P.Mich.inv. 5401

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Record Details

Inventory Number: P.Mich.inv. 5401
Processing Number: 2455
Section/Side: Recto + Verso

Background and Physical Properties

Publ./Side: Recto + Verso
Connections: archive of Claudius Tiberianus
Material: Pap
Size: 17.5 X 21.9 cm
Items: 1
Lines: Recto - 33; Verso - 1
Mounted: No
Negative: Yes
Negative in Copenhagen: yes (+verso)
Conservation Status: much damaged, especially in the lower half
Palaeographic Description: See electronic version of PMich VIII, 473
Status: published
Library: Cairo

Date: (Early) IInd century A.D.
Origin: unknown place, perhaps Alexandria, province of Egypt
Provenance: Karanis, Herakleidou meris, Arsinoite nome, province of Egypt
Acquisition: 28-B167D2-M
Language: Greek
Genre: Documentary
Author: Tabetheus
Type of Text/Title of Work: Private Letter
Content: Letter from Tabetheus to her brother Tiberianus, explaining how her son Satornilus (who subsequently became ill) came to be guilty of a murder, and asking Tiberianus to effect a settlement of the claims resulting from the murder
Subject Headings: Army; Clothing; Law; Citizenship--Rome.; Religion; Violence (murder); Woman; Soldiers--Rome.
Persons: Tabetheus;; her brother Claudius Tiberianus (see P. Mich. VIII, 467-481 introd.);; her son Saturnilus;; Metellus, stratiotes;; Kabin, diakon;; Menas (deceased) (& family)
Geographica: Alexandria; Tonis
Translation: Tabetheus to Claudius Tiberianus, her brother, very many greetings. Before all else I pray for your health and I make obeisance for you in the presence of the lord Souchos. I was happy that you sent my son in order that I might greet him. But you have not . . . . For Saturnilus has not found out what I did for him. I bought three minai of linen and I sent them. Do not blame me if you did not deliver them to Metellus the soldier. I want you to write concerning a friend; deliver them to him immediately. I was much annoyed. I was able to send you the robe this year; I did not send it last year(?), but I sent and sold them to Kabin the attendant. When I went down from our home at Tonis and came to Saturnilus's lodging and saw our things – may the evil eye not touch them, I did not approve that he, my son, should trust Menas. And after he had killed him, he told me not to be distressed; I told Saturnilus that I was sleepless from worry. Since you caused me damage to the extent of twelve hundred drachmai, let them go to my son’s ransom. And I went down to Alexandria with my son. For this reason a madness took hold of him, because he did not approve that he [i.e. Menas] and his family should consume the rations. If god wills and you receive the rations that I put up for you, do not you also . . . them. Concerning last year's rations, I did not prepare them; . . . prepared them last year. I sent them from Alexandria as late as the second shipment upstream. And he became ill. I was tortured with the grief that he caused me, but I was utterly happy that he remained alive. I have insistently urged him, "Take a taste of Alexandria," and he says to me, "I don't want to." I thank the gods that he is like you; no one can mock him. Salute all your people, each by name. How much damage have I incurred this past year on account of Saturnilus! Neither was he(?) liable for it nor was I, but I have incurred damage on every side. Farewell.; (Verso) Deliver to . . . Tiberianus from Tabetheus . . . .
Papyri.info Link: https://papyri.info/apis/michigan.apis.2455

Information on Publications

Publications: Series and Volume Editor Year Pg/Nr Photo SB Preferred Citation Corrections

PMich VIII Winter JG-Youtie HC 1951 473 Pl. IV Winter JG-Youtie HC, PMich VIII, 473, 1951, Pl. IV -- BL VII, 111 (bibliography); BL IX, 161 (bibliography) BL VII, 111 (bibliography); BL IX, 161 (bibliography)

Information on Publications--Bibliography

Bibliography: J. Modrzejewski, Iura 8 (1957) p. 93-101; G.B. Pighi, Lettere latine d'un soldato di Traiano (Bologna, 1964) p. 6-7; 23-26; R.W. Davies, BASP 10 (1973) p. 21-25; G. Calboli, Latin vulgaire - latin tardif II. Actes du IIe Colloque international sur le latin vulgaire et tardif (Tuebingen, 1990) p. 23-44.

Cataloging

Cataloger: PH
Year Begin: 100
Year End: 199

Technical Details

Collection: Advanced Papyrological Information System (APIS UM)
Record: 2455
Link to this Item: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/a/apis/x-2455/1

Rights and Permissions

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Cite this Item

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Full citation: "P.Mich.inv. 5401." In the digital collection Advanced Papyrological Information System (APIS UM). https://quod.lib.umich.edu/a/apis/x-2455/1. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 23, 2024.

Series and Volume	Editor	Year	Pg/Nr	Photo	SB	Preferred Citation	Corrections
PMich VIII	Winter JG-Youtie HC	1951	473	Pl. IV	Winter JG-Youtie HC, PMich VIII, 473, 1951, Pl. IV -- BL VII, 111 (bibliography); BL IX, 161 (bibliography)	BL VII, 111 (bibliography); BL IX, 161 (bibliography)