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ARTEFACT IDENTIFIERS

Artefact ID1727
TM IDTM 32936
Findspot (DEChriM ID)-   ()
ClassTextual
MaterialPapyrus
Writing mediumSheet/roll
Text contentDocumentary
LanguageGreek
Description

SB 14 11588: Letter from Aria to her son Dorotheos 
This sheet (11.5 x 25.5 cm) is missing its upper right corner. It had been folded thrice vertically, with two lines of writing within the folds, once horizontally, and contains the letter of Aria to κύριέ μου υἰὲ (line 1) Dorotheos, son of Philip. She uses the well-wishes θεία προ[ν]οίᾳ παρὰ τῷ θε(ῷ) (line 3–4). The letter recounts a number of transactions which have (not) taken place, including a leukantes (“linen bleacher”, line 17) and Dorotheos’ sister Maria (line 19), leaving her in need of money. An orphaned foster child (?) appears to be living with Aria, which further increases her current expenses (see Bergamasco 2006 for the possibility of this being an apprentice). Aria ends with a reproach to Dorotheos for having neglected her (θαυμάζω πο͂ς ἠμέλησάς μου, line 31).

Selection criteriaChristian terms/formulas/concepts, Christian onomastics
Date from375
Date to399
Dating criteria

Palaeography; the ed.pr. notes similarities to P.Graec.Berol. 39 (372 CE)

Absolute/relative dateRelative date
Archaeological context

Unknown provenance; purchased in Egypt by Bernard P. Grenfell and Francis W. Kelsey in March/April 1920

Accession number

Ann Arbor, Michigan University, Library P. 337

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Editio princeps
• Youtie, Herbert C. 1976. “P.Mich.inv. 337: ΛΕΥΚΑΝΤΗΣ.” Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik (ZPE) 22: 63-68.

Additional bibliography
• Bagnall, Roger S. and Raffaella Cribiore. 2006. Women's Letters from Ancient Egypt, 300 BC–AD 800. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. 302-303.
• Bagnall, Roger S. and Raffaella Cribiore. 2008. Women's Letters from Ancient Egypt, 300 BC–AD 800. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. B2.18. [https://hdl.handle.net/2027/heb90014.0001.001]
• Bergamasco, Marco. 2006. “Orfani e ‘Didaskalikai’: Il Caso di SB XIV 11588.” Studi di egittologia e papirologia (SEP) 3: 55-59.
• Choat, Malcolm. 2006. Belief and Cult in Fourth-Century Papyri. Studia Antiqua Australiensia 1. Turnhout: Brepols. 84n355.
• Rupprecht, Hans-Albert and Joachim Hengstl. 1983. Sammelband Griechischer Urkunden aus Ägypten. Vierzehnter Band. Erstes Heft. (Nr. 11264–11594). (SB 14). Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz. 184-185, No. 11588.
• Winter, John Garrett. 1933. Life and Letters in the Papyri. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. 59.
• Winter, John Garrett. 1941. “Another Instance of ὀρθοποδεῖν.” Harvard Theological Review (HTR) 34(2): 161–162.

Authors
Victoria G. D. Landau, 2023
Suggested citation
Victoria G. D. Landau, 2023, "Artefact ID 1727", 4CARE database - Fourth-Century Christian Archaeological Record of Egypt, https://4care-skos.mf.no/artefacts/1727
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