Jewish Victories in Hermopolis
(0379) Text: μία ἦν ἐλπὶς καὶ λοιπὴ προσ- | δοκία ἡ τῶν ἀπὸ τοῦ νομοῦ | ἡμῶν ἀθρώων κωμητῶν | [πρ]ὸς τοὺς ἀνοσίους Ἰο[υδαί]ους | ὠσμή, ἀφʼ ἧς τὰ ἐνα[ν]τία | νῦν ἐξέβη. τῇ γὰρ β[… σ]υν- | βαλόντες οἱ ἡμέτερο[ι] ἡττ[ή-] | θησαν καὶ πολλοὶ [α]ὐ̣τῶν | συνεκόπ[ησαν …] | […] | […]ει[… μέν-] | τοι γε [νῦν παρά τινων ἐλ-] | θόντ[ων ἀπὸ …] | μετελάβομεν τ[ὸ ἄ]γγε[λ]μ[α] | ὅτι ἄλλη λεγεὼν Ῥου[τι]λ̣ίου | ἐλθοῦσα εἰς Μέμ[φ]ιν τῇ κβ’ | προσδόκιμός ἐστιν.
Translation: The one hope and expectation that was left was the push of the massed villagers from our district against the impious Jews; but now the opposite has happened. For on the 20th our forces fought and were beaten and many of them were killed […] now, however, we have received the news from men coming from […] that another legion of Rutilius arrived at Memphis on the 22nd and is expected.
Provenience: Hermopolis, Egypt June 116-Jan 117 CE
Commentary: The Jewish faction of the War of Quietus saw early victories in Hermopolis, warranting additional Roman forces, documented here.
Bibliography: CPJ 438*; P.Brem. 1