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Panakestor to Zenon greeting. If you are well and you are free from other cares, it would be as we desire; we ourselves are also well. You would do well to keep us [me] in mind. And, as you formerly agreed, to remind Apollonios, at an opportune moment, about the things which I gave you the memoranda in Memphis, and that you tell him it will be your concern . . . , make an effort to remind him in order that the king receive the instructions just as he agreed with us. For I know that we [I] will have everything that you want. In addition, I have appended for you a copy of the letter which came to me from Apollonios, as well as my response to him. Good-bye. [Year] 29, Pachon [May] 15.
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Apollonios. I am astounded by your negligence in not having written either about the valuation or about the gathering of the crops. So, even now, write to me immediately how everything is. [Year] 29, Pharmouthi [April] 30.
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To Apollonios. I received your letter on Pachon 14 from Zoilos, in which you express astonishment that I have sent you no word about the valuation and gathering of the crops. It happened when we arrived in Philadelphia on Parmenoth [March] 16 that I immediately wrote to Zoilos, Zopyrion and the royal secretaries [asking them] to come to us, in order that we could act according to your orders. Well, Zoilos happened to be making rounds [i.e., on an administrative tour] and so he was busy; but the royal secretaries and the agent of Zopyrion, Paues, arrived after twelve days. We proceeded, in their company, to survey the land for five days according to the individual farmer [tract] and according to the type of crop. When we had completed this we sought out the farmers and related your rescript to them and, after encouraging them in other respects, we asked them to make an agreement on the valuation according to what you specified in your memorandum to us or, having devised some [alternative?] plan to meet with us and contract an agreement. They said that after having deliberated for a while they would give us their answer and, after four days, taking up residence in the temple [i.e., they went on strike], they said they did not want to agree to any valuation, be it fair or unfair, but preferred to renounce their right to the crop. For they alleged there was an agreement between you and them that they would pay one-third of the produce. Moreover, when Damidos and I talked with them at length and accomplished nothing, we went away to Zoilos and asked him to assist us; but he said that he was busy in the dispatch of sailors. Consequently, it seemed necessary for us to return to Philadelphia after three days and, according to [what you recommended] in your memorandum, when they stood firm in refusing to accept the valuation and in not paying anything in advance, we asked them to give a lower valuation which was agreeable to each one. The valuations they gave to us we have already sent to you. After we settled these things we [I] begain to survey the land to be sown with sesame and the land covered with brushwood with the royal secretaries, who gave the report [on the survey] to us on Parmouthi 22. Therefore you would do well not to lay any charge of negligence against us [me]; for your servant is not negligent. It will be obvious to you from the grain that will be gathered that there is clearly no bounty in the place.
---------- Outside address: To Zenon.
Docket of receipt: Panakestor. A copy of the letter to Apollonios. [Year]
29, Daisos 14. In Alexandria. |
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Artemidoros to Panakestor greeting. When I was coming from Boubastos to Memphis, Apollonios ordered that, if at all possible, I myself should go over to you or, if not possible, to send one of my people to relay his instructions to you; for he had heard that not all of the 10,000 arouras [about 6,800 acres] was being throughly sown. Therefore, he instructed me to tell you that it was all to be cleared of brushwood and irrigated and that, if at all possible, you should sow the whole of it or, if not possible, that whatever you were unable to sow . . . was to be sown with sesame and that no portion of the land should remain uncultivated. Therefore, since I myself have been unable to come because of being sick, I have sent you, by written message, in order that you may know and act accordingly. For he instructed you to hire and put to work [upon the land] numerous . . . and when the sowers are finished [?] people to hoe and people to assist those [who hoe]. Therefore, do this while it is still seedtime [seedtime is the time for sowing, which occurs in Egypt during the months of October and November after the annual floods of the Nile have receded]. Moreover, I have also informed Zenon and Artemidoros, who is in Memphis, about this, just as Apollonios instructed me, in order that they supply you with as much copper as you need for these things. Therefore, get it, for it will be given to you. They said [they had already given] 10,000 drachmas to Maron. Good-bye. [Year] 29, Apellaios 2.
Outside Address: To Philadelphia. To Panakestor.
Docket of receipt: [year]29, Hathyr [November] 9. Artmidoros.
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