{"id":23963,"date":"2026-10-24T14:51:50","date_gmt":"2026-10-24T18:51:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.philipharland.com\/Blog\/?p=23963"},"modified":"2026-10-24T15:17:34","modified_gmt":"2026-10-24T19:17:34","slug":"barbarians-roman-soldiers-and-egyptian-workers-on-peoples-of-the-eastern-desert-in-egypt-early-second-century-ce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.philipharland.com\/Blog\/2026\/10\/barbarians-roman-soldiers-and-egyptian-workers-on-peoples-of-the-eastern-desert-in-egypt-early-second-century-ce\/","title":{"rendered":"Barbarians: Roman soldiers and Egyptian workers on peoples of the eastern desert in Egypt (early second century CE)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ancient author<\/em>:\u00a0<\/strong>Various soldiers active in the desert east of Koptos in Egypt, O.Krok. I 26, lines 1-6 (109 CE); OKrok<\/em> I 87, column 1, lines 26-50 and column 2, lines 89-106 =\u00a0 TM88678b<\/a> and TM88678f<\/a> (both March, 118 CE, under Hadrian); Cuvigny 2019, 277 = A\u00c9 (2019), no. 1812 = papyri.info link<\/a> (ca. 150 CE); OClaud inv. 7218 = PBagnall<\/em> 8 = TM219289<\/a> (186\/187 CE). Various workers active in the eastern desert: OClaud inv. 4888 (unpublished; 145 CE); OClaud<\/em> IV 851 =\u00a0TM 118503<\/a> (ca. 175 CE).<\/p>\n

Comments: <\/em><\/strong>Coming soon (post still in process).<\/p>\n

For further instances of Roman soldiers characterizing specific populations of the eastern desert, see the dedication to Jupiter by the prefect Serenus (link<\/a>) and some of the dedications to Pan (link<\/a>).<\/p>\n

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Roman soldiers’ documents<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

[Circular letter by the prefect of the desert Artorius Priscillus concerning “bandits,” likely a criminalizing label for desert dwellers \u2013 received at Krokodilo]<\/strong><\/p>\n

O.Krok. I 26, lines 1-6 (109 CE) [Too fragmentary to translate<\/em>].<\/p>\n

[ -ca.?- ] \u0323 \u0323 \u0323[ -ca.?- ] | [ -ca.?- \u039a\u03c1\u03b9\u03bd]\u03cc\u03bb\u03b1\u03bf\u03c2\u0323 [ -ca.?- ] | vac. ? lines | [ -ca.?- \u1f38\u03bf\u03cd]\u03bb\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2 \u039a\u03bb\u03ae\u03bc\u03b7\u03c2 \u03c4\u03cd\u03c1\u03bc(\u03b7\u03c2) \u1f08\u03c0\u03bf\u03bb \u0323[ -ca.?- ] | [ -ca.?- ] \u03b4\u0323\u03b9\u03c0\u03bb\u03ce\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u1f76 \u03bb\u1fc3\u03c3\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u1f08\u03c1\u03c4\u03c9\u0323\u03c1\u0323[\u03af\u03bf\u03c5 -ca.?- ] | (5) [ -ca.?- ]\u03c5\u0323[ \u0323 \u0323]\u03bb\u03b9\u0323 \u0323( ) \u1f10\u03be\u1fc6\u03bb\u03b8\u03b5 \u03c4\u1fc6\u03b9\u0323 (\u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1fc7) \u1f65\u03c1\u03b1\u03c2 \u0394\u03b9\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u03b6\u03b1\u03bd\u1f78\u03c2\u0323 | [\u03c4\u03cd]\u03c1\u03bc(\u03b7\u03c2) \u039b\u03bf\u03bd\u03b3\u03af\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5 vac. ?<\/p>\n

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[Circular letter by the centurion Cassius Victor to the prefects, centurions, commanders of ten, soldiers with double-pay, and curators of the forts of the Myos Hormos road, containing the horseman Antonios Celer’s report \u2013 received at Krokodilo]<\/strong><\/p>\n

