Human stories from Papyri: a complaining servant, a cheating pharmacist & a tyrannical elder

Three cases of the greek papyri at the British Library, that depict some aspects of human life. A hungry servant complaining to his master [p.lond.2.144; BL Papyrus 144], a medicine order with a reminder about product quality [p.lond.2.356; BL Papyrus 356], & a petition against a bossy, tyrannic local elder [p.lond.2.342; BL Papyrus 342].

Master don't forget me, please || BL Papyrus 144, P.Lond. 2 144, Roman Egypt [Arsinoite?], 2nd-3rd c. CE.

An unusual letter on papyrus from a servant to his master; asking for supplies as he hasn't moved & been fed for 2 days. Perhaps somehow humorous on a spot.

fig.01: BL Papyrus 144 in British Library 

Text 01: P.Lond. 2 144, from https://papyri.info/ddbdp/p.lond;2;144

χαίροις κύριέ μου Ἀθηνόδωρε Ἀλέξανδρός σε ἀσπάζομαι. παρακαλῶ νωθρευσαμένου μου καὶ ἀσειτήσαντος ἡμέρας δύο ὥστε με μετὰ τῶν νομαρχῶν [5] μηδὲ συνδιπνῆσαι ἐξαιρέτως(*a) καὶ τοῦ παιδαρίου μου ἀπὸ τοῦ Ἀρσι- νοίτου ἀσθήσαντος μέχρι σήμε- [ρον μετὰ τῶν] ἐπιτηδείων μοι μὴ παρόν[τος διὸ] παρακαλῶ προνο- [10] ῆσαι ὀνάρ[ιον] ἵνα δυνηθῇ τὸ παι-  δάριον μου ἐλθεῖν πρό[ς μ]ε με- τὰ τῶν ἐπιτηδείων δέομαι οὖν κύριέ μου μὴ ἀφεῖναι με ἐπὶ ξένης ἀδιαφορηθῆναι [15]

Let be cheerful, my lord Athenodoros, I greet you, Alexandros. I urge you, since I have been inactive and unfed for two days, so that I didn't exceptionally dine with the nomarchs, and since my little boy(*1), being sick, hasn't shown up from Arsinoite till today with the necessaries for me; for this I urge you to provide a little donkey(*2), so that my little boy will be able to come to me with the necessaries. So I beg you my lord not letting me suffer by your indifference on a foreign land.

The most strange point in this letter is the phrase "... so that I didn't exceptionally dine with the nomarchs". A weird expression. The nomarchs were provincial governors since ancient Egypt, and preserved under Roman rule. They were responsible for a nome [as Arsinoite was]. I can't be sure about the exact meaning, but I perceived it more possibly as humorous, something like: 'I'm stuck here that I even missed the dinner with the president'. An other possibility could be an excuse for missing an appointment; but rather unlikely, a hungry-miserable servant actually dining with the nomarchs.

This curiosity has been already noted by Kenyon [1898 II, p. 253]. Nevertheless he adds: "The writer was perhaps out in the desert, and the nomarchs seem to have been the officials who superintended the transport of goods from one village to another". But in any case his suggested meaning agrees with the aforesaid: 'so that I did not even dine with the nomarchs'.

Notes:

(*1): παιδάριον could mean 'little boy' or 'young slave'. The writer Alexandros uses the possessive 'my'. We can't know the exact relationship between them, but he seems either 'son' or 'assistant'.

(*2): ὀνάριον = little donkey. The papyrus is damaged at this spot, and it couldn't be read correctly from the beginning. Kenyon [1898, p. 253] read at first 'ὁ παι..'. But already since 1922 seems corrected, see Preisigke [1922, p. 266]. Possibly cause of recognition of one letter ['ν' instead of 'π'].

