Zeno, Egyptian Official, Records (259–250 B.C.E.)

Although Alexander the Great’s imperial glory was short-lived, it opened the door to a new, more international eastern Mediterranean world. Upon his death in 323 B.C.E., Alexander’s army commanders divided his empire into separate kingdoms over which they assumed control. To rule effectively, these new kings and their successors relied on a hierarchical bureaucracy staffed by Greeks and local administrators to oversee local affairs. This document illuminates the busy life of a Greek named Zeno, who was an agent for Apollonius, the financial minister for Ptolemy Philadelphus of Egypt (r. 285–246 B.C.E.). At the time, Egypt was home to both Greeks and indigenous peoples who contributed to a vibrant urban culture and economy. These extracts include instructions from Apollonius, requests for help, a desk diary, and other records of Zeno’s daily affairs.

From Select Papyri, vol. 1, trans. A. S. Hunt and C. C. Edgar (London and New York: William Heinemann Ltd., 1932), 269–77, 397–99, 409–15.

Letter from Hierocles (257 B.C.E.)

Hierocles to Zeno greeting. If you are well, it would be excellent. I too am in good health. You wrote to me about Pyrrhus, telling me to train¹ him if I am quite certain of his success, but if not, to avoid incurring useless expense and distracting him from his studies. Now as for my being certain, the gods should know best, but it seems to Ptolemaeus, as far as a man can tell, that Pyrrhus is much better than those now being trained, though they started long before him, and that in a very short time he will be far ahead of them; moreover he is pursuing his other studies as well; and to speak with the gods’ leave, I hope to see you crowned. Make haste to send him a bathing-apron, and if possible let it be of goatskin or, if not, of thin sheepskin, and a tunic and cloak, and the mattress, coverlet and pillows, and the honey. You wrote to me that you were surprised at my not understanding that all these things are subject to toll. I know it, but you are well able to arrange for them to be sent in perfect security.² (Addressed) To Zeno. (Docketed) Hierocles about Pyrrhus. Year 29, Xandicus 3, at Memphis.

Letter from Promethion (256 B.C.E.)

Promethion³ to Zeno greeting. I suffered anxiety when I heard of your long protracted illness, but now I am delighted to hear that you are convalescent and already on the point of recovery. I myself am well. I previously gave your agent Heraclides 150 drachmae in silver from your account, as you wrote to me to do, and he is bringing you now 10 hins of perfume in 21 vases which have been sealed with my finger-ring. For though Apollonius wrote to me to buy and give him also 300 wild pomegranate wreaths, I did not manage to give him these at the same time, as they were not ready, but Pa . . . will bring them to him at Naucratis; for they will be finished before the 30th. I have paid the price both of these and of the perfume from your account, as Apollonius wrote. I have also paid a charge of 10 drachmae in copper for the boat in which he is sailing up. And 400 drachmae in silver have been paid to Iatrocles for the papyrus rolls which are being manufactured in Tanis for Apollonius. Take note then that these affairs have been settled thus. And please write yourself if ever you need anything here. Goodbye. Year 29, Choiach 28. (Addressed) To Zeno. (Docketed) Year 29, Peritius 3. Promethion about what he has paid.

Letter from Apollonius the Dioecetes (256 B.C.E.)

Apollonius to Zeno greeting. From the dry wood put on board a boat as many of the thickest logs as possible and send them immediately to Alexandria that we may be able to use them for the festival of Isis. Goodbye. Year 30, Dius 3, Phaophi 23. (Addressed) To Zeno. At once.⁴ (Docketed by Zeno) Year 30, Dius 18, Hathur 18. Apollonius about wood for the Isis festival. (Docketed by sender) Wood for the Isis festival.

Letter from Plato (255 B.C.E.)

Plato to Zeno greeting. The father of Demetrius the bearer of this letter happens, it seems, to be residing in the Arsinoite nome,⁵ and the lad therefore wishes to find employment there himself. On hearing of your kindly disposition some of his friends asked me to write to you about him, begging you to give him a post in your service. Please then do me a favor and provide some employment for him, whatever you may think suitable, and otherwise look after him, if you find him useful. As a token (of goodwill) I have sent you, from Sosus, 2 artabae⁶ of chick-peas bought at 5 drachmae each, and if there are any at Naucratis, I will try to buy you about 20 artabae more and bring them up to you myself. Goodbye. Year 31, Dius 12. (Addressed) To Zeno.

Letter from Artemidorus (252 B.C.E.)