OKrok<\/em> I 87, column 1, lines 26-50 (March, 118 CE): “(26) Duplicate copy: To Cassius Victor, centurion of the second cohort of Itureans, from Antonios Celer, horseman of the same cohort, greetings. (30) I want you to know that sixty barbarians (barbaroi<\/em>) attacked the fort of Patkoua on the 17th of the month of Phamenoth (= March 13 in the Julian calendar). I fought them with my fellow-soldiers from the tenth hour until the second hour of the night. They also stationed themselves by (35) the fort until morning. On the same day, a soldier named Hermogenes from the century of Serenus was killed, one woman and two children were abducted, and one child was killed. On the 18th of the month of Phamenoth (= March 14) at dawn, we fought them. (40) Damanaios, a horseman of your century of Victor, and his horse was killed (?).\u00a0 Valerius Firm. . . was also struck. . .” [following lines too fragmentary to translate<\/em>].<\/p>\n

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\u03c0\u03c1\u03c9\u0390\u03b1\u03c2\u00b7 \u1f10\u03c3\u03c6\u03ac\u03b3\u03b7 \u03b4\u1f72 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1fc7 \u03c4\u1fc7 \u00a0| \u1f21\u03bc\u03ad\u03c1\u1fb3 (\u1f11\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03c1\u03c7\u03af\u03b1\u03c2) \u03a3\u03b5\u03c1\u03ae\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5 \u1f19\u03c1\u03bc\u03bf\u03b3\u03ad\u03bd\u03b7\u03c2 \u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03b1\u03c4\u03b5\u03b9\u03ce\u03c4\u03b7\u03c2, \u00a0| \u1f21\u03c1\u03c0\u03ac\u03b3\u03b7\u0323 \u03b4\u1f72 \u03b3\u03c5\u03bd\u1f74 \u03bc\u03b5\u03c4\u1f70 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03b4\u03af\u03c9\u03bd \u03b4\u03cd\u03bf \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f13\u03bd\u0323 | \u03c0\u03b1\u03b9\u03b4\u03af\u03bf\u03bd \u1f10\u03c3\u03c6\u03ac\u03b3\u03b7\u00b7 \u03c0\u03c1\u03c9\u0390\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b4\u1f72 \u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03b1\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03b7\u03c2 \u03c4\u1fc7 \u03b9\u03b7 \u0323[ -2-3- ] \u00a0| \u27e6\\\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\/ \u0323\u03c4\u0323 \u0323\u27e7 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03bc\u03b7\u03bd\u1f78\u03c2, \u1f10\u03c0\u03c5\u03ba\u03c4\u03b5\u03cd\u03c3\u03b1\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd \u03c0\u03c1\u1f78\u03c2 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03bf\u1f7a\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 [ -ca.?- ] \u00a0| (40) \u0394\u03b1\u03bc\u03b1\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9\u03c2 \u1f31\u03c0\u03c0\u03b5[\u1f7a\u03c2] (\u1f11\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03c1\u03c7\u03af\u03b1\u03c2) \u039f\u0323\u1f50\u0323\u03b5\u03af\u03ba\u03c4\u03bf\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c3\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f41 \u03b5\u1f35\u03c0\u03c0\u03bf\u03c2\u00b7 \u1f10\u03c0\u0323\u03bb\u0323[\u03ae]|\u03b3\u03b7 \u03b4\u1f72 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u039f\u1f50\u03b1\u03bb\u03ad\u03c1\u0323[\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2] \u03a6\u03b5\u03b9\u03c1\u03bc[- ca.12 -] \u0323\u03b1\u03c4\u03c9 \u0323[ (?)] \u00a0| \u03c3\u1f7a\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c4\u1ff7 \u1f35\u03c0\u03c0\u1ff3 \u03b1\u0323[\u1f51\u03c4\u03bf]\u1fe6\u0323 \u0323\u03b5\u03c1 \u0323[ -ca.?- ] \u00a0|(\u1f11\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u03c1\u03c7\u03af\u03b1\u03c2) \u03a0\u03c1\u03bf\u03ba\u03bb\u03b9\u03b1\u03bd\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03b5\u03c0\u0323\u03c4\u03b1\u0323 \u0323 \u0323\u03c5\u03c3\u0323 \u0323[ -ca.?- ] \u00a0| \u03c4\u0323\u1fc6\u0323\u03c2\u0323 \u1f65\u03c1\u03b1\u03c2 \u03db \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u1f21\u03bc\u03ad\u03c1\u03b1\u03c2 [ -ca.?- ] \u00a0| (45)\u00a0 \u0323 \u0323 \u0323 \u03b2\u03b1\u03c1\u03b2\u03ac\u03c1\u03c9\u03bd \u0323 \u0323 \u0323 \u0323 \u0323 \u0323[ -ca.?- ] \u00a0| \u0323 \u0323\u03c3\u0323\u03b1\u03c3\u0323\u03ba\u0323\u03b1\u0323\u03c4\u0323\u03c9\u03bd\u0323\u03b5[ \u0323 \u0323]\u03b4\u03b5\u03b4\u03c9\u03ba\u0323[ -ca.?- ] \u0323[ -ca.?- ] \u00a0| \u03b5\u1f30\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f78 \u03c0\u03c1\u03b1\u03b9\u03c3\u03af\u03b4\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd \u0323 \u0323 \u0323 \u0323 \u0323[ -ca.?- \u1f10\u03c0]\u03b5\u03af\u03c1\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1 [ -ca.?- (?)] \u00a0| \u03b3\u03ad\u03bd\u03b7\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u0323 \u0323 \u0323 \u0323[ -ca.?- ] \u0323\u03b5\u03c9\u03bd [- ca.3 -(?)] | \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03b5\u03bd\u0323\u03b5 \u0323 \u0323[ -ca.?- \u03a4\u03c1\u03b1\u03b9]\u03b1\u03bd\u03bf\u1fe6 \u1f09\u03b4\u03c1\u03b9\u03b1\u03bd[\u03bf\u1fe6 \u039a\u03b1\u03af\u03c3\u03b1\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2] \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03ba\u03c5\u03c1\u03af[\u03bf\u03c5] | (50) \u03a6\u03b1\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd[\u03c9\u03c4 -ca.?- ] vac. ?<\/p>\n

