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The Oxyrhynchus Papyri, Vol. 4, edited by Bernard P. Grenfell and Arthur S. Hunt (London: Egypt Exploration Fund, 1903)
Private contracts, accounts, and letters: Nos. 713-747 (2 BC - AD 247) [1] [2]
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No.713. Claim of Ownership. 38.5 x 9 cm. AD 97.
A declaration addressed to the keepers of the record office by a
certain Leonides, requesting the formal registration (parathesis) of
his prospective right to some property at present in the ownership of
his mother. The claim to the property in question depended upon the
marriage contract of the writer's parents, in which their joint
possessions were secured {kataschon) on their demise to their children.
The father had died, and his property had been duly divided between
Leonides and his brother and sister. The mother was still living, and
had already made over two-thirds of her real estate to this brother and
sister upon the marriage of the pair. Leonides, who was probably the
younger son, therefore wished that note should be taken of this
division, and that his own title to the remaining third of the property
should be placed on record. The document is dated in Phamenoth of the
ist year of Nerva, i.e. A.D. 97. It is not known that a general
apographe of real property occurred in that year, while 481 shows that
such a registration took place in A. D. 99. There is evidence that
general apographai separated only by a two years' interval, were held
in A.D. 129 and 131 (75, 715, B.G. U. 420, &c.), but that these
both affected the same nome is not yet ascertained. Pending further
data it will therefore be best to suppose that the present was a
special declaration called forth by the peculiar circumstances of the
case.
translation:
" Inserted on the register. To Demetrius and Apollonius and Diogenes,
keepers of the records, from Leonides son of Diodorus son of Diodorus,
his mother being Saraeus daughter of Leonides, of Oxyrhynchus. My
parents, Diodorus son of Diodorus son of Agathinus, and Saraeus
daughter of Leonides son of Alexander, her mother being Isidora
daughter of Calas, of the said city, in accordance with the contract of
marriage made between them through the record office of the said city
in the month Sebastus of the 12th year of the deified Claudius settled
upon their joint issue the whole of their property, in order that after
their death it might be the secure and inalienable possession of their
children ; and whereas my father died leaving me and my brother and
sister, Diodorus and Thais, his heirs, and his property devolved upon
us, and whereas our mother possesses at Nesla 9^ arourae and at Peenno
2^ arourae of the concessional?) land of Thrasymachus, together making
12 arourae, and bestowed upon my brother and sister aforesaid through
their marriage contract 4 each of the arourae at Nesla, that is
one-third of the aforesaid 12 arourae : I too declare for registration
my right to the remaining 4 arourae of my mother ; and the aforesaid
contract of my parents remains in force and uncancelled to the present
day. The 1st year of the Emperor Nerva Caesar Augustus, Pharmenoth 19."
Signature of Demetrius and date.
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No. 714. Selection of Boys (Epikrisis) Fr. (a) 4.2 x5, Fr. (b) 29x5 cm. AD 122.
An application addressed to a variety of officials by an Oxyrhynchite
who enjoyed the privilege of paying a reduced poll-tax of 13 drachmae,
requesting that a slave who had been born in his house and had reached
the age of thirteen might be placed on the same privileged list. This
papyrus thus confirms the evidence of 478 and B.G.U. 324, that the
liability of slaves in respect of poll-tax was determined by that of
their owners. A discussion of the general question of epikrisis is
given in P. Oxy. II. pp. 217 sqq. This papyrus is interesting
palaeographically, being carefully written in a semi-uncial hand
approximating to the sloping oval type, examples of which are often too
indiscriminately assigned to the third century.
translation:
"To Philonicus also called Hermodorus,
basilico-grammateus, and Dionysius and a second Dionysius, keepers of
the archives and officers in charge of the selection, and to ApoUonius,
ex-exegetes and scribe of the city, from Apollonius ... of the city of
Oxyrhynchus, living in the West Quay quarter. My slave . . . , born in
the house to my female slave . . . , has reached the age of 1 3 years
in the past 5th year of Hadrlanus Caesar the lord. I therefore declare
that I am rated at 12 drachmae by a poll-tax list of the 2nd year of
Hadrianus Caesar the lord at the said quarter, and I swear by the
Emperor Caesar Trajanus Hadrianus Augustus that I have made no false
statement." Date and docket of registration.
