Extracted Text

Koine Greek

τῶι δεσπότηι μου

Σαραπίωνι

[Ἀ]ν̣ατόλιος

χαί̣ρ̣[ε]ι̣ν.

οἶσθα ὡς εὔχομαι, κύρ[ιέ] μου, καὶ κατʼ ὄψιν σε θεά- σασθαι καὶ προσειπεῖν̣, ἅ

τε προστάτην ὄντα ἐ-

μὸν καὶ προστατῶν τὸν ἀξιάγαστον· πολλά- κις γοῦν προθυμούμενόν με καὶ ἐν ἔργωι, τῆς ὥς σε ἀφείξεως̣

[ἐ]πεῖχον

προφάσεις ἀπα- ραίτητοι, ἔνθεν μ̣[ὲ]ν τῶν θ̣υγατέρων αἱ νόσοι· ταύτας γάρ μ̣[οι] θεῶν τις παρέσχε κατʼ ἐπήρειαν, ἃς [λ]ύσειεν ὅμως· ἔνθεν δὲ τῆς θρησκείας τοῦ φ̣υλάττοντος θε[ο]ῦ Ἑρμοῦ τὸ ἀπαραίτητον· [ἐ]ν̣ ὁ

(*) δῶι (*) τοιγαρο[ῦν] ἤ- μην (*) καὶ νῦν κα̣[λ]ὴν καὶ ἁρμόττ[ουσ]αν τῷ σῶι ἀπαρα̣[ι]τ̣ήτωι ἤ̣[θ]ει συν[οδί]αν (*) ἔχων, ἀποδη̣[μεῖν] μέλλο̣[ν]τος (*) τ̣[οῦ] κ̣υ̣ρί- [ο]υ μου ἀ̣δ̣ελ̣[φοῦ Θε]ο̣φάνο̣[υς] τοῦ [σοφ]οῦ (*) ὧι θαρ̣[ρ]ῶ̣ [ ̣  ̣  ̣  ̣  ̣ ] ̣  ̣ πολ[ ̣  ̣  ̣ ]ωδ̣[ ̣  ̣  ̣  ̣  ̣ ] ̣ παν- ταχο̣ῦ̣ [ ̣  ̣  ̣  ̣  ̣ ] ̣ [δε]σποτη (*) [ ̣  ̣  ̣  ̣ ] ̣ ελ̣[ ̣ ]ρ̣[ ̣ ] ̣  ̣ τ̣ι ̣ εως̣ α̣[ ̣  ̣  ̣ ]σ̣χε[ ̣  ̣ ] τ̣ῆς θρη[σ]κ̣είας [τ]ῆς ἱε- ρομην̣[ί]α̣ς τοῦ Φ[αρ]μοῦθι ἐνστάσης, ἐν ὧ (*) ι πολλαὶ καὶ συνεχ̣[εῖς] κατὰ λ̣όγον κω̣μασίαι γίγνονται, αἷς παρ̣[εῖ]ναι ἀνα̣γκαῖον κατʼ ἀμ- φότερα, κατά τε τ[ὴ]ν περὶ τὸ θεῖον θερα- πείαν καὶ τὸ κατὰ καιρὸν ἔχειν τὸν ἄ- ριστον τῶν εὐχῶ[ν] τῶν ὑπὲρ τῆς σῆς ὑγιείας τε καὶ δόξης. ἥξω [δ]ὲ θεῶν συνεργού̣ντω̣ν καὶ τὸ δύνασθ̣[αι π]αρεχόντων μ[ετὰ] τὸν [τ]ῆς θρησκεία[ς (*) Φ]αρμοῦθι καιρ[όν. ε]ὐ̣δ̣αι- μο[νο]ί̣ης διʼ ὅλου, κύρ[ι]έ̣ μου, καὶ̣ θεοὶ̣ δ̣οῖεν ὅσα (*) σοι προσφιλῆ̣ (*) .

Latin

tῶι [δε]σ̣π̣ό̣τ̣η̣ι̣ Σ̣α̣ρ̣α̣π̣ί̣ω̣ν̣ι̣ Ἀν̣α̣τ̣ό̣λ̣ι̣[ος

Translation

To my lord Sarapion, Anatalios greets you. You know how I wish to see you and speak to you, both as my protector and as one who protects the worthy. Indeed, I often desire to be with you in action, as I have been in your favor. I have necessary excuses, for the illnesses of my daughters; for some god has granted these to me by influence, which I hope will be resolved. Furthermore, the essential part of the worship of the guarding god Hermes is that I was in this house and now I have a good and fitting arrangement with the indispensable one, having a journey planned for my brother Theophanus, the wise one, in whom I trust. Everywhere, my lord, may the gods grant you whatever is dear to you.

