CG no. 269

Could this be a scribal exercise given it begins "to my brother..."? Clearly the paleography is atypical. <note>The spelling מנפיס rather than נא indicates a Hellinistic period date.</note> <<< this note may be incorrect. I may simply indicate a Greek or Phoenician writing in Aramaic. Cf. concordance entries for "Memphis" especially 12333. Brooklyn Museum 47.218.151. recto. 3. which is dateable to the turn of the 4th century. the fact that this is a letter written only cv also indicates a Hellinistic date. <<< this point has some credit. Note that the supposed "early" forms of the alef are used. The text is formatted on the outside of the vessel, but the sherd's size and orientation make it look as though it were written on the outside of a complete vessel. I think this is a rare example of a label and missive together. This would then indicate what is in the vessel: something called "duck" or "fish" or something called a "duck-fish." Perhaps duck-fish or are ducks sent in vessels? Fish are. Alternatively, could this be a misspelling for בת bat?