with us, but he said he was busy with the dispatch of the sailors.
Therefore when we returned to Philadelphia after three days we decided that since, as iswritten for us in the memorandum, they would not allowus to conduct an assessment or make any progress, we should ask them to give us their own assessment of their liability, whatever seemed appropriate to each of them. They gave us the assessment, which we sent to you previously. After arranging this, we were occupied in measuring the land planted with sesame and trees, in the company of the royal scribes, who gave us their account on the 22nd of Pharmouthi. Therefore please do not charge us with any negligence, because it is noteasy for anyone working for you to be negligent. That should be clear to you from the fact that the corn was brought in, even though there was not much supply inthis area.
{Addressed} To Zenon.
{Docketed} From Panakestor, a copy of his letter to Apollonios. Year 29,Daisios 14, inAlexandria.
Apollonios to Zenon, greetings. Go down to (?) the Emporion and unload theolive?-oil that has arrived for us from home. When you have got as safe as possible a warehouse from Hegemon, post some of the servants to guard it until we arrive and can settle the matter. Farewell. Year 29,Daisios 8, Pach[on 16?].
{Addressed:} To Zenon.
{Docketed:} Apollonios about theolive?-oil that has arrived from home. Year 29, Daisios 10, inAlexandria.
Maron toZenon greetings. If you are in good health and everything else is going according to your wishes, all is going as I would have it. I am in good health myself.Apollonios writes to me in his memorandum that the affairs of the constructions are in the hands of Diodoros and those concerning the land in the hands of Damis. The constructions are not yet finished, but the gathering of the crops, the cutting of brushwood, the planting of sesame, the firing, the planting of castor-oil {}are going on. All the expenses for the last operations go through the hands of Damis and Etearchos and their brother Sostratos, and the day-expense is sealed by them. But Diodoruscontradicts every day more than is reasonable makes difficulties all the time, but nevertheless the expense is registered daily. About the rest Jason and Panakestor himself, to whom I wish a happy arrival, will inform you. Be in good health. Year 29,Pachons 14.
{Addressed} To Zenon.
{Docketed} From Maron, about Diodoros and the constructions and about Damis and the land. Year 29,Daisios 14, inAlexandria.
From this letter and from other documents it appears that the business ofZenon and his friends inSyria, and in Egypt also, was largely commercial. But to what extent his work was official and to what extent he was engaged in private affairs, whether his own or those ofApollonios, is a question which we cannot yet attempt to examine.
Herakleitos to Zenon greeting. If you yourself are well, and the rest of your affairs are in order, that would be as we wish. We too are well, and we continue to think of you at every opportunity. Concerning the pony, we asked Nikanor to buy it for us. Since he did not comply, we were forced to buy a horse for 800drachmas and to brand it. The horsethat came from you has died and . . . Apollophanes also arrived in Syria, and when we travelled toMassyas we met him inSidon, and he told us that Krotos is inJoppa, with the intention of exporting . . . and mattresses. Then he said that he could not sail there at present, because he had been ordered by Dionysodoros to bring his baggage toHerakleia. He informed us too that those at home were all well. And Menekles ofTyre, he said, had brought some slaves and merchandise fromGaza to Tyre and landed them in Tyre for trans-shipment without notifying the Customs officers and without having a permit to export the slaves; and on learning this they had taken them from him. So Apollophanes coming to the aid of Menekles declared that the slaves and the merchandise were yours, and Menekles was obliged to back him up. I have written to you so that you can instruct Apollophanes not to register anything to your name, unless it seems helpful to you. Know that after much suffering we were grudgingly given a post in the month ofDaisios of year 29, because Nikanor treats us as one would treat an enemy. Please take care of your health. Farewell.
In the later months of 257 B.C. Panakestor, Zenon's predecessor at Philadelphia, was making an effort, under pressure from Apollonios, to cultivate as much of the estate as possible. When in want of seed for the various crops, he was accustomed to apply to Zoilos theoikonomos, who had evidently been instructed by Apollonios to assist him.
Zoilos to Panakestor greeting. We have written to Kraton to give you an order on thesitologos for the 100artabas of hay seed which Apollonios requested us to measure out to you. Send someone to him therefore to get the warrant and receive the seed. There is no arakos at our disposal in thenome, nevertheless we have written to our agents to inquire if there is any in private possession, in order that you may obtain it. And on your part send to the Memphite nome and inquire, and if it is on sale anywhere write to us, in order that we may send the money and that you may obtain and use it. Farewell. Year 29, Mesore 12.