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[Circular letter of Arruntius Agrippinus to the curators of the forts on Myos Hormos road \u2013 received at Krokodilo]
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

OKrok<\/em> I 87, lines 89-106 (March 118 CE): “(89) Duplicate copy: Arruntius Agrippinus to the curators of the forts of the Myos Hormos road, greetings. It has been revealed to me. . . [numerous lines regarding the circumstances he discovered are too fragmentary to translate<\/em>] . . . I was eager that you watch out carefully for their [missing<\/em> word<\/em>] . . . And if some from Koptos may follow my direction to bring supplies, provide them with escorts for more security so that there is no occasion for the barbarians (barbaroi<\/em>) to do harm (kakon<\/em>). After you have read my letter, quickly send it from one fort to the next as far as Myos Hormos, and if you learn something more clearly, immediately inform me. I pray that you have good health. 30th of the month of Phamenoth (= March 26).<\/p>\n

(89) \u1f00\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03af\u03b3\u03c1\u03b1\u03c6[\u03bf]\u03bd \u03b4\u03b9\u03c0\u03bb\u03ce\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2\u00b7 | (90) \u1f08\u03c1\u03bf\u03cd\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2 \u1f08\u03b3\u03c1\u03b9\u03c0\u03c0\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 \u03ba\u03bf\u03c5\u03c1\u03ac\u03c4[\u03bf\u03c1\u03c3\u03b9] | \u03c0\u03c1\u03b1\u03b9\u03c3\u03b9\u03b4\u03af\u03c9\u03bd \u1f41\u03b4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u039c\u03c5\u03c3\u03bf\u03c1\u03bc\u03b5\u03b9\u03c4\u03b5\u0323\u03b9\u0323\u03ba\u0323\u1fc6\u0323[\u03c2][ \u03c7\u03b1(\u03af\u03c1\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd).] | \u1f10\u03bc\u03b7\u03bd\u03cd\u03b8\u03b7 \u03bc\u03bf\u03b9 \u03c3\u03c6\u03b5\u03bd\u03b4\u03c1\u03b9\u03bb\u03bb\u03bf\u03bd \u0323 \u0323 \u0323[- ca.6 – \u1f40]|\u03bd\u03cc\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u1f00\u03c6\u03b1\u03bd\u1f74\u03c2 \u1f10\u03b3\u03ad\u03bd\u03b5\u03c4\u03bf \u1f10\u03ba\u0323 \u03c0\u0323[- ca.9 -] | \u1f21\u03bc\u03b5\u03c1\u1ff6\u03bd \u03b5\u1f35\u03bd\u03b1 \u03bc\u03b5\u03c4\u1f70 \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u1f11\u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6\u0323 [- ca.9 -] | (95) \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03b5[ \u0323]\u03b5\u03ba\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd\u03b1 \u0323 \u0323 \u0323 \u0323 \u0323 \u0323 \u03c0\u03b5\u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03b5\u1fe6\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9 [- ca.5 –6] | \u03bc\u03b1 \u0323[ \u0323 \u0323] \u0323\u03b5\u0323 \u03c0\u0323\u03bf\u03b9\u03b7\u03c3\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u1f78{\u03c5} \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c4\u03bf \u1f51\u03bc\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bd \u03c6\u03b1\u03bd\u03b5\u03c1\u1f78\u03bd [ -3-5- ] | \u1f14\u03c3\u03c0\u03b5\u03c5\u03c3\u03b1 \u03b5\u1f35\u03bd\u03b1 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u1f11\u0323\u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd [\u1f10]\u03c0\u0323\u03b5\u03b9\u03bc\u03b5\u03bb\u03ad\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u0323\u03c1[\u03bf\u03bd] | \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c3\u03ad\u03c7\u03b7\u03c4\u03b5 \u03ba\u03b1 -2-3- \u03bb\u0323\u03bb\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03b5\u1f34 \u03c4\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd\u03b5\u03c2 \u1f00\u03c0\u1f78 \u039a\u03cc|\u03c0\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c7\u03bf\u0323\u03c1\u03b7\u03b3\u0323\u03b5\u03af<\u03b1\u03bd> \u03ba\u03bf\u03bc\u03b5\u03af\u03b6\u03bf\u03b9\u03b5\u03bd\u0323 \u1f10\u03be \u1f10\u03bc\u1fc6<\u03c2> \u1f51\u03c0\u03bf\u03b3\u03c1\u03b1\u03c6\u1fc6\u03c2 | (100) \u1f00\u03c3\u03c6\u03b1\u03bb\u03ac\u0323\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd \u03b1\u0323\u1f50\u0323\u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03ad\u03c7\u03b7\u03c4\u03b5 \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03c0\u03bf\u03bc\u03c0\u03b1\u1fd6\u03c2 | \u03c0\u03c1\u1f78\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f78 \u03bc\u03b7\u03b4\u03b5\u03bc\u03af\u03b1\u03bd \u1f00\u03c6\u03bf\u03c1\u03bc\u1f74\u03bd \u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03ad\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03b2\u03b1\u03c1|\u03b2\u03ac\u03c1\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03ba\u03b1\u03ba\u03cc\u03bd \u03c4\u03b5\u03b9 \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u1fc6\u03c3\u03b1\u03b9\u00b7 \u03c4\u03b1\u03cd\u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03bc\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u1f10\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03bb\u1f74\u03bd \u00a0| \u1f00\u03bd\u03b1\u03b3\u03bd\u03cc\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u1f00\u03c0\u1f78 \u03c0\u03c1\u03b1\u03b9\u03c3\u03b9\u03b4\u03b5\u03af\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b5\u1f30\u03c2 \u03c0<\u03c1>\u03b1\u03b9\u03c3\u03af\u03b4\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd \u03bc\u03ad\u03c7\u03c1\u03b9 \u039c\u03c5\u03c3\u03cc\u03c1<\u03bc\u03bf\u03c5> | \u03b4\u03b9\u1f70 \u03c4\u03ac\u03c7\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u03c0\u03ad\u03bc\u03c8\u03b1\u03c4\u03b5 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f10\u03ac\u03bd \u03c4\u03b5\u03b9 \u1f10\u03c0\u03b5\u03b9\u03b3\u03bd\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c4\u03b5 \u03c3\u03b1\u03c6\u03ad\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd \u00a0| (105) \u03b5\u1f50\u03b8\u03ad\u03c9\u03c2 \u1f10\u03c0\u03b5\u03af\u03c3\u03c7\u03b5\u03c4\u03ad \u03bc\u03bf\u03b9 \u03b4\u03b7\u03bb\u1ff6\u03c3\u03b1\u03b9\u00b7 \u1f10\u03c1\u03c1\u1ff6\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9 \u1f51\u03bc\u1fb6\u03c2 \u03b5<\u1f54>\u03c7\u03bf\u03bc\u03b1\u03b9. \u00a0| vac. ? \u03a6\u03b1\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03c9\u03c4 \u03bb.<\/p>\n