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No. 715. Registration of Property. 30.7 x 11.5 cm. AD 131.
A return of house-property in the Heracleopolite nome, addressed, as
usual, to the keepers of the archives, in A. D. 131, when a general of
real property took place; cf. B.G.U. 420 and 459, and 237. viii. 31,
note. The formula is practically the same as that found in the
Oxyrhynchus returns, e.g. 75 and 481. At the end is a docket of the
Bibliophulax.
translation:
" To Heras and Origenes, ex-gymnasiarchs, keepers
of ihe records of real property in the Heracleopolite nome, from
Gorgias and Galestus both sons of Polemon son of Gorgias, their mother
being Dionysias daughter of Galestus, from the village of Toemisis. We
register at our own risk jointly and equally for the present 15th year
of Hadrianus Caesar the lord in accordance with the command the
property which has devolved upon us from our deceased father Polemon
son of Gorgias and Tapontos, from the said Toemisis, viz. the third
share which fell to him of a house at the said Toemisis and his share
of a piece of open ground, and what previously belonged to his sister
Helene daughter of Gorgias and the said Tapontos, in accordance with a
will which was opened in the 12th year of Hadrianus Caesar the lord,
near the village of Ibion Pachnoubis in the holding of Zoilus and
Numenius 1 7/8 arourae of catoecic land, and near Pselemach( ) in the
holding of Menippus and Artemidorus 1/4 aroura of catoecic land. And we
swear by the Fortune of the Emperor Caesar Trajanus Hadrianus Augustus
and by our ancestral gods that we have honestly and truly presented the
foregoing declaration and that we have made no false statement, or may
we be liable to the penalties of the oath. The 15th year of the Emperor
Caesar Trajanus Pladrianus Augustus, 5th intercalary day of the month
Caesareus. 1, Gorgias the aforesaid, have presented the declaration. I,
Heras e.x-gymnasiarch, through Hippod( ), scribe, my representative,
have entered it on the register jointly at the risk of the declaring
parties, no public or private interests being injured. 5th intercalary
day."
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No. 716. Auction of a Slave. 18.8 x 11.8 cm. AD 186.
An application to a gymnasiarch from the guardians of three minors for
a public auction of their wards' respective shares, amounting to
two-thirds in all, of a male slave. The remaining third part of the
slave was the property of the minors' half-brother, but had been
emancipated by him ; and this combination of circumstances led to the
present request for an auction (hothen epididomen), 1. 1 8), though the
legal point involved is not very clear. It is however certain, as
Professor Mitteis remarks, that neither this papyrus nor 722, where a
partial manumission is also concerned, can be brought under Roman law,
according to which, at this period, in the case of a joint ownership of
a slave, a manumitted share simply passed to the other owners (Ulpian,
Fr. i. 18). There can therefore be only a question of Greek or Egyptian
law ; and in the absence of parallels recourse must be had to more or
less probable hypotheses. At the outset a doubt arises whether or not
the partial manumission was the direct cause of the public auction. It
is quite possible that the parties concerned merely wished to wind up
their joint ownership, and that the details respecting the liberated
share are accidental. If, however, the manumission was an essential
factor, as in 1. 18 would rather indicate, the course here followed may
be supposed to have been prescribed either in the interest of the slave
or of the owners. In a sale by public auction the rights of a partially
freed slave could be safeguarded in a manner which would not be
practicable in a private treaty ; and this consideration supplies a
very likely explanation of the present proceedings. Or, on the other
hand, as Mitteis suggests, a sale by auction would protect an owner who
wished to retain his share of a slave against a partner or partners who
desired manumission. A sale of this kind would place the larger owner
at an advantage against the smaller, since the former, if successful,
would pay the latter only a fraction of the purchase-money, while the
higher the bid of the small owner the greater the sum due from him to
the predominant partner.