Koine Greek Text

τῶι δεσπότηι μου
Σαραπίωνι
[Ἀ]ν̣ατόλιος
χαί̣ρ̣[ε]ι̣ν.
οἶσθα ὡς εὔχομαι, κύρ[ιέ] μου, καὶ κατʼ ὄψιν σε θεάσασθαι καὶ προσειπεῖν̣, ἅτε προστάτην ὄντα ἐμὸν καὶ προστατῶν τὸν ἀξιάγαστον· πολλάκις γοῦν προθυμούμενόν με καὶ ἐν ἔργωι, τῆς ὥς σε ἀφείξεως̣ ἐπεῖχον προφάσεις ἀπαραίτητοι, ἔνθεν μ̣[ὲ]ν τῶν θ̣υγατέρων αἱ νόσοι· ταύτας γάρ μ̣[οι] θεῶν τις παρέσχε κατʼ ἐπήρειαν, ἃς [λ]ύσειεν ὅμως· ἔνθεν δὲ τῆς θρησκείας τοῦ φ̣υλάττοντος θε[ο]ῦ Ἑρμοῦ τὸ ἀπαραίτητον· ἐν ὁδῶι τοιγαροῦν ἤμην καὶ νῦν κα̣[λ]ὴν καὶ ἁρμόττ[ουσ]αν τῷ σῶι ἀπαρα̣[ι]τ̣ήτωι ἤ̣[θ]ει συν[οδί]αν ἔχων, ἀποδη̣[μεῖν] μέλλο̣[ν]τος τ̣[οῦ] κ̣υ̣ρί[ο]υ μου ἀ̣δ̣ελ̣[φοῦ Θε]ο̣φάνο̣[υς] τοῦ [σοφ]οῦ ὧι θαρ̣[ρ]ῶ̣ [...] πανταχο̣ῦ̣ [...] [δε]σποτη [...] τ̣ῆς θρη[σ]κ̣είας [τ]ῆς ἱερομην̣[ί]α̣ς τοῦ Φ[αρ]μοῦθι ἐνστάσης, ἐν ὧι πολλαὶ καὶ συνεχ̣[εῖς] κατὰ λ̣όγον κω̣μασίαι γίγνονται, αἷς παρ̣[εῖ]ναι ἀνα̣γκαῖον κατʼ ἀμφότερα, κατά τε τ[ὴ]ν περὶ τὸ θεῖον θεραπείαν καὶ τὸ κατὰ καιρὸν ἔχειν τὸν ἄριστον τῶν εὐχῶ[ν] τῶν ὑπὲρ τῆς σῆς ὑγιείας τε καὶ δόξης. ἥξω [δ]ὲ θεῶν συνεργού̣ντω̣ν καὶ τὸ δύνασθ̣[αι π]αρεχόντων μ[ετὰ] τὸν [τ]ῆς θρησκεία[ς Φ]αρμοῦθι καιρ[όν. ε]ὐ̣δ̣αιμο[νο]ί̣ης διʼ ὅλου, κύρ[ι]έ̣ μου, καὶ̣ θεοὶ̣ δ̣οῖεν ὅσα σοι προσφιλῆ̣.

English Translation

To my master Sarapion,
Anatolios sends greetings.
You know, my lord, how much I desire both to see you face-to-face and to greet you, since you are my protector and a most honorable patron. Indeed, many times I have eagerly intended to do so in practice, but unavoidable hindrances have prevented my coming to you. On the one hand, there were the illnesses of my daughters—these, indeed, some deity has sent upon me as a trial, though may he yet release them. On the other hand, there was the unavoidable obligation of the religious observance of the guardian god Hermes. Thus, I was on my way, and even now I have good and suitable company, fitting your noble character, as my lord and brother Theophanes the wise is about to travel, in whom I have confidence everywhere. But now, since the sacred festival of Pharmouthi has arrived, during which many and continuous celebrations duly take place, it is necessary for me to attend these, both for the sake of divine worship and to have the best opportunity to offer prayers for your health and glory. I shall come, gods willing and granting me the ability, after the time of the religious festival of Pharmouthi. May you prosper in every way, my lord, and may the gods grant you all that is dear to you.