{Addressed} To Panakestor.
{Docketed by sender} About hay seed.
{Docketed} Year 29, Mesore 16. Zoilos about hay seed.
Kleon was the chief engineer of the irrigation works in theArsinoite .
Panakestor to Kleon greeting. We sent you a letter on the 19th, asking you to provide us with a team to do maintenance on the bends of the small canal. Well, it seems that you have left us aside in going toward the Small Lake. Instead of avoiding us as you have done, your duty was to meet with us briefly, and having seen for yourself that the land is not being watered, to ask yourself why. Your job is not only to direct the infrastructure works in the region of the Small Lake, but also here. So, at least come meet us tomorrow at the lock and sketch out for us the path canal bends should take, for we do not have this experience. We will provide you with the labour and other facilities, whatever you command. But if you do not come, we will be obliged to write toApollonios that his land is the only land not to be irrigated in the region of the Lake. So, we are more than ready to make all needed facilities available for you. Farewell. Year 29,Mesore 21.
See M. Rostovtzeff, "A large estate in Egypt in the third century B.C.", pp.73-75 (archive.org ).
To Apollonios thedioeketes, the farmers from the Heliopolite nome, from the village of Philadelphos in the Arsinoitenome from your 10,000arouras, greetings. After you gave us 1,000 arouras out of the 10,000, which we worked and sowed, Damis took away from us 200(?)arouras and, when we protested, carried off three of our elders until he compelled them to sign a deed of renunciation. And although we were willing to move from the 1,000arouras, and asked him to bear with us only until we had cultivated and sown, he still refused, and allowed the land to remain unsown. There is also another scribe, an Egyptian, one of an evil tribe, who does not allow the city to be settled, but drives away those who are there. And there are not a few mistakes which have been made in the 10,000arouras, because there is no one with experience in agriculture. We therefore implore you, if it seems good to you, to call some of us in and listen to what we wish to tell you. For this is the twentieth day since our arrival. We wish . .. are unable, but we have spent whatever we had when we moved in. Farewell.
Following on from their previous petition to Apollonios (P.Lond. 1954), the farmers now appeal to theoikonomos Zoilos for further help.
To Zoilos greeting from the farmers out of theHeliopolitenome, from the village of Philadelphos, from the ten thousandarouras. This is the third petition which we have presented, because you are in charge of thenome. Furthermore Apollonios has spoken to you about us. Know therefore that we have suffered no small damage during our stay here, and Damis neglects us and takes no account. And as for the marsh in the land which ought to be cleared, he has prevented us, and now through him there is a risk of the land remaining unsown. We have therefore written to you so that you may know, and, if it seems good to you, introduce us to Apollonios; for there are certain things which we wish to report to him for his advantage. May you prosper.
Panakestor was at this timeApollonios' chief agent in the Fayoum and, likeZenon after him, was continually receiving written instructions from his master. The wood was probably required for house-building atPhiladelphia.
Apollonios to Panakestor greeting. Concerning the wood, we are not able to send you any, and you must proceed to buy up from your ownnome and send someone to theMemphite, as well as to theAphroditopolite andHerakleopolitenomes : and wherever else you can procure it, buy up as much as you need. Year 29,Hyperberetaios 20,Thoth 21.
{Addressed} To Panakestor.
{Docketed} 25thof the month ;about wood.
Panakestor to Kleitarchos and Andron greeting. Measure out to Nikeratos son of Protarchos as a loan for labour costs 20artabas of barley, and to Keleēsis son of Horos, Persian, as a loan, 10 artabas of barley and for seed 2 artabas of wheat, and to Patis son of Pais as a loan for labour costs 15 artabas of barley and for seed 3 artabas of wheat, and to Nikomachos son of Balakros,Macedonian, for seed 3 artabas of wheat. Farewell. Year 29,Thoth 25. Measure through Diodoros.
{Addressed:} To Kleitarchos and Andron.
{Docketed:} 25th. Grain accounts.
It seems probable that whenZenon superseded Panakestor as the chief representative ofApollonios atPhiladelphia, he took over the papers which he found in his office.