translation:
"To Asclepiades also called Sarapion,
gymnasiarch, greeting, from Horion son of Panechotes son of Doras, his
mother being Taous, and from ApoUonius son of Dorion son of Heras, his
mother being Thaesis, and from Abascantus, freedman of Samus son of
Heraclides, all three of Oxyrhynchus and guardians of the children of
Theon also called Dionysius, namely Eudaemonis, whose mother is
Sintheus, and Dionysius and Thaesis, whose mother is Tauris, being
minors and all three of the said city. The said minors own, Eudaemonis
one-sixth and Dionysius and Thaesis a half, together twothirds, of a
slave of their father's named Sarapion, aged about 30 years, the
remaining third share of whom, belonging to Diogenes their brother on
the father's side, has been set free by him. We therefore present this
memorandum requesting that in respect of (?) the aforesaid two-thirds a
public auction should be held, and that the property should be handed
over to the highest bidder. The 27th year of the Emperor Caesar Marcus
Aurelius Commodus Antoninus Pius Felix Augustus Armeniacus Medicus
Parthicus Sarmaticus Germanicus Maximus Britannicus, Thoth."
Signatures of Horion, ApoUonius and Abascantus, that of the last-named
being written for him by Diogenes son of Theon.
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No. 718. Petition to the Epistrategus. 25.8 x 17.5 cm. AD 180-192.
A petition from Antistius Primus, who had held the chief priesthood and
other offices at Oxyrhynchus, complaining that a payment due to the
government upon 4 arourae of Crown land had been demanded from him,
although his property included no land of that character. The land in
question had perhaps been the subject of a perpetual lease, and owing
to lapse of time and deficiencies in the survey-lists its identity had
become doubtful ; cf. a similar case in P. Amh. 68. 52 sqq.
From the character of the handwriting the papyrus must belong to the
latter half of the second century, and there can be little doubt that
the Xenophon here addressed, who was evidently a high official, was T.
Claudius Xenophon, known to have been epistrategus in the reign of
Commodus (C.I.L. III. 6575, 8042).
translation:
"To his highness the epistrategus Titus Claudius
Xenophon from . . . Antislius Primus also called Lollianus, . . . ,
e.x-chief-priest ... of the city of OxyrhjTichus . . . I bought from
Dionysius . . . with Alexander the land at Sennis . . . belonging to
him in consequence of the division made with . . . and his brother
Apollonius the younger, namely 52^ arourae of corn-land and | aroura of
building-land, free from obligations in respect of Crown land or
Imperial estates or temple land, in accordance with the division made
by me vith the (my .') brothers, the taxes upon the private land only
being paid by me. A very long while afterwards, forty years having
elapsed, it somehow happened after the death of the seller Dionysius
that the komogrammateus of . . . , to whose district Sennis also
belongs, in answer to an inquiry concerning the landlord from whom
the demand should be made of the imposts for 4 arourae of Crown
land amounting to 15 artabae of wheat, stated that these 4 arourae of
Crown land were included in the 53 arourae belonging to me which I
bought from Dionysius and . . . , and that therefore the imposts ought
to be paid by me . . . , although I have never had Crown land included
in mine nor cultivate any and am altogether ignorant of the statements
of the komogrammateus, and although the imposts for the said 4 arourae
have for years been paid in the regular course by others. Therefore
since I have incurred no small loss and it is unjust that I should be
asked to pay the imposts on land which does not belong to me and which
I do not cultivate, I beg you, if you think fit, to write to the
strategus of the nome, in order that in accordance with the decrees he
may direct the officials whose duty it is to . . . the 4 arourae of
Crown land declared by the komogrammateus to be included in my private
land, and may state the owner from whom the demand for the imposts may
reasonably be made; for I shall retain a claim for the sums with which
I was wrongfully charged against the person proved to be responsible
for the payment, that so I may obtain relief. Farewell. (Signed)
Presented by me, . . . Antistius Primus also called Lollianus, through
Apollonius . . ."
