Nicanor

Nicanor was a Greco-Egyptian businessman who was the head of a family-run trading company active from AD 6 to AD 22. He supplied Roman garrisons in Egypt with a caravan of at least thirty-six camels.

Nicanor is known from a collection of ostraca called the Nicanor Archive, which provides valuable information about the caravan transport operations that supplied the Red Sea ports during the Roman era. The Nicanor Archive was found at Coptos, Egypt, and consists of transport receipts.

Nicanor’s company held important contracts to deliver monthly food supplies to Roman garrisons stationed in the desert. The supplies were delivered through caravans and Nicanor’ caravan numbered at least thirty-six camels.

Nicanor was hired by Roman businessmen to transport their cargoes across the desert, and when these goods arrived safely, their agents at the ports would issue an ostraca receipt to acknowledge delivery. Member of the company, who was making the delivery, would then return to Coptos with the receipt which could then be used to verify that the delivery had been made exactly as agreed.

The Nicanor Archive numbers 88 ostracon stating the member of Nicanor’s family who transported the goods, the quantity and type of freight conveyed, the delivery destination, the name of the individual who received the consignment, and the date when these dealings were concluded. Therefore it provides valuable information about the identities and activities of Roman businessmen who were operating at the Red Sea ports.