Apollonios to Panakestor greeting. We would have sent you a boat even before this, but we can see that there would be a great expense connected to the sailors. Therefore if you can givethe boat to those inKerkē, who can make use of it and maintain the sailors, and who can lendit to you when you have need of the boat, write toinform us and we will send it to you. Otherwise I do not see how we can continue to pay the sailors, if they are sittingidle for most of the time. Year 29,Hyperberetaios 23,Thoth 24.
{Addressed} To Panakestor.
{Docketed} Year 29,Phaophi 2. From Apollonios,concerning planting {sic}.
Although parts of this letter remain difficult to understand, it appears that Hierokles was worried that he would suffer disgrace, if it was thought that he had opened apalaestra because he was fond of young men, and so he wanted Ptolemaios to take charge of the palaestra instead; see D. Montserrat, "Sex and society in Graeco-Roman Egypt", pp.150-151 (Google Books ). Hierokles wrote a previous letter to Zenon (P.Lond. 1941 ), about a boy who had been sent to the palaestra for training.
Hierokles to Artemidoros, greetings. If you are healthy and it is otherwise well with you, that is good. I was very ill when I came down from the south; but now I am on the mend. AndEpharmostos and the men you sent are also healthy.
I wrote to you about Ptolemaios before . . . . . Now things will be bad with him unless you make an effort for him, just as it is right that those who have made promises should actually keep them. And Metrodoros is to blame for all this, for he answered those who approached him at court with regard to Ptolemaios with something like the following words: "As for me, I often made an effort on behalf of Ptolemaios before, for I knew nothing about the matter. But now, after learning what the matter is, I am opposed tohim for this reason." Apollonios spends most of his time in the , and Amyntas is away; he is married, and already has a child, so no suspicion can fall on him; therefore, the bow is drawn against me, since I remain in the house. For if the king hears that thepalaestra has been opened, I will be strongly suspected of having opened it because I am fond of youngmen. Therefore, I am also asking Amyntas to assist us, so that the palaestra is not opened. But now that Amyntas is also removed from me, I will have to leave the house, unless I can persuade Hegemon to write to Apollonios. We therefore request and beg you to make every effort to persuade Ptolemaios to take over thepalaestra. For we are convinced that everything will succeed if you wish it. And also this: you will not be overcome by a slave {Metrodorus?}, will you? And also write to Artemidorus, asking him to give the cloak to the boys, for he will not give it to us unless you write. And send us the boy you showed me, so that we can have him taught as well. Farewell. Year 29,Dios 19.
Another letter on the same subject as no. 59814. There is an interesting reference in line 3 to a festival at the Labyrinth, probably in honour of Pramarres or Poremanres, the deified Amenemhet III.
Zoilos to Panakestor greeting. We received the letter which you have written about the seed. Now at present our people from the nome are attending a festival at the Labyrinth, but as soon as they return we shall order them to search and when we have obtained as much as may be found we shall write to you in order that you may send a man to receive it. Send us also the men who are to take delivery of the timber. Farewell. Year 29, Phaophi 11.
{Addressed} To Panakestor.
{Docketed} Year 29, Phaophi 12. Zoilos about seed.
Written in a remarkably fine book hand.The author of the present letter was no doubt Artemidoros the physician, companion of Apollonios on many of his tours and author of nos. 59225 and 59251, which by the way are in a much more cursive hand. It was written shortly before Panakestor was superseded at Philadelphia by Zenon, who was at present residing at Memphis.
Artemidoros to Panakestor greeting. When I was coming from Boubastos to Memphis, Apollonios ordered me, if possible, to go across to you myself or, if not, to send one of my people to give you his instructions; for he had heard that the land forming the ten thousandarouras was not being sown all over. He bade me therefore tell you that it was all to be cleared of wood and irrigated and that, if possible, you were to sow the whole of it or, if not, that what you were unable to sow . . . was to be sown with sesame and that no portion of the land was to remain unworked. Since therefore I have not been able to come myself because of illness, I have sent you a written message in order that you may know and act accordingly. For his orders were to hire and put to work numerous . . . and after the sowers (?) men to hoe and hands to assist these. Do so therefore while it is still seed-time. I have also told Zenon and Artemidoros of Memphis, as Apollonios ordered me, that they are to supply you with as much copper as you need for this work. Arrange therefore to get it, for it will be given to you. They said [that they had already given] Maron 10.000drachmas. Farewell. Year 29, Apellaios 2.
{Addressed} To Panakestor. To Philadelphia.
{Docketed} Year 29, Athyr 9. Artemidoros.
Following years (256-252 B.C.) →
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