Λούκιος Αἰμίλλιος Ῥῆκτος λέγει· ἐπειδὴ τῇ ἀναγνώσει τῆς ἱεροτάτης καὶ εὐεργετικωτάτης ἰς τὴν πόλειν ἐπιστολῆς πᾶσα ἡ πόλεις παρατυχεῖν οὐκ ἠδυνηθην διὰ τὸ πλῆθος αὐτῆς, ἀνανκαῖον ἡγησάμην ἐκθεῖναι τὴν ἐπιστολὴν ἵνα κατʼ ἄνδρα ἕκαστον ἀναγεινοσκων αὐτὴν τήν τε μεγαλιότητα τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν Καίσαρος θαυμάσητε καὶ τῇ πρὸς τὴν πόλιν ⟦ομοια⟧ εὐνοίᾳ χάριν ἔχητε. (ἔτους) β Τιβερίου Κλαυδίου Καίσαρος Σεβαστοῦ Γερμανικοῦ Αὐτοκράτορος, μηνὸς Νέου Σεβαστοῦ ιδ.
Τιβέριος Κλαύδιος Καῖσαρ Σεβαστὸς Γερμανικὸς Αὐτοκράτωρ ἀρχιιερεὺς μέγειστος δημαρχικῆς ἐξουσίας ὕπατος ἀποδεδιγμένος Ἀλεξανδρέων τῇ πόλει χαίρειν. Τιβέριος Κλαύδιος Βάρβιλλος, Ἀπολλώνις Ἀρτεμιδώρου, Χαιρήμων Λεονίδου, Μᾶρκος Ἰούλιος Ἀσκληπιάδης, Γάιος Ἰούλιος Διονύσιο(ς), Τιβέριος Κλαύδιος Φανίας, Πασίων Ποτάμωνος, Διονύσιος Σαββίωνος Τιβέριος Κλαύδις Ἀπολλώνις Ἀρίστονος, Γάιος Ἰούλιος Ἀπολλώνιος, Ἑρμαίσκος Ἀπολλωνίου, ὑπρέσβεις ὑμῶν, ἀναδόντες μοι τὸ ψήφισμα πολλὰ περὶ τῆς πόλεως διεξῆλθον, ὑπαγόμενοί μοι δῆλον πρὸς τὴν εἰς ἡμᾶς εὔνοιαν ἣν ἐκ πολλῶν χρόνων, εὖ εἴστε, παρʼ ἐμοὶ τεταμιευμένην εἴχεται, φύσει μὲν εὐσεβεῖς περὶ τοὺς Σεβαστοὺς ὑπάρχοντες, ὡς ἐκ πολλῶν μοι γέγονε γνόριμον, ἐξερέτως δὲ περὶ τὸν ἐμὸν οἶκον καὶ σπουδάσαντες καὶ σπουδασθέντος, ὧν εἵνα τὸ τελευταῖον εἴπωι παρεὶς τὰ ἄλλα μέγειστός ἐστιν μάρτυς οὗμὸς ἀδελφὸς Γερμανικὸς Καῖσαρ γνησιωτέραις ὑμᾶς φωναῖς προσαγορεύσας· διόπερ ἡδέως προσεδεξάμην τὰς δοθείσας ὑφʼ ἡμῶν μοί τιμὰς καίπερ οὐκ ὢν πρὸς τὰ τοιαῦτα ῥαίδιος. καὶ προ͂τα μὲν Σεβαστὴν ὑμεῖν ἄγειν ἐπιτρέπωι τὴν ἐμὴν γενεθλείαν ὃν τρόπον αὐτοὶ προείρησθαι, τὰς τὲ ἑκατασ\σ/ταχοῦ τῶν ἀνδριάντων ἀναστάσεις ἐμοῦ τε καὶ τοῦ γένους μου ποιήσασθε συνχωρῶι· ἐγὼ ὁρῶι γὰρ <ὅτι> πάντῃ μνημεῖα τῆς ἡμετέρας εὐσεβείας εἰς τὸν ἐμὸν οἶκον ὑδροσασθαι σπουδασαται. τῶν δὲ δυοῖν χρυ[σῶ]ν ἀνδριάντων ὁ μὲν Κλαυδιανῆς Εἰρήνης Σεβαστῆς γενόμενος ὥςπερ ὑπέθετο καὶ προσελειπάρσησεν ὁ ⟦ ⟧ ἐμοὶ τιμ[ι]ώτ̣α̣τ̣ο̣ς̣ Βάρβιλ̣λ̣ο̣ς ἀρνουμένου μου διὰ τὸ φορτικὸτ̣ε̣[ρο]ς δ[οκ]εῖ[ν], ἐ̣π̣εὶ Ῥώ̣μ̣η̣ς ἀνατεθήσεται, ὁ δὲ ἕτερος ὃν τρόπον ὑμεῖς ἀξιοῦτε πομπεύσει ταῖς ἐπονύμαις ἡμέραις παρʼ ὑμῖν· συνπομπευέτωι δὲ ⟦και αυ⟧ αὐτῶι καὶ δίφρος ᾧ βούλεσθαι κόσμωι ἠσκημένος. εὐῆθες δʼ ἴσσως τοσαύτας προσ[ι]έμενον τειμὰς ἀρνήσασθαι φυλὴν Κλαυδιανὰν καταδῖξαι ἄλση · τε κατὰ νομὸν παρεῖναι τῆς Αἰγύπτου· διόπερ καὶ ταῦτά ⟦ημι̣ν̣⟧ θʼ ὑμεῖν ἐπιτρέπωι, εἰ δ̣ὲ̣ βούλεσθαι καὶ Οὐειτρασίου Πολείωνος τοῦ ἐμοῦ ἐπιτρόπου τοὺς ἐφίππους ἀνδριάντας ἀναστήσατε. τῶν δὲ τετραπώλων ἀναστάσε̣[ι]ς <ἃς περὶ τὰς εἰσ>βολὰς τῆς χώρας ἀφιδρῦσέ μοι βούλεσθαι συνχωρῶι τὸ μὲν περὶ τὴν Ταπόσιριν καλουμένην τῆς Λιβύης τὸ δὲ περὶ Φάρον τῆς Ἀλεξανδρείας τρίτον δὲ περὶ Πηλούσιον τῆς Αἰγύπτου στῆσαι, ἀρχιιερέα δʼ ἐμὸν καὶ ναῶν κατασκευὰς παρετοῦμε, οὔτε φορτι̣κὸς τοῖς κατʼ ἐμαυτὸν ἀνθρόποις βουλόμενος εἶναι τὰ ἱ̣ε̣ρ̣ὰ δὲ καὶ τὰ τοιαῦτα μόνοις τοῖς θεοῖς ἐξέρετα ὑπὸ τοῦ παντὸς αἰῶνος ἀποδεδόσθαι κρίν[ω]ν. περὶ δὲ τῶν αἰτηθ̣έ̣ν̣των ἃ παρʼ ἐμοῦ λαβεῖν ἐσπουδάκατε οὕτως γεινώσκωι· ἅπασι τοῖς ἐφηβευκώσει ἄχρει τῆς ἐμῆς ἡγεμονείας βαί⟦βον⟧βαιον διαφυλάσσωι τὴν Ἀλεξανδρέων πολειτείαν ἐπὶ τοῖς τῆς πόλεως τειμείοις καὶ φιλανθρόποις πᾶσει πλὴν εἰ μή τινε̣ς ὑπῆλθον ὑμᾶς ὡς ἐγ δού̣λ̣ων γ[ε]γ̣ονότες ἐφηβεῦ\σαι̣⟦ ⟧, καὶ τὰ ἄλλα δὲ οὐχ ἧσσον εἶ̣ν̣α̣ι βούλομε β̣έ̣βαια πάνθʼ ὅσα ὑμεῖν ἐχαρίσθη ὑπό τε τῶν π̣ρ̣ὸ ἐμοῦ ἡγεμόνων καὶ τῶν βασιλέων καὶ τῶν ἐπάρχων, ὡς καὶ [ὁ] θεὸς Σεβαστὸς ἐβεβαίωσε.
