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Skywizard
6th March 2014, 16:44
http://www.livescience.com/images/i/000/063/360/original/soldier-letter-back.jpg?1394070994


A newly deciphered letter home dating back around 1,800 years reveals the pleas of a young Egyptian soldier named Aurelius Polion who was serving, probably as a volunteer, in a Roman legion in Europe.

In the letter, written mainly in Greek, Polion tells his family that he is desperate to hear from them and that he is going to request leave to make the long journey home to see them.

Addressed to his mother (a bread seller), sister and brother, part of it reads: "I pray that you are in good health night and day, and I always make obeisance before all the gods on your behalf. I do not cease writing to you, but you do not have me in mind," it reads.

"I am worried about you because although you received letters from me often, you never wrote back to me so that I may know how you ..." (Part of the letter hasn't survived.)

Polion says he has written six letters to his family without response, suggesting some sort of family tensions.

"While away in Pannonia I sent (letters) to you, but you treat me so as a stranger," he writes. "I shall obtain leave from the consular (commander), and I shall come to you so that you may know that I am your brother …"


Read Full Story: http://www.livescience.com/43900-ancient-egyptian-soldier-letter-deciphered.html


peace...

sirdipswitch
6th March 2014, 18:27
Could the common man, during this time, even read and write?

Harley
6th March 2014, 20:28
Something doesn't feel right about this story.
Oh yea, it's from livescience.com.

They had a postal service for commoners 1,800 years ago?

Sure would like to get my hands on one of those stamps!

:)

sirdipswitch
6th March 2014, 20:37
Something doesn't feel right about this story.
Oh yea, it's from livescience.com.

They had a postal service for commoners 1,800 years ago?

Sure would like to get my hands on one of those stamps!

:)


Hey Harley!!! I loved the part where he said he was going to "obtain a leave", so he could go home!!! chuckle chuckle.

Harley
6th March 2014, 20:52
Hey Harley!!! I loved the part where he said he was going to "obtain a leave", so he could go home!!! chuckle chuckle.

If there's any truth to that story at all, I would say that things have not changed much in 1,800 years.

Oh wait, we do have Skype now! :)

Ellisa
6th March 2014, 22:49
There have been letters home found in the area of Hadrian's Wall in the UK. Some of them were written by ordinary Roman soldiers, as well as the ones written by officers and officials. Sometimes others would act as a scribe for those who were not able to read and write- some countries with areas of low literacy still have scribes today. Many Romans were literate, including soldiers, but often it was the slaves who acted as secretaries.--- though even some women learned to read and write!!!!! Literacy was generally much lower in the Dark Ages and medieval times, when even kings were proud of their lack of learning in that area--- which was handled mainly by monks, and also nuns.

I found it touching that the stranded soldier was so homesick and unhappy. Some things never change.