E04377: Scarcely legible texts, possibly referring to a martyr shrine (martyrion), and a saint or martyr whose name is lost. Written on papyri in Greek. Found at Nessana/Auja Hafir in the Negev desert (Roman province of Palaestina III). Probably 6th-7th c.

Text 1:

On the recto of a papyrus sheet: 18.8 cm x 8 cm, written along the fibres. The left-hand margin is preserved. Coarse cursive script. Probably 7th c.

The editor identifies this find as a private letter, possibly by an ecclesiastic. Only fragments of words are legible. In line 3 the editor reads: ἀπὸ τοῦ μαρ̣τυρίο[υ - - -], which can be translated 'from the martyr shrine (martyrion) [- - -].

The sheet also bears an unintelligible sequence of letters, possibly an exercise or a magical formula. On the verso there are 11 lines of an unidentified scarcely legible text, written across the fibres.

Text: P.Nessana 152.

Text 2:

On a complete papyrus sheet: 13 cm x 30 cm, written across the fibres. Probably 6th-7th c. The document is probably a letter. The verso may bear an illegible address.

+ ὑμε̣ῖν [- ca.16 -] ̣Ἀ̣λεξ[άν]δρο̣υ δρ̣ο( ) καὶ Στεφάνου
̣ζ[. . . . .]ικετο ̣τ̣ο̣ῦ ἁγί̣ο[υ] κ[. . .]νδο.ρ( ) . . . . [.]. .[.] ἁγίου καὶ ἔχι
καὶ δ̣ιʼ ὑμῶν ̣[- ca.18 -] ̣ειο[.]. .( ) ἐμοῦ Νεσάνων
Αυσος να̣φρ.[- ca.25 -] ̣π̣αρουσία Ἀλεξάν-
δρο[υ .]μ̣υ̣ρ̣α . [- ca.35 -]α.̣ου Ἰωάνο[υ]
καὶ Σεργ̣ί[ου]

'+ To you [- - -] of Alexandros ... and Stephanos [- - -] of the holy and [glorious martyr (?) - - -] of saint/holy and he/she has (?). And through you [- - -] my/of me, of Nessana. Ausos [- - -] in the presence of Alexandros [- - -] of Ioannes and Sergios.'

Text: P.Nessana 153. Translation: P. Nowakowski.

We are tempted to suggest a different reading of line 2: διὰ ... ο]ἰκετο[ῦ] ̣τ̣ο̣ῦ ἁγί̣ο[υ] κ[αἰ ἐ]νδό(ξου) [μά]ρ(τυρος) [Σέρ]γίου καὶ Βάχχ[ου]/'[through ...] the servant of the holy and glorious martyr Sergios and Bakchos', however, this is just a tentative hypothesis.