\u2017\u2017\u2017\u2017\u2017\u2017\u2017<\/p>\n

[One of seven letters from the Dacian Roman soldier Diourdanos to Archibios the curator of the Claudianus quarry, containing a report circulated from Longinus Priscus at the Parambola fort in Nubia, with mention of barbarians heading north]<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cuvigny 2019, 277 (ca. 150 CE): “Diourdanos [at the Raima fort] to Archibios [curator of the Claudianus quarry in other documents], greetings. Here is what the duplicates contained. In the first letter, Saturnilus the princeps writes to you, instructing you to keep a close watch on the security of the quarry (5) and instructing us regarding the security of the fort. In the attached letter, Longinus Priscus, curator of the fort of Parambola [near Debod in Nubia] in the Dodekaschoinos writes that, while he was at the . . . [missing word or words<\/em>] fort on the 9th of Pharmouthi, (10) he saw five barbarians (barbaroi<\/em>) and two camels gathering water at the river\u2019s edge and heading downstream on the Arabian bank on the other side [i.e. the eastern side of the Nile]. For this reason, he has written to those at the downstream frontier military post (rhipa<\/em>), instructing them to watch out. (15) I wish you good health. Please have the waterskin sewn up again.”<\/p>\n

\u0394\u03b9\u03bf\u03cd\u03c1\u03b4\u03b1\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 \u1f08\u03c1\u03c7\u03b9\u03b2\u03af\u1ff3 \u03c7\u03b1\u03af\u03c1\u03b5\u0323\u03b9\u0323\u03bd. | \u03c4\u1f70 \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03b5\u03c7\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b1\u0323 \u03b4\u03b9\u03c0\u03bb\u03c9\u03bc\u03b1..\u03c5\u0323\u03c4\u03b1….\u00b7 \u1f30\u0323\u03c2\u0323\u00b7 \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd | \u03c0\u03c1\u03ce\u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u1f10\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03bb\u1f74\u03bd \u03b3\u0323\u03c1\u0323\u03ac\u0323\u03c6\u03b9 \u03a3\u03b1\u0323\u03c4\u03bf\u03c1\u0323\u03bd\u0323\u1fd6\u0323\u03bb\u0323\u03bf\u03c2 | \u1f41 \u03c0\u03c1\u03af\u03bd\u03ba\u03b9\u03c8 \u03c3\u1f7a \u1f00\u03c3\u03c6\u03b1\u03bb\u1ff6\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f78 \u03bc\u03ad\u03c4\u03b1\u03bb\u03bb\u03bf\u03bd (5) \u03c6\u03c5|\u03bb\u03ac\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f51\u03bc\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bd \u03c4\u1f70 \u03c0\u03c1\u03b1\u03b9\u03c3\u03af\u03b4\u03b9\u03b1\u00b7 \u1f30\u03c2 \u03c4\u0323\u1f74\u0323\u03bd\u0323 | \u1f51\u03c0\u03bf \u03ba\u03ac\u03c4\u03c9 \u1f10\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03bb\u1f74\u03bd \u03b3\u0323\u03c1\u0323\u03ac\u0323\u03c6\u03b9 \u039b\u03bf\u03bd\u03b3\u1fd6\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 | \u03a0\u03c1\u03af\u03c3\u03ba\u03bf\u03c2 \u03ba\u03bf\u03c5\u03c1\u03ac\u03c4\u03c9\u03c1 \u03c0\u03c1\u03b1\u03b9\u03c3\u03b9\u03b4\u03af\u03bf\u03c5 \u03a0\u0323\u03b1\u0323\u03c1\u0323\u03b1\u0323\u03bc\u0323|\u03b2\u03bf\u03bb\u1f70 \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u0394\u03c9\u03b4\u03b5\u03ba\u03b1\u03c3\u03c7\u03cd\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5 \u1f30\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \\…..\/ …. \u00a0|\u03c9\u03bd \u03c4\u1f78 \u03c0\u03c1\u03b1\u03b9\u03c3\u03af\u03b4\u03b9\u03bd \u03c4\u1fc7 \u03b8 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03a6\u03b1\u03c1\u03bc\u03bf\u03c5\u03b8\u03b9 (10) \u03c4\u03b5|\u03b8\u0323\u03b5\u03c9\u03c1\u03b1\u03ba\u03ad\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9 \u1f30\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \\\u1f08\u03c1\u03b1\u03b2\u03af\u03b1\u03bd\/ \u1f30\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f78 \u03c0\u03ad\u03c1\u03b1 \u03b5 \u03b2\u03b1\u03c1\u03b2\u03ac|[\u03c1]\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03b4\u03cd\u03c9 \u03ba\u03b1\u03bc\u03ae\u03bb\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u1f51\u03b4\u03c1\u03b5\u03c5\u03c9\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 | \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u1f70 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c4\u03b1\u03bc\u1f78\u03bd \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03c0\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u1f30\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f70 | \u03ba\u03ac\u03c4\u03c9 \u03bc\u03ad\u03c1\u03b7\u00b7 \u03b4\u03b9\u1f78 \u1f14\u03b3\u03c1\u03b1\u03c8\u03b5 \u03c4\u1fc7 \u03ba\u03ac\u03c4\u03c9 | \u1fe5\u03af\u03c0\u1fb3 \u03b1<\u1f50>\u03c4\u03bf\u1f7a\u03c2 \u03c6\u03c5\u03bb\u03ac\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd. \u00a0| (15) \u1f10\u03c1<\u03c1>\u1ff6\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03af \u03c3\u03b5 \u03b5\u1f54\u03c7\u03bf\u03bc\u0323(\u03b1\u03b9). | \u1f10\u03c1\u03c9\u03c4\u03b7\u03b8[\u03b5\u1f76\u03c2] \u1f35\u0323\u03bd\u03b1 \u1f41 \u1f00\u03c3|\u03ba\u0323[\u1f78\u03c2 \u1fe5]\u03b1\u03c6\u1fc7.<\/p>\n

