274

Bancroft Library, Univ. of Calif., Berkeley

P.Tebt.0278

Vault; 1 frame

Acrostics

Verso empty

Pap

1

29 x 16 cm.

2 cols. (49 lines) on recto along the fibers.

Margins: top, 3.5 cm.; left, 1.5 cm.; bottom, 3.5 cm.; intercolumnar space: 1.5 cm.; on verso, in black ink: T 309.

Regular cursive

published

Early 1st century A.D.

1355

House at Tebtunis T309

Greek

Sub-literary papyri

A pair of acrostics, the first dealing with various artificers, the second with the loss of a garment.

Acrostics

P.Tebt., II.278; Cribiore, R. Writing, Teachers, and Students in Graeco-Roman Egypt, no. 99 with plate (Pl. XI)

(Col. I) Baker, dyer, fuller, spear-maker, oilman, painter, cobbler, breastplate-maker, doctor, locksmith, mason, millstone-maker, shipwright, scraper-maker, armourer, tablet-maker, …, engraver, glassworker, … goldsmith, ... (Col. II) My (garment?) is lost; violent was he (who took it?), well-born was he who took it. It was bought for ten staters; if it had been a cloak I should not have minded. I seek but do not find it. It was taken without cause. He will meet with anger. Just so he took it, my lovely garment. A lion he was who took it, a fool who lost it. It was taken at night. He was a stranger who took it, it was nothing to one like him. I will choke myself, for I am cold. He is indicated to me, for he watches me (?) … It is winter, there is great cold. How utterly unfortunate was I!

Click here to see the Greek text of this document in a separate window (from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri).