Sogdian Ancient Letter 1
- Sogdian Ancient Letters

VERSO

1 MN δwγth 
2 mywzʼ(y)h 
3 ʼʼzʼtch
From her daughter, the free-woman Miwnay,

1 ʽ(D) p[ryw] 
2 mʼth [ 
to her d[ear] mother [Chatis].

RECTO

1 [MN δw](γ)δryh (my)[wzʼyh ]ʼʼz(ʼ)tch ʽD (p)ryw [mʼth] cʼt(ʼ)ysh [ʼ](ʼ)pryw nmʼ[cyw ](ʼ)PZYš
[From her dau]ghter, the free-woman Mi[wnay], to her dear [mother] Chatis, blessing and homage.

2 šy[r ]YWM (Z)[KZ]Yβ [ḤZY]H ZY δrwch ʼncyh ʼḤRZY[mn Z]K YWM prtr ZY ʼYKZYβn [x](w)ty wynʼymn
It would be a good day for him who might [see] you healthy and at ease;

3 pr δrwstʼ[t]wh (ʼ)[ḤR]ZYm ʼzmʼʼnk kʼδyw ʼPZYβ[n w](y)nʼym(n) ʼḤRZY βxtk n(y)[s](t) ʼḤRZYm
and [for me] that day would be the best when we ourselves might see you in good health. I am very anxious to see you, but have no luck.

4 ptškwʼt (s)ʼγʼ[rʼ](k) βʼnk(rʼ)m ʼḤRZY βʼnkrʼm [m]ʼδ wʼβt ʼnyw ZY mδʼ nny[δ](t) pntrw
I petitioned the councillor Sagharak, but the councillor says: Here there is no other relative closer to Nanai-dhat

5 nyst ʼYKZ[Y ]ʼ(r)[tyβ](ʼ)n ʼḤRZYm ptškwʼt ʼr(t)[yβ]ʼn ʼḤRZY mʼδ wʼβt prnxwnt ZY
than Artivan. And I petitioned Artivan, but he says: Farnkhund ...,

6 ʼxšnyβnt [ ]ʼzw Lʼ nmʼw ʼpδβyrʼt L(ʼ) nmʼw ptxwt ʼḤRZY (p)rnxwnt mʼδ
and I refuse to hurry, I refuse to ... And Farnkhund

7 mʼδ wʼβt kδZY (ny)š ktʼwʼntk γwtm Lʼ ptsynt ʼPZYtn šwʼy pytsʼr ʼkʼw
says: If your husband’s relative does not consent that you should go back to your

8 mʼth ʼYKZYt* ʼzw škrʼn ʼḤRZY pcksʼ ʼYKZY nmcwʼ sʼn tysʼt ʼḤRZY ʼst kδ
* The -t ends with a blot, but can hardly be read -tn (with Reichelt).
mother, how should I take you? Wait until ... comes; perhaps

9 nnyδt tysʼt ʼḤRZY ʼzwʼm βyzβrʼk ʼpw nγ(ʼ)wδn ʼpw ʼzγʼmk ʼḤRZY x(wy)zʼm* pʼ(r)h
* The y is badly formed, so that the word looks like xwznʼm (or xp-, but hardly xpsʼm with Henning).
Nanai-dhat will come. I live wretchedly, without clothing, without money;

10 ʼḤRZYm nyδk nmt δβrt ʼḤRZY ptwyδʼm ʼc βγnptw ZKw srδmʼnytw <ʼḤRZYm mʼδ wγtw-δʼrt> ʼḤRZY kδ 
I ask for a loan, but no-one consents to give me one, so I depend on charity from the priest.

11 šwy ʼḤRZYtn ʼzw ʼxwštrw δβrʼn ʼḤRZY mrtʼxmk šwyʼ ʼḤRZY ʼwy rʼδy(h) 
He said to me: If you go, I will give you a camel, and a man should go with you, and on the way I will look after you well.

12 šyrʼkk ksʼn ʼḤRZYm wytwr kwny ʼPZY δyγh prst(y)y
May he do so for me until you send me a letter!