Dream Report from Elephantine

Early 5th Century BCE

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This enigmatic letter, from the first quarter of the fifth century BCE, is addressed to a woman (perhaps the writer's wife) and reports on a dream that left the writer feverish. He gives instructions about providing food for the children. The rest of the letter is unclear and subject to very different translations.

Now, lo, I saw a dream and since then I am very feverish. May Iahmoliah attend to my welfare.

Now, if you wish, do not sell them. Let the children eat them. Lo, there do not remain any cucumbers.

Translated by Bezalel Porten.

Credits

Dream Report, in Bezalel Porten and Ada Yardeni, eds., Textbook of Aramaic Documents from Ancient Egypt, trans. Bezalel Porten (Winona Lake, Ind.: Eisenbrauns, 1999), D7.17, p. 169. Used with permission of Bezalel Porten.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 1.

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This enigmatic letter, from the first quarter of the fifth century BCE, is addressed to a woman (perhaps the writer's wife) and reports on a dream that left the writer feverish. He gives instructions about providing food for the children. The rest of the letter is unclear and subject to very different translations.

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