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No. 719. Registration of Deed. 19.8 x 16.6 cm. AD 193.
A notice addressed to the strategus by a certain Didymus of an
authorization received by him from the archidicastes in answer to an
application which he had made for the registration of a purchase of
some house property. A copy of the application, itself enclosing a copy
of the agreement of sale, is appended, and gives some interesting
information concerning the formalities attending this process of
registration, which we think has not hitherto been understood. Texts of
the same class already published are B. G. U. 455, 578 and 717, to
which an important Leipzig papyrus will shortly be added (cf. P. Grenf.
II. 71. 6, B. G. U. 970. 20-a, 983. 10). The object in all these cases
is to effect the ' publication' (demosiosis) of private agreements made
by note of hand (cheirographa),and the publication consisted in the
registration of the agreements at the Library of Hadrian and the
Nanaeum at Alexandria (cf. I. 35 below, B. G. U. 578. 19, and 34).
For such registration of a copy of an agreement the fixed charge of 13
drachmae was payable (11. 30-1), to which is added in the Leipzig
papyrus a tax proportionate to the value involved ; a declaration had
to be made that the document registered was really written by the
person by whom it purported to have been issued (11. 33-4, B. G. U.
717. 36, &c.) ; and a notice of the transaction was served in the
ordinary way through the strategus upon the other contracting party,
who would of course raise objections if any irregularity had occurred
(11. 3-4)• We are unable to find here, with Gradenwitz {Eiufiihrung,
pp. 36-7), any question of a comparison of deeds or handwriting. The
purpose was rather to obtain for the agreement concerned a validity
which, as a mere cheirographon,it did not previously possess,
notwithstanding the formula (hos en demosio katekechorismene) (1.
28, &c.). In B. G. U. 578 the demosiosis was preparatory to an
action at law arising out of the non-fulfilment of the terms of
the cheirographon. In the other cases no such purpose is
specified, and the step taken is only precautionary. This demosiosis of
cheirographa is to be distinguished from the simple notification to the
archidicastes of contracts without any reference to katachorismos at
the two libraries (cf. 727, introd.).
The papyrus bears the date Phaophi of the 3nd year of Pescennius3 Niger
; other documents dated shortly before the collapse of his power are
801 and P. Grenf II. 60.
translation:
" To Achilles also called Casius, strategus, from
Didymus son of Ammonius and Helene, a settler from Heliopolis. Appended
is a copy of the oiTicial response received by me from the record
office. " Vitalius, priest and archidicastes, to the strategus of the
Oxyrhynchite nome, greeting. Let a copy of the petition which has been
presented be served as follows. Good-bye. The 2nd year of Gains
Pescennius Niger Justus Augustus, Phaophi 28. Signed by me . . .
Written by me, Polemon son of . . . scribe of the record office. . . .
To Vitalius, priest, archidicastes and superintendent of the
chrematistae and other courts, from Didymus son of Ammonius and Helene,
a settler from Heliopolis. Appended is a copy of the bond issued singly
to me. Papontos son of Bithys and Tsenpachous, of Ision Tryphonis in
the Oxyrhynchite nome, to Didymus son of Apollonius and Helene, a
settler from Heliopolis, greeting. I acknowledge that I have sold and
ceded to you from henceforth for ever of my property in the said Ision
Tryphonis in the southern part of the village a half share of two
houses, one having two storeys, the other a yard, owned jointly by me
and my brother Paous, the boundaries of which are, of the one with the
yard, on the south an entrance and exit, on the north the property of
the heirs of Diogas, on the east that of the heirs of Horus, on the
west a public road, and of the other, on the south the property of
Papontos son of Mouihis, on the north that of Heraclides son of Horion,
on the east a public road, on the west the property of Miusis son of
Melas, at the price agreed upon between us for the cession namely 2000
drachmae of the Imperial silver coinage, which sum I have received
immediately from hand to hand . . . ; and I guarantee the houses free
from public and private debts and unaffected by persons'
property-returns or any other claims, the right resting with you to
cede to others and to manage and dispose of them as you choose. This
contract, written by me, Papontos, in my own hand without erasure or
insertion, is valid as though publicly registered. The ist year of
Gaius Pescennius Niger Justus Augustus, Pauni 20. Being therefore
desirous that the authentic bond should be publicly registered I offer
the prescribed 12 drachmae, in order that the regulations concerning
publication may not apply to me (?), and that a single copy may be
published, and request you to take this authentic bond bearing my
attestation that it is the autograph of Papontos and register it
together with this petition at the Library of Hadrian . . ."
