Get Social With Us

4CARE-ARTEFACTS

ARTEFACT IDENTIFIERS

Artefact ID1735
TM IDTM 34035
Findspot (DEChriM ID)-   ()
ClassTextual
MaterialPapyrus
Writing mediumSheet/roll
Text contentDocumentary
LanguageGreek
Description

CPR 8 52, SB 20 14226: Letter from Therpe to her father Theon 
Identified as being a join, P. Vindob. G 28579 (lines–1-10) supplements CPR VIII 52 with the first 8 cm of its sheet (28.5 x 8.5 cm). It had been folded once vertically, several times horizontally. The recipient, the sender’s father Theon, is greeted with great honors (Τῷ δεσπότῃ μου τῆ[ς] ψυχῆς μο[υ] ὡς ἀληθῶς τιμιωτάτῳ μου πατρὶ, line 1–3) and received well-wishes τῷ παντοκράτωρι θεῷ for his health (line 6); this phrasing is originally Jewish. Therpe is preparing for festivities, needing new ankle rings since hers have broken apart, and she reprimands her father since she has not received cakes, κονδῖτος (wine with spices) or money for the calends (τῶν Καλανδῶν, line 18). She also requires a dress made. The bottom 4 cm of the sheet are blank. The verso contains the address.

Selection criteriaChristian terms/formulas/concepts
Date from300
Date to499
Dating criteria

Palaeography; the ed.pr. dates it to the 4th/5th c.

Absolute/relative dateRelative date
Archaeological context

Unknown provenance

Accession number

Vienna, Nationalbibliothek G 25982 + G 28579

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Reference edition
• Paul, Michaela. 1992. “CPR VIII 52 komplettiert: Brief der Therpe an ihren Vater.” Analecta Papyrologica (APapyrol) 4: 75-78.

Editio princeps
• Sijpesteijn, Pieter J. and Klaas A. Worp. 1983. Corpus Papyrorum Raineri VIII, Griechische Texte V. Vienna: Brüder Hollinek. 132-134, No. 52

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. 237-238.
• Bagnall, Roger S. and Raffaella Cribiore. 2008. Women's Letters from Ancient Egypt, 300 BC–AD 800. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press. A17.12. [https://hdl.handle.net/2027/heb90014.0001.001]
• Choat, Malcolm. 2006. Belief and Cult in Fourth-Century Papyri. Studia Antiqua Australiensia 1. Turnhout: Brepols. 107n484.
• Rea, John R. 1988. “On the Greek Calends.” In Proceedings of the XVIII International Congress of Papyrology. Athens 25–31 May 1986. Volume 2, edited by Basil G. Mandilaras. Athens: Greek Papyrological Society. 203-208: 205-207.
• Rupprecht, Hans-Albert and Joachim Hengstl. 1997. Sammelband Griechischer Urkunden aus Ägypten. Zwanzigster Band. (Nr. 14069–15202). (SB 20). Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz. 114-115, No. 14226.
• Sijpesteijn, Pieter J. 1996. “Bemerkungen zu Papyri IX. <Korr. Tyche>. 207. CPR VIII 52 ‘reed.’” Tyche 11 (1996). 243-254: 244. [on line 10]
• Zdiarsky, Angelika. 2010. “Mit zarter Hand? Briefe von Frauen in Ägypten.” In Stimmen aus dem Wüstensand. Briefkultur im griechisch-römischen Ägypten, edited by Claudia Kreuzsaler, Bernard Palme and Angelika Zdiarsky. Nilus. Studien zur Kultur Ägyptens und des Vorderen Orients 17. Wien: Phoibos. 53-59: 55-56. 141-142, Kat.-Nr. 27.

Authors
Victoria G. D. Landau, 2023
Suggested citation
Victoria G. D. Landau, 2023, "Artefact ID 1735", 4CARE database - Fourth-Century Christian Archaeological Record of Egypt, https://4care-skos.mf.no/artefacts/1735
External links
Gallery