Lucius Bellenus Gemellus Λούκιος Βελλῆνος Γέμελλος

Elmeshu

c. 18th–17th century BC · Babylonia

thou, my father, didst say, “When I shall go to Dûr-Ammi-zadûga, which is on the River Sharḳu, I will forward a sheep and five minas of silver, in a little while, to thee.” This thou saidest, my father, and my expectation was from my father. But thou hast not sent

A letter on a clay tablet · in place of the original: the English translation by C. H. W. Johns (1904)

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Zimri-eraḫ

c. 18th–17th century BC · Babylonia · The second half of a letter from a son living away from home to his father. It opens by asking after his father's health.

I am located at Dûr-Sin on the canal Kashtim-sikirim. There is no meat fit to eat. Now I have made them bring two-thirds of a shekel of silver to thee. For this money send some nice fish and something to eat.

An Old Babylonian letter on a clay tablet · in C. H. W. Johns, Babylonian and Assyrian Laws, Contracts and Letters (1904) · in place of the original: the English translation by C. H. W. Johns (1904)

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Belshunu Bêlshunu

c. 18th–17th century BC · Babylonia

What is the reason that my lord has neglected me for five months? The house where I am imprisoned is a starvation-house. Now have I made the jailer carry a letter to my lord.

A letter on a clay tablet · in place of the original: the English translation by C. H. W. Johns (1904)

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Petesouchos Πετεσοῦχος

2nd century BC · the Fayum, Ptolemaic Egypt · The farmer Petesouchos to his brother Marres. An aroura was an Egyptian measure of land; five came to about 1.4 hectares, or three and a half acres.

Know that our plain has been flooded, and we have not so much as food for our animals. Please, then, first give thanks to the gods, and next save many lives by finding me five arouras of land near your village to feed us, so that we may get our food from them.

γείν[ωσ]κε δὲ περὶ τοῦ κατακεκλῦσθαι τὸ πεδίον ὑμῶν καὶ οὐκ ἔχομεν ἕως τῆς τροφῆς τῶν κτηνῶν ἡμῶν. καλῶς οὖν ποήσῃς εὐχαριστῆσαι πρῶτον μὲν τοῖς θεοῖς δεύτερον δὲ σῶσαι ψυχὰς πολλὰς ζητή[σ]α[ς] μοι περὶ τὴν κώμην σου εἰς τὴν τροφὴν ἡμῶν γῆς ἀρούρας πέ[ν]τε ὡς ἕξομεν ἐξ αὐτῶν τὴ[ν] τροφὴν ἡμῶν.

Tebtunis Papyri I 56 (P.Tebt. I 56)

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Pepi II Neferkarā

23rd century BC · Memphis, ancient Egypt · To his official Harkhuf, coming home from the far south with a dancer

When he cometh down with thee in the boat, cause trustworthy men to be about him on both sides of the boat, to prevent him from falling into the water. When he is asleep at night cause trustworthy men to sleep by his side on his bedding. See [that he is there] ten times [each] night. [My] Majesty wisheth to see this pygmy more than any offering of the countries of Ba and Punt.

Letter to Harkhuf (on the wall of Harkhuf's tomb, Aswan) · in place of the original: the English translation by E. A. Wallis Budge (1914)

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