Syntax text note:

(*a): The syntax concerned me a lot. Cause in this sentence we have a main verb ['παρακαλῶ'], two participles in genitive absolute ['νωθρευσαμένου... ἀσειτήσαντος'] and a consecutive clause with infinitive ['ὥστε... μηδὲ συνδιπνῆσαι'], all with the same subject 'I', but in different cases. And this exceptional syntax doesn't help to decide at first sight which verbal type governs which, with a reflection for the possible meanings. It's obvious that the subject of the infinitive is declared emphatically in the accusative case ['με'], and this makes possible that the consecutive clause could be dependant either from the main verb ['παρακαλῶ'], or the two genitive absolutes ['νωθρευσαμένου... ἀσειτήσαντος'].

In the first case, the consecutive clause would seem more like a threat; i.e. 'I urge you... so that I won't dine with the nomarchs' [snitch]. In the second case [that I prefer] it's like 'I'm unfed and stuck here, so that I missed the dinner with the nomarchs'. Something that also Kenyon indicates with his suggested meaning.

I'm choosing this version as more possible due to the structure-sequence of the sentence and its terms. Specifically because the consecutive clause in question lies in between two equivalent participles dependant from the main verb [i.e. the sequence: a. main verb ['παρακαλῶ'], b. two genitive absolutes ['νωθρευσαμένου... ἀσειτήσαντος'] dependant from the main verb, c. the consecutive clause-infinitive in question ['ὥστε... μηδὲ συνδιπνῆσαι'], d. a third genitive absolute ['μὴ παρόν|τος'] dependant again from the main verb, e. a repetition of the main verb so to be expressed the object. Its placement makes more possible its dependency from the two genitive absolutes].

When pharmacists could cheat... || BL Papyrus 356, P.Lond. 2 356, Roman Egypt [Alexandria], 1st c. CE.

An implication about the good-will of a drug-supplier.

fig.02: BL Papyrus 356 in British Library

Text 02: P.Lond. 2 356, from https://papyri.info/ddbdp/p.lond;2;356

Προκλήιος Πεκύσει τῶι φιλτάτωι χαίρειν καλῶς ποιήσεις ἰδίωι κινδύνῳ τὸ καλὸν πω- λήσας ἐξ ὧν ἐάν σοι εἴ- [5] πῃ φαρμάκων ἔχειν χρείαν Σώτας ὁ φίλος μου ὥστε ἐμοὶ κατε- νεγκεῖν αὐτὸν εἰς Ἀλε- ξάνδρειαν. ἐὰν γὰρ ἄλ- [10] λως ποιήσῃς ὥστε σα- πρὸν αὐτῷ δοῦν̣αι τὸ μὴ χωροῦν ἐν τῇ Ἀλε- ξανδρείᾳ γείνωσκε σαυτὸν ἕξοντα πρὸς ἐμὲ [15] περὶ τῶν δαπανῶν. ἄσπασαι τοὺς σοὺς πάντας. ἔρρωσσο Πεκύσει [ἀπό]δως

Procleius to dearest Pecysis, greetings. You will act well to sell at your own risk one of the high quality from your [drugs], if my friend Sotas tells you that needs medicines, so that he will pay me at Alexandria. Cause if you will act differently, so to give him a rotten one, that won't pass (*1) in Alexandria, know that yourself will be against me for the expenses. Kiss [greet] all your people Be healthy Deliver to Pecysis

Notes:

(*1): 'χωρέω' could have the meaning of 'go forward', 'advance'. It's interesting that here this has been already transformed in 'pass the control'. Kenyon [1898, p. 252] gives equivalently 'pass muster'.

Sembronius, a tyrannical elder at Soknopaiou Nesos || BL Papyrus 342, P.Lond. 2 342, Roman Egypt [Soknopaiou Nesos], 185 or 217 CE

A rather quick response-petition to some harassment - assault at home. A complaint about an elder searching for new recruits.

fig.03: BL Papyrus 356 in British Library

Text 03: P.Lond. 2 356, from https://papyri.info/ddbdp/p.lond;2;342

τῷ ἐπὶ τόπων διακειμένῳ β(ενεφικιαρίῳ) παρὰ Παβοῦτος Στοτοήτεως ἀπὸ κώμης Σοκνοπαίου Νήσου σήμερον ἤτις ἔστιν κζ ἐπῆλθαν Σεμπρώ- νιος πρεσβύτερος τῆς κώμης καὶ οἱ [5] σὺν αὐτῷ καὶ ἄλογον ἀηδίαν συνεστή- σαντο πρόφασι τοῦ κατέχειν ἐπι- πλόους τοὺς συνγενεῖς μου Ἑκῦσιν κ(αὶ) Ἀπύγχιν καὶ ἐκφοβηθέντες ἀφα- νεῖς ἐγένοντο οὕτοι δὲ ἐπῆλθαν τῇ [10] [οἰ]κίᾳ μου καὶ ὑβρίν μοι ἐποίησαν [εἴ]ποντες ὅτι δεῖ σὲ παραστῆσαι αὐτοὺς λ[έγ]οντες ὅτι κα[τ]ιδῶμεν τ[ις ἔ]σται ὁ καρπιζόμενος σε ἐστὶ δὲ ἀναιδὴς ἐν τῇ κώμῃ καὶ παρʼ ἑκάστᾳ λογείας [15] ποιεῖται καὶ ἐργολάβει τοὺς ἀπὸ τῆς κώμης καὶ τείρωνας κυνηγῆσαι ὑσ̣τερον ἀργυρισθεὶς ἀπέλυσεν αὐτοὺς ὅθεν ἐπιδίδωμι καὶ ἀξιῶ ἀχθῆ- ναι αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ σέ. διευτύχει [20] (ἔτους) κε Παῦ(νι) κζ

To the beneficiarius (*1) in charge, by Pavous of Stotoetus from the town of Soknopaiou Nesos, today, which is the 27th, Sembronius the elder from the town and his company came upon and created an irrational unpleasantness, with the excuse that they were keeping on ship (*2) my relatives Ecysis and Apynchis, who terrified they disappeared. And they came upon my house and insulted me, saying "You have to deliver them", adding "We know very well who will be supplied from you" (*3). And he is shameless in the town, and he collects money [taxes?] in any case, and he hired the inhabitants to hunt recruits (*4), but after being paid off he set them free. I'm delivering this [petition] and I'm asking that they be brought in front of you. Farewell [year] 25, Pauni 27th (*5)

Notes:

(*1): What's actually written is the sign 'U'. Kenyon [1898, p. 173] interpreted it as centurion [ἑκατοντάρχῳ]. Preisigke [1922, p. 258] corrected it into 'beneficiarius'.

(*2): ἐπιπλόους, it can be initially translated as 'sailing against the enemy' or 'passengers on ship'. Because further in the petition, Sembronius the elder is accused for forced recruitment, I think that these two were embarked as new soldiers and frightened they disappeared. Kenyon [1898, p. 17] is understanding some kind of 'trespassing', while Bryen [2013. p. 242], generally some offence.

(*3): Seems better cause of the syntax. Bryen [2013. p. 242] is giving here: "We know who will get them from you", with not necessarily other meaning.

(*4): τείρων, [lat. tiro] 'recruit', probably for the Roman military needs. See Segrè [1943, p. 422] for a connection with the 'aurum tironicum'.

(*5): The year has been interpreted as the 25th of Commodus, i.e. 185 CE. Or the 25th of Caracalla, i.e. 217 CE. The date is said to be June, 21. I don't have further details.

References

• Bryen, Ari Z. [2013], Violence in Roman Egypt: A Study in Legal Interpretation, 2013
• Kenyon, Frederic G. [1898], Greek papyri in the British Museum, vol.II, 1898
• Preisigke, Friedrich [1922], Berichtigungsliste der griechischen Papyrusurkunden aus Ägypten, vol.I, 1922
• Segrè, Angelo [1943], Essays on Byzantine Economic History, I. The Annona Civica and the Annona Militaris, in Byzantion, Vol. 16, No. 2 (1942-1943), pp. 393-444