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No. 720. Request for a Guardian. 21.5 x 9.8 cm. AD 247. Plate VII.
A petition in Latin addressed to the praefect, Claudius Valerius
Firmus, by a woman named Aurelia Ammonarion, that he would appoint a
particular person as her guardian in accordance with the lex lulia et
Titia, This measure, which is supposed to have been passed in B.C. 31,
empowered the praefects of provinces to assign guardians to women and
minors who were without them. Appended to the document, which is signed
in Greek by the petitioner and her proposed guardian, is the reply of
the praefect making the appointment as desired. The rarity of
accurately-dated specimens of Latin cursive gives the papyrus a
considerable palaeographical interest.
translation:
"To Claudius Valerius Firmus, praefect of Egypt,
from Aurelia Ammonarion. I beg, my lord, that you will grant me as my
guardian Aurelius Plutammon in accordance with the lex lulia Titia . .
. Dated in the consulship of our lords Philippus Augustus for the 2nd
time and Philippus Caesar. (Signed) I, Aurelia Ammonarion, have
presented the petition. T, Aurelius Plutammon, assent to the request.
The 4th year, Tubi 10. (Endorsed) In order that . . . may not be
absent, I appoint Plutammon as guardian in accordance with the lex
lulia et Titia. Received by me."
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No. 721. Sale of Crown Land. 15 x16.5 cm. AD 13-14.
An offer addressed by two persons to Gaius Seppius Rufus, perhaps
idiologus, for the purchase of 19 arourae of land which had reverted to
the State and was at the time uncultivated, at the price of 1 2
drachmae per aroura. The document follows, so far as it goes, the same
formula as P.Amh. 68. 17-24, which Mitteis is no doubt right in
explaining, not as a sale in the strict sense, but as an example of
emphyteusis or hereditary lease (Zeitschr. Savigny-St.
1901, pp. 151 sqq.)—a custom for which we now have evidence in Egypt as
early as the second century BC (cf P.Tebt. I. 5. 12). That this is the
true nature of the transaction, in spite of the use of the term xxx, is
shown both by the lowness of the price—in P.Amh. 68. 21, 20 drachmae,
here only 12—and by the provision in the Amherst papyrus for an annual
rent. Cf. 835, which is a similar offer for the 'purchase' of land
addressed to the same official as 721, and P. Amh. 97. The document was
never completed, blank spaces being left for some of the dates.
translation:
"To Gaius Seppius Rufus from Polemon son of
Tryphon and Archelaus son of . . . We wish to purchase in the
Oxyrhynchite nome of the Crown land returned as unproductive up to the
. . . year of Caesar, from the holdings which were confiscated in the .
. . year of Caesar and became unfruitful and the holdings confiscated
up to and including the . . . year of Caesar, exclusive of temple land,
for cultivation in the coming 44th year of Caesar—namely Polemon at
Thosbis and Tepouis in the upper toparchy fifteen arourae, total 15
arourae, and Archelaus at ... in the toparchy of Thmoisepho, four
arourae, total 4 arourae, total 19 arourae, with the understanding that
on these being assigned to us we shall pay into the local State-bank
the price ordered for each aroura, 12 drachmae of silver, and shall
have for their reclamation and cultivation immunity from taxation for
three years from the coming 44th year of Caesar . . "
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No. 722. Emancipation of a Slave. 24-3 x 10 cm. AD 91 or 107.
