Bible Lexicons

In BGU III. 1012.3 (ii/B.C.) we have a letter addressed to Antaeus παρὰ Μαρρέου [ς τ ]οῦ Πετ [ο ]σείριος ἐμπόρου, and in ib. IV. 1061.15 (B.C. 14) an attack is made ληστρικῶι τρόπωι ἐπί τινα ἔμπορον τῶν ἐκ τοῦ Ὀξυρυγχίτου. P Oxy I. 36ii. 9 (ii/iii A.D.) provides that if the tax-farmer desires that a ship be unloaded—.13 ff. ὁ ἔμπορος ἐκφορτιζέ [τ ]ω, ";the merchant shall unload it,"; but that if the ship’s ";manifest"; be found correct—ὁ τελώνης τ [ὴ ]ν δαπάνην τῷ ἐμπό [ρ ]ῳ τοῦ ἐκφορτισμοῦ ἀποδ [ότ ]ω, ";the tax-farmer shall repay to the merchant the cost of unloading."; Add Preisigke 1070 τὸ προσκύνημα Ἡρακλεί [δ ]ου Μενεμεν.αλιτος ἐμπόρου παρὰ τῷ θ [ε ]ῷ κυρί [ῳ Βησᾷ. For ἔμπορος in its primitive sense of viator Herwerden (Lex. s.v.) cites Bacchyl. xvii. 36 ἔμπορον οἷ᾽ ἀλάταν ἐπ᾽ ἀλλοδαμίαν, ";like a wayfarer who wanders forth to a strange folk"; (Jebb) : cf. Cagnat IV. 144.10 (Cyzicus, i/A.D.) τῶν ἀπὸ τῆς [Ἀσίας. . . ]ν ἐνπόρων καὶ ξένων τῶν ἐληλυθότων εἰς τὴν πανήγυριν. For the ";classic"; distinction between ἔμπορος and κάπηλος see Plato de Rep. ii. 371D.