Didymoi

25°45′16″N 33°23′40″E / 25.75444°N 33.39444°E / 25.75444; 33.39444 Didymoi (Δίδυμοι) was a Roman fortlet (praesidium) in Egypt that lay along the road from Koptos to Berenike in the Eastern Desert.^[1] It corresponds to the site of Khasm al-Minayh in modern Egypt. It was named after its twin protector gods, Castor and Pollux.^[2]

The fortlet was founded by Lucius Julius Ursus in the ninth year of the Emperor Vespasian, corresponding to AD 76–77. It was built around a well. Construction was overseen by Trebonius Valens, prefect of Berenike. The garrison consisted of a few dozen cavalry and infantry charged with securing the highway. It was commanded by a curator responsible to the prefect of Berenike.^[3] In the late first century, Didymoi was garrisoned by Thracian cavalry.^[4] In the early third century, there were Palmyrene soldiers, including archers, stationed there.^[5] The fortlet remained occupied until the middle of the fourth century.^[6]

Archaeologists have found and published over 400 texts from Didymoi, the majority on ostraca, but also inscribed objects, epigraphy, graffiti and papyri. The texts are mostly in Greek, but also in Latin.^[6] Four Palmyrene soldiers left a bilingual inscription in Greek and Palmyrene Aramaic.^[5] There is a collection of nine published Latin ostraca from the hand of a certain Thracian soldier named Cutus, which may contain traces of the Thracian language.^[4]