Extracted Text

Koine Greek

Βάσσῳ κουρ(άτορι) χα(ίρειν)·

λαβών σου τὸ ὄστρακον ἐπη-

ρώτησα τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους καὶ

ἀπεκρίθησάν μοι ἰδίῳ θα-

αι λειμῷ τεθνηκή-

ἀξιῶ ση

οὖν τὸ ἀκρει-

γην εἶχεν

ἐρρῶσθαί σ]ε εὐχόμεθα.

Latin

(*)

(*)

(*)

Translation into English

To Bassus, greetings from the curator.

Having taken your ostracon, I asked the elders and they answered me in my own way.

It is said that you have died in the meadow.

I therefore value your accuracy.

He had land.

I wish you to be strong.

Extracted Koine Greek Text

Βάσσῳ κουρ(άτορι) χα(ίρειν)·
[λαβ]ών σου τὸ ὄστρακον ἐπη-
[ρώτ]ησα τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους καὶ
[ἀπ]ε̣κρίθησάν μοι ἰδίῳ θα-
[...]
αι λειμῷ τεθνηκέ[ναι]
ἀ̣ξ̣ιῶ σε οὖν τὸ ἀκρει[βὲς]
[...] γην εἶχεν
[ἐρρῶσθαί σ]ε̣ ε̣[ὔ]χ̣ομαι.

English Translation

To Bassus, curator, greetings:
Having received your potsherd (ostracon), I questioned the elders,
and they answered me privately that [...]
[...] had died of hunger (or plague).
Therefore, I ask you for the exact [information] [...] he/she had land [...]
I pray that you are well.

Notes:

• "κουράτορι" (curatori) is a Greek transliteration of the Latin "curator," meaning "administrator" or "overseer."
• "ὄστρακον" (ostracon) refers to a potsherd used as a writing surface.
• "λειμός" (leimos) can mean "hunger" or "famine," but sometimes also "plague."
• The text is fragmentary; brackets indicate reconstructed or uncertain text.