DEAPS
Digital Editions of Aramaic and Phoenician Sources

Correction Request

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Pap. Cairo EM 86984

Adon Letter

TAD A.1 KAI J. 86984=3483

Metadata

Collection
Egyptian Museum, Cairo, Egypt | EM (Public)
Genres
  • Letter
  • Letter | Official Letter
Find Type
Excavation
Acquired
1942
Created by
James D. Moore
Material
papyrus
Updated by
James D. Moore, 2026-01-18
References
  • Porten, Bezalel and Yardeni, Ada 1986.
General Notes
It has long been thought that the document dates to the 7th century bce, I, however, believe it is a letter writing exercise for Egyptians learning epistolary imperial aramaic.

Porten, Bezalel, and Ada Yardeni. Textbook of Aramaic Documents from Ancient Egypt. 4 vols. Jerusalem: Hebrew University, 1986.
Textual Notes
See Porten, BA, 1981 for photo. In her popular work history of Phonicia, Elayi has a long discussion of this text (pp. 191ff). She, like others, believes it is factual content, which it may be!, but was, in my opinion written in a later period.
Moore, James D.. 'Pap. Cairo EM 86984.' DEAPS. 12 Dec, 2025. https://deaps.osu.edu/text_objects/12723. Accessed: 20 Jan, 2026.