Account of Operations of a Camel Caravan (Greek)

Account of Operations of a Camel Caravan (Greek)

Papyrus; L. 11 cm; W. 40 cm

Philadelphia; 259 BCE

Columbia University Purchase; Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Columbia University in the City of New York: Col.inv. 205

© Courtesy of Papyrus Collection, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University in the City of New York

Before settling in the Fayyum to run the estate of Apollonios, Zenon traveled extensively for the finance minister’s official and personal business. He retained this account of revenues of a camel caravan operating between Egypt and Sidon, with Gaza as a central node.

At this period much of Palestine was under Ptolemaic control. In this part of the account, at least, the goods are ordinary commodities such as grain and dates rather than anything exotic. There was even a load of bricks; no doubt the camels complained.

W.L. Westermann. Zenon Papyri: Business of the Third Century B.C. Dealing with Palestine and Egypt. New York, 1934-1940.