Memphis Police Department

Discuss the culture of Alexander's world and his image in art

Moderator: pothos moderators

Post Reply
system1988
Hetairos (companion)
Posts: 739
Joined: Sun Feb 06, 2011 11:20 am
Location: Athens, Greece

Memphis Police Department

Post by system1988 »

Not Memphis in the US to be clear, but more of Memphis of Egypt where a 2nd BC greek papyrus originates from is saved. It bears the announcement of the escape of 2 slaves. The text is 26 lines long but only 13 are available to me. In those lines the features and the exact characteristics of Hermon, the first escapee as well as the valuables and the rest of the items that he stole during his escape. In the non-available lines, the reward to the one who brings the slave back or points the authorities or a trustworthy man to him is specified.

The papyrus text
pppppppppppppppppppppppp.jpg
pppppppppppppppppppppppp.jpg (239.95 KiB) Viewed 2404 times
and the translation

"In the 16th of the month "Epif" of the 25th year Hermon,
also known as Neilos escaped to Alexandria from his master, the
"ambassador Aristogenos Chrissipos of the town of Alabanda".
Hermon is from Vamviki of Syria. He is near 18, of medium height,
with nice thighs, beardless, with a cleft on his chin , a mole on the left side
near the nose and a scar over the right corner of his mouth
and he is marked with burning iron on his right wrtist with
two non greek letters. He carried along with him golden coins
weighing 3 mnae, 10 pearls, an iron chainlink from which a small vase with oil
and stlegides hangs. He wore a chlamida and covering cloth."

DSC05386.JPG
DSC05386.JPG (246.62 KiB) Viewed 2404 times
The above is a kit with everything needed for the palaistra, just like on of the stolen items. I think that 2 of the words above are also used in modern English. The word "onoma" has become "name" in English. "Estigmenos"
is from the greek word "stigmata" which has passed also in the same form to english.

If I titled this post likewise is because the description given is basically the same as the police departments of today use. I wonder if he was ever captured.... he had nice thighs after all....

Pauline
Last edited by system1988 on Wed Feb 24, 2016 7:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Πάντες άνθρωποι του ειδέναι ορέγονται φύσει
User avatar
Xenophon
Hetairos (companion)
Posts: 847
Joined: Fri Jul 03, 2009 3:16 am

Re: Memphis Police Department

Post by Xenophon »

In the words of the immortal Mr Spock: "Fascinating,Captain..."

An interesting insight into daily life......

Thank you for posting this. :)
system1988
Hetairos (companion)
Posts: 739
Joined: Sun Feb 06, 2011 11:20 am
Location: Athens, Greece

Re: Memphis Police Department

Post by system1988 »

Xenophon wrote:In the words of the immortal Mr Spock: "Fascinating,Captain..."

An interesting insight into daily life......

Thank you for posting this. :)

I finally googled what you meant by "fascinating". My son is the Star Trek fan here so this is his doing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFods1KSWsQ
Πάντες άνθρωποι του ειδέναι ορέγονται φύσει
Post Reply