Commerce

Private Letter
P. Mich. Inv. 5638, item 2
Karanis, 29-132*-DI
In this letter from the correspondence of Apollinarius, the well-traveled writer mentions a shop specializing in dyes. The letter may be dated to the 2nd century A.D.

… Let us nevertheless see their gratitude when the materials are prepared and dressed. Concerning the purple dye I can write you nothing until it comes from the dye shop. If I learn anything about it sooner, I will let you know. In the letters that I sent by Aurelian I wrote you to get from Philetas four … which I left with him, but nonetheless I wrote to him also about this, as well as the itinerary that I made through Syria, Asia, and Achaea, as far as Rome. If by luck you come to Alexandria, buy for me … Marseilles flasks so that I may not put off giving thanks for the favors of the lord Sarapis …