τοὺς δὲ νεοκόρους τοῦ ἐν Ἀλεξανδρείᾳ ναοῦ ὅς ἐστιν τοῦ θεοῦ Σεβαστοῦ κληροτοὺς εἶναι βούλομε καθὰ καὶ ὑ ἐν Κανόπωι τοῦ αὐτοῦ θεοῦ Σεβαστοῦ κληροῦνται. ὑπὲρ δὲ τοῦ τὰς πολει-τεικάς ἀρχὰς τριετῖ̣ς εἶναι καὶ πάν<υ> ἐμοὶ ⟦υ⟧ καλῶς βεβουλεῦσθαι δοκεῖται, ὑ γὰρ <ἄρ>χοντες φώβωι τοῦ δώσειν εὐθύνας ὧν κακῶς ἦρξαν μετριώτεροι ἡμεῖν προσενεκθήσονται τὸν ἐν ταῖς ἀρχαῖς χρόνον. περὶ δὲ τῆς βουλῆς ὅ τι μέν ποτε σύνηθες ὑμ̣εῖν ἐπὶ τῶν ἀρχαίων βασιλέων οὐκ ἔχωι λέγειν, ὅτι δὲ ἐπὶ τῶν πρὸ ἐμοῦ Σεβαστῶν οὐκ εἴχεται σαφῶς οἴδατε. καινοῦ δὴ πράγματος νῦν προ͂των καταβαλλομένου ὅπερ ἄδηλον εἰ συνοίσει τῇ πόλει καὶ τοῖς ἐμοῖς πράγμασει ἔγραψα Αἰμιλλίωι Ῥήκτωι διασκέψασθαι καὶ δηλῶσέ μοι εἴ ται καὶ συνείστασθαι τὴν ἀρχὴν δεῖ, τόν τε τρόπον, εἴπερ ἄρα συνάγειν δέυ, καθʼ ὃν γενήσεται τοῦτο. τῆς δὲ πρὸς Ἰουδαίους ταραχῆς καὶ στάσεως μᾶλλον δʼ εἰ χρὴ τὸ ἀληθὲς εἰπεῖν τοῦ πολέμου πότεροι μὲν αἴτιοι κατέστησαν καίπερ ἐξ ἀντικαταστάσεως πολλὰ τῶν ἡμετέρων πρέσβεων φιλοτειμηθέντων καὶ μάλιστα Διονυσίου τοῦ Θέων[ο]ς ὅμως οὐκ ἐβουλήθην ἀκριβῶς ἐξελένξαι, ταμιευόμενος ἐμ̣αυτῶι κατὰ τῶν πάλειν ἀρξαμένων ὀργὴν ἀμεταμέλητον· ἁπλῶς δὲ προσαγορεύωι ὅτι ἂν μὴ καταπαύσηται τὴν ὀλέθριον ὀργὴν ταύτην κατʼ ἀλλήλων αὐθάδιον ἐγβιασθήσομαι δῖξαι ὗόν ἐστιν ἡγεμὼν φιλάνθροπος εἰς ὀργὴν δικαίαν μεταβεβλημένος. διόπερ ἔτι καὶ νῦν διαμαρτύρομε εἵνα Ἀλεξανδρεῖς μὲν πραέως καὶ φιλανθρόπως προσφέροντε Ἰουδαίος τοῖς τὴν αὐτὴν πόλειν ἐκ πολλῶν χρόνων οἰκοῦσει καὶ μηδὲν τῶν πρὸς θρησκείαν αὐτοῖς νενομισμένων τοῦ θεοῦ λοιμένωνται ἀλλὰ ἐῶσιν αὐτοὺς τοῖς ἔθεσιν χρῆσθαι ὗς καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ θεοῦ Σεβαστοῦ, ἅπερ καὶ ἐγὼ διακούσας ἀμφοτέρων ἐβεβαίωσα· καὶ Ἰουδέοις δὲ ἄντικρυς κελεύωι μηδὲν πλήωι ὧν πρότερον ἔσχον περιεργάζεσθαι μηδὲ ὥσπερ ἐν δυσεὶ πόλεσειν κατοικοῦντας δύο πρεσβείας ἐκπέμπειν τοῦ λοιποῦ, ὣ μὴ πρότερόν ποτε ἐπράκθη, μηδὲ ἐπισπαί̣ρ̣ε̣ιν γυμνασιαρχικοῖς ἢ κοσμητικοῖς ἀγῶσει, καρπουμένους μὲν τὰ οἰκῖα ἀπολάοντας δὲ ἐν ἀλλοτρίᾳ πόλει περιουσίας ἁπάντων ἀγαθῶν, μηδὲ ἐπάγεσθαι ἢ προσείεσθαι ἀπὸ Συρίας ἢ Αἰγύπτου καταπλέοντας Ἰουδαίους ἐξ οὗ μείζονας ὑπονοίας ἀνανκασθήσομε λαμβάνειν· εἰ δὲ μή, πάντα τρόπον αὐτοὺς ἐπεξελεύσομαι καθάπερ κοινήν τῆς οἰκουμένης νόσον ἐξεγείροντας. ἐὰν τούτων ἀποστάντες ἀμφότεροι μετὰ πρα̣ότητος καὶ φιλανθροπείας τῆς πρὸς ἀλλήλους ζῆν ἐθελήσητε καὶ ἐγὼ πρόνοιαν τῆς πόλεως ποήσομαι τὴν ἀνατατωι καθάπερ ἐκ προγόνων οἰκίας ὑμῖν ὑπαρχούσης. Βαρβίλλωι τῶι ἐμῶι ἑτέρωι μαρτυρῶι ἀεὶ πρόνοια[ν] ἡμῶν παρʼ ἐμοὶ ποιουμένωι, ὃς καὶ νῦν πάσηι φιλο-τειμείᾳ περὶ των ἀγο͂να τὸν ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν κέχρ[ητε], καὶ Τιβερίωι Κλαυδίωι Ἀρχιβίωι τῶι ἐμῶι ἑτέ[ρωι]. ἔρρωσθαι.