Artemidorus⁷ to Zeno greeting. If you are well, it would be excellent. I too am well and Apollonius is in good health and other things are satisfactory. As I write this, we have just arrived in Sidon after escorting the princess⁸ to the frontier, and I expect that we shall soon be with you. Now you will do me a favor by taking care of your own health and writing to me if you want anything done that I can do for you. And kindly buy me, so that I may get them when I arrive, 3 metretae⁹ of the best honey and 600 artabae of barley for the animals, and pay the cost of them out of the produce of the sesame and croton,¹⁰ and also see to the house in Philadelphia in order that I may find it roofed when I arrive. Try also as best you can to keep watch on the oxen and the pigs and the geese and the rest of the stock there; I shall have a better supply of provisions if you do. Also see to it that the crops are harvested somehow, and if any outlay is required, do not hesitate to pay what is necessary. Goodbye. Year 33, intercalary Peritius 6. (Addressed) To Zeno. To Philadelphia. (Docketed) Year 33, Phamenoth 6. Artemidorus.

Letter from an Invalid (259–257 B.C.E.)

Memorandum to Zeno from Cydippus. If in accordance with the doctors’ orders I could have purchased any of the following things in the market, I should not have troubled you; but as it is I have written you a note of what I require, as Apollonius thought I ought to do. So if you have them in store, send me a jar of wine, either Lesbian or Chian, of the very sweetest, and if possible a chous¹¹ of honey or, if not, as much as you can; and order them to fill me the vessel with salt fish. For both these things they consider to be most needful. And if my health improves and I go abroad to Byzantium, I will bring you back some excellent salt fish. (On the back) Memorandum from Cydippus.

Letter from a House-Painter (c. 255 B.C.E.)

Memorandum to Zeno from Theophilus the . . . About the work in the house of Diotimus: for the portico, [I undertake] to have the cornice painted with a purple border, the upper part of the wall variegated, the lower course like vetch-seed,¹² and the pediment with circular veining, providing myself with all materials, for 30 drachmae. For the dining-room with seven couches, I will do the vault according to the pattern which you saw, and give the lower course an agreeable tint and paint the Lesbian cornice, providing myself with all materials, for 20 drachmae. And for the dining-rooms with five couches, I will paint the cornices, providing myself with all materials, for 3 drachmae. The sum total is 53 drachmae. But if you provide everything, it will come to 30 drachmae. Goodbye.

Zeno’s Agenda (c. 250 B.C.E.)

To ask Herodotus about the goat hair. To ask Aminias at how much mina he sold it. The letter to Dioscurides about the boat. To make an agreement with Timaeus about the pigs. To draft the contract with Apollodorus and write to him to hand over. To load the boat with wool. To write to Jason to let Dionysius put the wool on board and take it down the river when cleaned; the fourth part of the Arabian wool; to let him take down the sour wine. To write to Meliton to plant shoots of the bumastus vine belonging to Neoptolemus, and to Alcimus to do likewise if he approves. To Theogenes about twelve yokes of bulls. To give Apollodorus and Callippus . . . [f]rom Metrodorus to Athenagoras about the same year’s produce. To Theophilus granting a favor and about the state of the work. To write about corn to Iatrokles and Theodorus before the water from the canal. . . .

Zeno’s Agenda (c. 250 B.C.E.)

To get the olive kernels. The oil from Heragoras. To buy for the horses 4 strigils, 4 rubbing cloths, 4 scrapers, and for Phatres 1 strigil. To get shoots of the walnut trees. To ascertain the registration of the wine carried down, for which nome it has been registered. To receive Hermon’s boy.

List of Foreign Goods (257 B.C.E.)

Year 29, Xandicus 11, at Hermopolis.¹³ We have left behind these articles which Charmus has handed over to Apollodotus: in a basket 5 small bags of nard sealed and 1 small wallet sealed, 1 small wallet, sealed, containing dice of gazelle bone; purple dye in one pillow-case; 1 strip of variegated cloth; 3 half-strips of variegated cloth; 2 strips of white cloth; 4 strips of purple cloth; 3 bags and 1 small bag of frankincense sealed; 3 small bags of myrrh sealed; 1 wallet containing dice of gazelle bone; 1 small wallet of purple dye sealed; 1 small wallet of saffron sealed.

List of Zeno’s Clothes (c. 257 B.C.E.)

Zeno’s trunk in which are contained: 1 linen wrap, washed; 1 clay-colored cloak, for winter, washed, and 1 worn, 1 for summer, half-worn, 1 natural-colored, for winter, washed, and 1 worn, 1 vetch-colored, for summer, new; 1 white tunic for winter, with sleeves, washed, 1 natural-colored, for winter, with sleeves, worn, 1 natural-colored, for winter, worn, 2 white, for winter, washed, and 1 half-worn, 3 for summer, white, new, 1 unbleached, 1 half-worn; 1 outer garment, white, for winter, washed; 1 coarse mantle; 1 summer garment, white, washed, and 1 half-worn; 1 pair of Sardian pillow-cases; 2 pairs of socks, clay-colored, new, 2 pairs of white, new; 2 girdles, white, new. (Endorsed) From Pisicles, a list of Zeno’s clothes.

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