Letter from Alexandros to Zenon (Greek)
Letter from Alexandros to Zenon (Greek)
Papyrus; L. 14 cm; W. 25.5 cm
Philadelphia; Before April 27, 257 BCE
Columbia University Purchase; Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Columbia University in the City of New York: Col.inv. 291
© Courtesy of Papyrus Collection, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University in the City of New York
This somewhat pompous letter, written by a cavalry commander, is one of the baldest statements of the ethos of favor trading and influence peddling that permeated the circles of Greeks around the most powerful men of the kingdom, including Apollonios: Take care of my needs, and I’ll do favors for you. As so often, the matter concerns amounts owed as allowances but left unpaid.
W.L. Westermann. Zenon Papyri: Business of the Third Century B.C. Dealing with Palestine and Egypt. New York, 1934-1940.