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ARTEFACT IDENTIFIERS

Artefact ID1560
TM IDTM 32723
Findspot (DEChriM ID)23   (al-Šayḫ ʿIbāda)
ClassTextual
MaterialPapyrus
Writing mediumSheet/roll
Text contentDocumentary
LanguageGreek
Description

P.Ant. 2 93: Letter from Papais to his future mother-in-law (?) Nonna
Papais writes a letter (27 x 9.2 cm) to Nonna, in the run-up to his wedding with Nonnas daughter (?). The recto contains 45 lines, while the verso addresses the letter to the house of an Antinous Marcus. In the letter, Papais expresses his respect to Nonna μετὰ γὰρ τὸν θεό(ν) and mentions an ἀναγνώστης Serenos. He outlines that he intends to live near Nonna with his bride after they are married, and asks for her assistance in arranging a residence, but if she disagrees and wishes them to move away, he will arrange a house with the help of his brother Cronius or elsewhere. Here the papyrus is damaged. The second part of the letter goes into detail regarding preparations for the upcoming wedding and ends with well-wishes.

Selection criteriaChristian terms/formulas/concepts, Christian onomastics
Date from300
Date to399
Dating criteria

Palaeography; dated Mesore 22nd.

Absolute/relative dateRelative date
Archaeological context

Excavations at al-Šayḫ ʿIbāda (Sheikh Abâda, ancient Antinoopolis), by John de Monins Johnson in Winter 1913/1914, funded by the Egypt Exploration Fund.

Accession number

Oxford, Sackler Library, Papyrology Rooms P. Ant. 93

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Editio princeps
• Barns, John W. B. and Henrik Zilliacus. 1960. The Antinoopolis Papyri. Part II. London: Egypt Exploration Society. 102-105, No. 93.

Additional bibliography
• Naldini, Mario. 1968. Il Cristianesimo in Egitto. Lettere private nei papiri dei secoli II-IV. Firenze: Le Monnier. 311-117, No. 80.
• Llewelyn, Stephen. 1994. “The εἰς (τὴν) οἰκίαν Formula and the Delivery of Letters to Third Persons or to their Property.” Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik (ZPE) 101. 71-78: 72-73.

Authors
Victoria G. D. Landau, 2023
Suggested citation
Victoria G. D. Landau, 2023, "Artefact ID 1560", 4CARE database - Fourth-Century Christian Archaeological Record of Egypt, https://4care-skos.mf.no/artefacts/1560
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