| Artefact ID | 1122 |
| TM ID | TM 32645 |
| Findspot (DEChriM ID) | 28 (al-Bahnasā) | Class | Textual |
| Material | Papyrus |
| Writing medium | Sheet/roll |
| Text content | Documentary |
| Language | Greek |
| Description | P.Oxy. XXXIV 2729: Business letter. Long letter running on both sides of the papyrus, sent by Dioskourides to his lord brother Akileus, starting with greetings in the Lord and prayers to God for good health. In the first part of the letter, on the recto, he informs Akileus he sent him pots with money by boats – private ships but also "the ship of our bishop Theodoros, through Elias, the sailor". Then he asks that in return Akyleus would buy and send him more containers because he has to keep their storehouse. Finally, he asks also for cloth, garum and pickles and concludes with greetings. Unreliable spelling and grammar, new words and abbreviations make some details of the letter unclear. "God" abbreviated as nomen sacrum with supralinear stroke. Cursive handwriting running along the fibres, except for three lines written in the left margin of the recto from top to bottom. On the back, the letter goes on, also along the fibres (sheet turned 90°). After final greetings and blank space, the address, which was written the reverse way, starts with a cross or a staurogram.
Other sailors of the church in 4th c. papyri in P.Hamb. IV 267 and P.Münch. III 99. A bishop of Oxyrhynchos named Theodoros is mentioned in the 19th Festal Letter of Athanasius issued in 347, and in Marcellinus and Faustinus, Libellum precum 92-101 (Wayment and Blumell 2015: 544). |
| Selection criteria | Mention of Christian cult officials/institutions, Christian terms/formulas/concepts, Christian onomastics, Christian symbols/gestures/isopsephy, Nomina sacra |
| Date from | 350 |
| Date to | 355 |
| Dating criteria | Palaeographically dated 4th c. in ed. pr. Information given by weights and currency led Bagnall and Carré to suggests a date around 350-355 (see Bagnall 1985: 17; 45; 61 and Carrié 2003: 188). For a Theodoros, bishop, in Oxyrhynchos in c. 347-360, see Worp 1994: 303 and Wayment and Blumell 2015: 544. |
| Absolute/relative date | Relative date |
| Archaeological context | - |
| Accession number | Oxford, Sackler Library, Papyrology Rooms P. Oxy. 2729 |
ARTEFACT IDENTIFIERS
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