4care-artefacts

Artefact ID	1627
TM ID	TM 33119
Findspot (DEChriM ID)	28 (al-Bahnasā)
Class	Textual
Material	Papyrus
Writing medium	Sheet/roll
Text content	Documentary
Language	Greek
Description	P.Oxy. LIX 3998, P.Oxy. 59 3998: Letter from Thonis to Syras and Kallinikos In this letter (15 x 25.5 cm), Thonis requires the help of the addressees (τοῖς κυρίοις μο[υ] τέκνοις, line 1-2), because he is expected on 20 Phamenoth by “the Oxyrhynchites”, an appointment he cannot keep because he has now come into dispute with the brother of “your sister Theodora’s husband”, who has recently died, requiring his presence. The second part of the letter discusses goods for which Syras has paid, but which she has not yet received. Some lines along the margin list the goods in question. The verso contains the address. Many familial terms in the letter are unclear; a possibility is that Syras is indeed Thonis’ biological daughter and Kallinikos her husband. The recipients are greeted with ἐν θεῷ κυρίῳ (line 2) and τῷ κυρίω θεῷ (line 5).
Selection criteria	Christian terms/formulas/concepts
Date from	300
Date to	399
Dating criteria	Palaeography
Absolute/relative date	Relative 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. 3998

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