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Ancient Egyptian Texts:  6.30


LETTER TO ARISTAIOS


Text:   Yale P. CtYBR 4628   [ TM 128470 ]
Provenance:     Tebtunis (?)
Date:   211 B.C.
Language:   Demotic
Translated by:   S.P. Vleeming
Format:   see key to translations

This carefully composed letter of recommendation asks that a priest be given some responsibility (the details are missing) with regard to the income of the temple at Tebtunis.   The translation is copied from S.P. Vleeming, in "Illuminating Osiris: Egyptological Studies in Honor of Mark Smith", pp. 375-376 ( Google Books ).



The priests who enter before Sobek, Lord of Tebtunis, and the Brother Gods, the Beneficent Gods, the Father-loving Gods, greet Aristaios, the epistates of Oxyrhyncha :

We make your blessings before Sobek, Lord of Tebtunis, the Great God; you are exalted in his favouring; he gives you favour before the King (l.p.h.).

If it happens that it pleases, because of . . . the income before Sobek, Lord of Tebtunis, and the Brother Gods, [the] Beneficent [Gods], the Father-loving Gods, may they give it into the hand of the . . . priest who brings you the letter.

If it happens that there is something required from here, may they order to write to us,[so] it may be given.

Humbly written in year 11, 4th month of the akhet season {Choiak}, day 17 (?).

{ Address: }   The priests who enter before Sobek, [Lord of] Tebtunis, the Brother Gods, the Beneficent Gods, the Father-loving Gods, greet Aristaios, the ....


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