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