Письмо Орея из Мирмекия

Stratum Plus. 2024. № 6. С. 35–40.

Shelov-Kovedyaev F. V.

The author has republished a lead letter from the excavations at Myrmekion in 2017, dating from the third or fourth
quarters of the fifth century BC. The sender, Oreios, addresses greetings to four recipients: his manager Pythocles, the captain of his ship Diodoros, and two companions — Kerkion and Saittines. In the letter, Oreios expresses his troubles and provides a series of instructions. He requests that Pythocles send him a cloak for himself, along with two additional cloaks for sale. He also asks Pythocles to capture a slave who has robbed him and escaped, and to send two other slaves to an unnamed individual. Furthermore, Oreios requests that the kybernetes deliver a letter to him from a third party. He asks Pythocles to inform Kerkion and Saittines about the opportunities available to them on his ship. The letter portrays Oreios as a wealthy merchant and shipowner engaged in extensive trade, spanning from Eastern Crimea to the Island known as Νῆσος (presentday Taman Peninsula). It also includes the ancient name of the Akmonai Isthmus (Τράχηλος) and introduces three new names: Εὔποντις (or Εὐποντίς), Κερκίων, and Σαϊττίνης. Additionally, the letter provides information about a location on the Akmonai Isthmus that was considered dangerous for travelers in the fifth century BC.

Keywords: письмо, Боспор, Bosporus, графика, graphics, шрифт, letter, script, Lead, свинец