4care-artefacts

Artefact ID	1628
TM ID	TM 33120
Findspot (DEChriM ID)	28 (al-Bahnasā)
Class	Textual
Material	Papyrus
Writing medium	Sheet/roll
Text content	Documentary
Language	Greek
Description	P.Oxy. LIX 3999, P.Oxy. 59 3999: Letter from Aphous to Heraklammon The letter (12.5 x 25 cm) recounts the actions of Aphous, who has been attempting to collect the debt a Didymos owes Heraklammon, the recipient of the letter. He first approached Didymos’ brother Dioskoros, who claimed not to know his whereabouts, and has now finally found him the day before writing. Heraklammon is asked to come in person to collect the debt from Didymos. The letter had been bound, with a pattern drawn in ink over the binding, ensuring the rolled papyrus could not be opened unnoticed. Heraklammon is addressed as τῷ κυρίῳ μου ἀδελφῷ (line 1), and Aphous prays for the recipient’s health παρὰ τῷ κυρίῳ θεῷ (line 3).
Selection criteria	Christian terms/formulas/concepts
Date from	300
Date to	350
Dating criteria	Palaeography; the letter is dated 25 Pharmouthi.
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. 3999

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