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Lucius Aemilius Rectus says: Since, upon the reading of the most sacred and most beneficent letter to the city, all the city was unable to attend due to its multitude, I deemed it necessary to set forth the letter so that each man may read it, that you may marvel at the greatness of our god Caesar and that you may have gratitude for the goodwill towards the city. (Year) 2 of Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, month of New Augustus.
Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, chief priest, greatest of the municipal authority, consul designated, greetings to the city of Alexandria. Tiberius Claudius Barbillus, Apollonian Artemidorus, Chairemon son of Leonidas, Marcus Julius Asclepiades, Gaius Julius Dionysius, Tiberius Claudius Phanias, Pasios son of Potamon, Dionysius son of Sabbius, Tiberius Claudius Apollonian Aristonus, Gaius Julius Apollonios, Hermais son of Apollonios, your ambassadors, having presented to me the decree, have gone through many matters concerning the city, making it clear to me regarding the goodwill towards us which has been well preserved by me for many years, as you know, and is held by me in good faith, being naturally pious towards the August Ones, as has become known to me from many, and having inquired especially about my house and having been diligent and diligent in their inquiries, so that I may say in conclusion that the greatest witness is my brother Germanicus Caesar, having addressed you with genuine voices; therefore, I gladly accepted the honors given to me by us, although I am not inclined towards such things. And first, I permit you to lead the August Ones to my birthday in the manner that you yourselves have previously stated, and to make the statues of me and my family. For I see that everywhere monuments of our piety are being erected in my house. Of the two golden statues, the one of Claudia Peace, having been established as he proposed and having been left to me as the most honorable, Barbillus, denying me due to the greater burden, since Rome will be exalted, the other, as you deem worthy, will be led in procession on your appointed days; let him also be accompanied by a chair, as you wish, arranged in decorum. It is perhaps foolish to refuse such honors to the Claudian tribe; let it be shown that according to the law, it is necessary to be present in Egypt; therefore, I also entrust these matters to you, if you wish, to erect the equestrian statues of my steward, Oueitrasios. As for the statues of the four-footed animals, which concern the entrances of the land, I wish to be allowed to erect them, the one concerning the Taposiris called of Libya, the one concerning Pharos of Alexandria, and the third concerning Pelusium of Egypt, I will provide for my chief priest and the construction of temples, neither wishing to be burdensome to those under my authority nor to have the sacred things and such things be given only to the gods, to be judged by the whole age. As for the requests made to me, I know that you have diligently sought to receive them; to all those who have reached the age of majority, I will preserve the citizenship of Alexandria for you in all matters concerning the city and the benefactors, unless some of you have come to you as if they were slaves, and all other matters are no less than what I wish to be firm, all that has been granted to you by the former governors and kings and prefects, as the god Augustus has confirmed.
As for the temple attendants of the temple in Alexandria, which is of the god Augustus, we wish them to be heirs as they are in Canopus of the same god. Moreover, concerning the municipal offices, it seems good to me that they should be for three years, for you, the rulers, are more moderate in giving the responsibilities which they have begun badly. As for the council, I have nothing to say about what was customary for you under the ancient kings, but you know clearly that it was not the case under the August Ones before me. Now, as a new matter is being proposed, which is unclear whether it will be beneficial to the city and my affairs, I have written to Aemilius Rectus to consider and make clear to me whether it is necessary to establish the authority, and in what manner, if it is to be gathered. As for the disturbance and strife against the Jews, rather, if it is necessary to speak the truth of the war, whether they were the cause, although many of our ambassadors have been honored, especially Dionysius son of Theon, nevertheless, I did not wish to examine it closely, being cautious of the anger that has arisen against the former. Simply, I declare that if this destructive anger does not cease against one another, I will be compelled to show who is a benevolent leader, transformed into just anger. Therefore, even now I testify that the Alexandrians should offer kindly and humanely to the Jews who have inhabited the same city for many years and that none of the things concerning their religion should be disturbed by the god, but let them be allowed to use their customs and also concerning the god Augustus, which I have confirmed after hearing both sides; and to the Jews, I command directly that they should not meddle with anything that they previously possessed, nor as if they were in two difficult cities, sending out two embassies from now on, so that nothing was ever done before, nor to be involved in gymnastic or decorative contests, enjoying their own possessions but losing everything in a foreign city, nor to bring or to be brought from Syria or Egypt, Jews sailing from where greater suspicions will compel them to take; if not, in every way I will pursue them as if they were raising a common plague of the inhabited world. If, having departed from these things, both of you wish to live with gentleness and humanity towards one another, I will take care of the city, as it has been from the ancestors of your house.
To Barbillus, my other friend, I always testify that I am taking care of our affairs, who even now with all kindness concerning the contest you have undertaken, and to Tiberius Claudius Archibius, my other friend. Farewell.