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ARTEFACT IDENTIFIERS

Artefact ID1660
TM IDTM 32835
Findspot (DEChriM ID)28   (al-Bahnasā)
ClassTextual
MaterialPapyrus
Writing mediumSheet/roll
Text contentDocumentary
LanguageGreek
Description

P.Oxy. XVII 2154, P.Oxy. 17 2154: Letter from Heraklides to Heras 
In this letter (25.1 x 16.2 cm) on urgent business, the recipient Heras is addressed as κυρίῳ μου ἀδελφῷ (line 1). The author Heraklides implores him to send Antinous and more importantly his money (16 talents and 4000 drachmae), a carpenter Porit (whose brother has just (?) died), workmen, clerks, σίππια for τὸ ἱερὸν ἀναβολικὸν (line 19-20) and wool. He requires this the very same day, otherwise he particularly fears νὴ τὸν θεὸν (line 14) being imprisoned in the Temple of Hadrian if his affairs are not in order, since he has had to purchase wool at a high price (?). Mention of people from Paomis, a praepositus Kopreus, and Potammon, a soldier of the procurator as well as Teiras, whom Heras should send to Heraklides. 

Selection criteriaChristian terms/formulas/concepts
Date from300
Date to399
Dating criteria

Palaeography

Absolute/relative dateRelative date
Archaeological context

Found in al-Bahnasā3 (Oxyrhynchos) during the excavations of Bernard Grenfell and Arthur S. Hunt between 1896 and 1907.

Accession number

Oxford, Sackler Library, Papyrology Rooms P. Oxy. 2154 (now lost, see Coles 1974)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Editio princeps
• Hunt, Arthur S. 1927. The Oxyrhynchus Papyri. Part XVII (P. Oxy. XVII). London: Egypt Exploration Society. 272-274, No. 2154.

Authors
Victoria G. D. Landau, 2023
Suggested citation
Victoria G. D. Landau, 2023, "Artefact ID 1660", 4CARE database - Fourth-Century Christian Archaeological Record of Egypt, https://4care-skos.mf.no/artefacts/1660
External links
Gallery