Get Social With Us

4CARE-ARTEFACTS

ARTEFACT IDENTIFIERS

Artefact ID1622
TM IDTM 33737
Findspot (DEChriM ID)28   (al-Bahnasā)
ClassTextual
MaterialPapyrus
Writing mediumSheet/roll
Text contentDocumentary
LanguageGreek
Description

P.Oxy. LV 3819, P.Oxy. 55 3819: Letter of condolence from Julius to Demetrios and Apollonia 
While the writer of this letter (15.5 x 17 cm, originally probably 25 cm in height) addresses the recipients as family members, these terms of endearments (father, mother, sister) may also be those of a friend of the family. Julius sends his condolences regarding the death of the mother, Sarapias, before seemingly moving on to another matter where the letter has broken off. The term κολλήγας (line 13) is rare in the papyri, and other uses indicate a connection to administration or the military. Mention of τῷ κυρίῳ θεῷ (line 10), where the writer also makes use of the verb δυνατεῖν, almost exclusively known from the Pauline Epistles. Some other aspects seem to imply Julius may have been a Christian (see Giannattasio Andria 1990).

Selection criteriaChristian terms/formulas/concepts
Date from300
Date to350
Dating criteria

Palaeography

Absolute/relative dateRelative date
Archaeological context

Found in al-Bahnasā (Oxyrhynchos) during the excavations of Bernard Grenfell and Arthur S. Hunt between 1896 and 1907.

Accession number

Oxford, Sackler Library, Papyrology Rooms P. Oxy. 3819

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Editio princeps
• Rea, John R. 1988. The Oxyrhynchus Papyri. Vol. LV (P. Oxy. LV). Graeco-Roman Memoirs 75. London: Egypt Exploration Society. 219-221, No. 3787.

Additional bibliography
• Chapa, Juan. 1998. Letters of Condolence in Greek Papyri. Papyrologica Florentina (Pap.Flor.) XXIX. Firenze: Edizioni Gonnelli. 125-130, No. 9. Plate IX.
• Giannattasio Andria, Rosa. 1990. "A proposito di ὁλοκληρία: "conversione" di un topos epistolare." in Contributi di filologia greca, Università degli Studi di Salerno. Quaderni del Dipartimento di Scienze dell'Antichità. Vol. 6: 137-141.

Authors
Victoria G. D. Landau, 2023
Suggested citation
Victoria G. D. Landau, 2023, "Artefact ID 1622", 4CARE database - Fourth-Century Christian Archaeological Record of Egypt, https://4care-skos.mf.no/artefacts/1622
Gallery