\u2017\u2017\u2017\u2017\u2017\u2017\u2017<\/p>\n

[Translation into Greek of a Latin letter by the prefect of Egypt Pomponius Faustianus regarding his punishment of soldiers who ambandoned fellow-soldiers who then faced negative treatment by “weak” barbarians]<\/strong><\/p>\n

OClaud inv. 7218= PBagnall<\/em> 8 (186\/187 CE): “Copy of a letter in the Roman language and a judgment, translated in keeping with my ability:\u00a0Pomponius Faustianus [prefect of Egypt] to his own Probus [procurator of Caesar], greetings. I stood against Julius Serenus, soldier of the same cohort, and Crepereius Donatus, soldier of the same cohort, because they have left their fellow-soldiers behind, who were subjected by a few weak and unarmed barbarians (barbaroi<\/em>). Due to this, along with my negative response, I ordered that copies be posted in the forts of the quarries, so that the rest of the fellow-soldiers have a reminder. I command you to do this.”<\/p>\n

\u1f00\u03bd\u03c4\u03af\u03b3\u03c1\u03b1\u03c6\u03bf\u03bd \u1f10\u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03bb\u1fc6\u03c2 \u1fe5\u03c9\u03bc\u03b1\u03ca\u03ba\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f00\u03c0\u03bf\u03c6\u03ac\u03c3\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2 | \u03bc\u03b5\u03b8\u03b5\u03c1\u03bc\u03b7\u03bd\u03bc\u03b8( ) \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u1f70 \u03b4\u03c5\u03bd\u03b1\u03c4\u03cc\u03bd. \u03a0\u03c9\u03bc\u03c0\u03ce\u03bd\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2 \u03a6\u03b1\u03c5\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03b1\u03bd<\u1f78>\u03c2 | \u03a0\u03c1\u03ce\u03b2<\u03c9>\u03b9 \u03c4\u1ff7 \u1f30\u03b4\u03af\u1ff3 \u03c7\u03b1\u03af\u03c1\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd. <\u1f10>\u03c0\u03ad\u03c3\u03c4\u03b7\u03c3\u03b1 \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u1f70 \u1f38\u03bf\u03c5\u03bb\u03af\u03bf\u03c5 \u03a3\u03b5\u03c1\u03ae\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5 | \u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03b1\u03c4\u03b9\u03ce\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c3\u03c0\u03af\u03c1\u03b7\u03c2 \u27e6\\\u03bd\u03bf\u03c5\u03bc\u03ad\u03c1\u03bf\u03c5\/\u27e7 \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u039a\u03c1\u03b5\u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b7\u03af\u03bf\u03c5 \u0394\u03bf\u03bd<\u03ac>\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 | (5) \u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03b1\u03c4\u03b9\u03ce\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03c3\u03c0\u03af\u03c1\u03b7\u03c2 \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b9\u1f70 \u03c4\u1f78 \u1f10\u03bd\u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03bb\u03b5\u03bb\u03bf\u03b9\u03c0|\u03ad\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03bf\u1f7a\u03c2 \u03c4\u03bf\u1f7a\u03c2 \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03b1\u03c4\u03b9\u03ce\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9\u03c2, \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03bf\u1f7a\u03c2 \u1f40\u03bb\u03af\u03b3\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b5 | \u03b2\u03b1\u03c1\u03b2\u03ac\u03c1\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u1f00\u03b4\u03c5\u03bd\u03ac\u03bc\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f00\u03bd\u03cc\u03c0\u03bb\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u1f51\u03c0\u03bf\u03c4\u03b1|\u03b3\u0190\u0302\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9\u00b7 \u03b4\u03b9\u1f70 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c4\u03bf \u03c3\u1f7a\u03bd \u03c4\u03b5\u0323 \u1f00\u03c0\u03bf\u03c6\u03ac\u03c3\u03b5\u03b9 \u03bc\u03bf\u03c5 \u1f10\u03ba\u03ad\u03bb\u03b5\u03c5|\u03c3\u03b1 \u1f67\u03bd \u1f00\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9\u03b3\u03c1\u03b1\u03c6\u03b1\u1fd6\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9 \u1f10\u03bd \u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03c0\u03c1\u03b1\u03b9\u03c3\u03b9\u03b4\u03af\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2 | (10) \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03bc\u03b5\u03c4\u03ac\u03bb\u03bb\u03c9\u03bd \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c4\u03b7\u03b8\u03ad\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9 \u1f35\u03bd\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03bb\u03bf\u03b9|\u03c0\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 <\u03c3>\u03c5\u03bd\u03c3\u03c4\u03c1\u03b1\u03c4\u03b9\u03ce\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9\u03c2 \u1f96 \u1f51\u03c0\u03bf\u03bc\u03bd\u03b7\u03c3\u03c4\u03ad\u03bf\u03bd. | {\u03c3\u03b5} \u1f21\u03b3\u03b7<\u03c3>\u03ac\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c4\u03cc \u03c3\u03b5 \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u1fc6\u03c3<\u03b1\u03b9>.<\/p>\n

\u2017\u2017\u2017\u2017\u2017\u2017\u2017<\/p>\n

Other workers’ documents<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

[Letter by Petearoeris at an unknown location to Bekis working at the Mons Claudianus quarry, regadring “fear of the barbarians”]<\/strong><\/p>\n

OClaud<\/em> inv. 4888, unpublished ostracon as described and partially translated by Cuvigny 2021, 424 (discarded ca. 145 CE, according to stratigraphy): Petearoeris to his father Bekis: \u201cI want you to know that I have not eaten for two days because of the fear of barbarians (\u03b4\u03b9\u1f70 \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03c6\u03cc\u03b2\u03bf\u03bd \u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u0392\u03b1\u03c1\u03b2\u03ac\u03c1\u03c9\u03bd). Therefore, please, father, if we are relieved, that is fine. Otherwise, make an effort to have me transferred. Otherwise, I am going to break down. For my salary has not yet been brought (?) to me. No matter what I did in order to come, nobody let me go. Let me know what is happening where you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cf. OClaud<\/em> II 221: “Bekis to Petearoeris, my son, greetings.\u00a0 Send me a bandage for my head because . . .” [remainder of letter not preserved<\/em>].<\/p>\n

\u2017\u2017\u2017\u2017\u2017\u2017\u2017<\/p>\n

[Fragmentary letter from the workers at the Claudianus quarry regarding “fear of the barbarians”]<\/strong><\/p>\n

OClaud<\/em> IV 851 = TM 118503<\/a> (ca. 175 CE): [Too fragmentary to translate]<\/em>.<\/p>\n

[\u2066 -ca.?- \u2069]….[\u2066 -ca.?- \u2069] | [\u2066 -ca.?- \u2069 \u03c0]\u03ac\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u1f05\u03bc\u03b1 \u03b4[….].[\u2066 -ca.?- \u2069] | [\u2066 -ca.?- \u2069]\u03bc\u03b1\u03c2 \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03c6\u03c5\u03bb\u0323\u03b1\u03ba\u03ae\u03bd. \u03b1\u1f30\u0323\u1f70\u03bd \u03bf\u1f56\u03bd | [\u2066 -ca.?- \u2069] \u03c0\u03ad\u03bc\u03c8\u03b1\u03b9 \u1f21\u03bc\u1fd6\u03bd \u03ba\u1f02\u03bd \u1f10\u03ba (\u03b4\u03b5\u03c5\u03c4\u03b5\u03c1\u03b5\u03af\u03c9\u03bd) \u03c3\u03b9\u03b4(\u03ae\u03c1\u03b9\u03b1) | (5) [\u2066 -ca.?- \u2069] \u1f35\u03bd\u03b1 \u03b4\u03c5\u03bd\u03b7\u03b8\u1ff6\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1f78\u03bd | [\u1f00\u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u03af\u03c3\u03b1\u03b9 \u1f10\u1f70\u03bd] \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u1f70 \u03c3\u1f7a \u03c3\u03af\u03b4\u03b7\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bf\u1f50\u03ba \u1f14\u03bd\u03b9 | [\u2066 -ca.?- \u2069 \u1f10\u03bd \u03c4]\u03ac\u0323\u03c7\u03b9 \u1f45\u03c0\u03c9\u03c2 \u1f03 \u1f14\u03c7\u03c9\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd \u1f10\u03bd | [\u2066 -ca.?- \u2069] \u03c3\u03b9\u03b4\u03ae\u03c1\u03b9\u03b1 \u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03bf\u03c1\u03af\u03c3\u03b9\u03bc\u03b1 | [\u2066 -ca.?- \u2069 \u1f04]\u03bb\u0323\u03bb\u03c9\u03bd \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03c6\u03b5\u03c1\u03bf- | (10) [\u2066 -ca.?- \u2069].\u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u1f55\u03bb\u03b7\u03c2 \u1f35\u03bd\u03b1 \u03b4\u03c5|[\u03bd\u03b7\u03b8\u1ff6\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03b4\u03b5\u03cd]\u03c4\u03b5\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd \u1f00\u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u03af\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd|[\u2066 -ca.?- \u2069] \u03b4\u03b9\u1f70 \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03c6\u03cc\u03b2\u03bf\u0323\u03bd\u0323 | [\u2066 -ca.?- \u2069 \u03c4\u1ff6]\u03bd \u03b2\u03b1\u03c1\u03b2\u03ac\u03c1\u03c9\u03bd.<\/p>\n

\u2017\u2017\u2017\u2017\u2017\u2017\u2017<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2017\u2017\u2017\u2017\u2017\u2017\u2017<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Source of translation:<\/i><\/b> Harland.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ancient author:\u00a0Various soldiers active in the desert east of Koptos in Egypt, O.Krok. I 26, lines 1-6 (109 CE); OKrok I 87, column 1, lines 26-50 and column 2, lines 89-106 =\u00a0 TM88678b and TM88678f (both March, 118 CE, under Hadrian); Cuvigny 2019, 277 = A\u00c9 (2019), no. 1812 = papyri.info link (ca. 150 CE); […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[71,353,296],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23963","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-02-greek-and-roman-ethnography-on-barbarians","category-c-papyri-ancient-paper","category-ethnicity-ancient-world"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.philipharland.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23963","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.philipharland.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.philipharland.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.philipharland.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.philipharland.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23963"}],"version-history":[{"count":77,"href":"https:\/\/www.philipharland.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23963\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24132,"href":"https:\/\/www.philipharland.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23963\/revisions\/24132"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.philipharland.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23963"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.philipharland.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23963"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.philipharland.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23963"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}