This document, which contains a formal emancipation of a female slave,
drawn up before the agoranomi and concluding with an acknowledgement of
the ransom, is of great interest as being the first specimen of its
class from Egypt which is prior to the introduction of the
constitutio Antonina, and illustrating the differences between
Graeco-Egyptian and Roman law on the subject of manumission. Of the two
previously known parallels, B.G.U. 96, which is a mere fragment,
belongs to the third century and the Papyrus Edmondstone (facsimile in
Young's Hieroglyphics, ii, Plate 46 ; text in Curtius, Anee. Delph.
App. i, Wessely, Jarrescher. des k. k. Staatsgym. in Hernals, xiii, pp.
47-8) to AD 354.
Since the publications of the latter papyrus are somewhat inaccessible,
we append the text of it on p. 202. Other papyri concerning the
emancipation of slaves are 716, 723, a similar but much shorter example
of a second century manumission, 489 and 349, which are letters to the
agoranomi authorizing them to liberate slaves. The ends of lines are
lost throughout 722, but can in part be restored either from the
context or from a comparison with another and quite complete specimen
of an emancipation, written in the reign of Commodus, which we
opportunely found in January, 1904.
The most striking feature of 722 is the circumstance that it is
concerned, not with the emancipation of an individual whose status was
entirely that of a slave, but with a joint manumission by two brothers
of the third part of a slave who as regards the other two-thirds had
already been made free ; cf. the parallel case in 716 and, as it now
appears, in P. Edmondstone 6. That the previous owner of the 2/3 was a
different person from the two owners of the 1/3 is not stated directly
but is in the light of 716 likely enough. It is also noticeable that
the ransom is paid, not by the slave herself or by a banker, but by a
private individual, perhaps her prospective husband, and that a
distinction is drawn between the paid to the owner and a small sum in
silver which probably went to the State ; cf. note on 1. 19.
translation:
"The l0th year of the Emperor Caesar Domitianus
Augustus Germanicus, on the 6th intercalary day of Hyperberetaeus, dies
Augustus, which is the 6th intercalary day of the month Caesarius, dies
Augustus, at Oxyrhynchus in the Thebaid, before three agoranomi called
Psammis, Achilleus, aged about 20 years, of middle height, fair, having
a long face and a scar on the middle of his forehead, and Sarapas, aged
about . . . years, of middle height, fair, having a long face and a
scar on his left . . . , both sons of . . . son of Ammonius, their
mother being Sarapous daughter of ... , all of Oxyrhynchus, have set
free under sanction of Zeus, Earth, and Sun (the deed being drawn up in
the street) the third part which they jointly own of the slave who has
been freed as regards the other two thirds, ApoUonous, aged about 26,
of middle height, fair, having a long face and a scar on the right
foot, . . . for . . . drachmae 4 obols of coined silver and the ransom
paid to Achilleus and Sarapas by Heraclas son of Tryphon son of . . . ,
his mother being Taonnophris daughter of . . . of the said city, aged
about 31, of middle height, fair, having a long face and a scar above
his right knee, namely 200 drachmae of Imperial silver coin and . . .
talents 1000 drachmae of copper ; Achilleus or any one else on his
behalf being forbidden to make any demand of the aforesaid ransom from
ApoUonous or her assigns, or to . . . The certifier of the manumission
is . . . son of PeteSsis, his mother being . . . , of the said city,
aged about 40, of middle height, fair, having a long face and a scar
upon his . . . shin, in the same street. ' 1, Achilleus, have with my
brother Sarapas effected the emancipation of the third part of the
slave ApoUonous, and I have received the ransom, two hundred drachmae
of silver ,"
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No. 724. Apprenticeship to Shorthand-Writer. 18.3 x 21.3 cm. AD 155.
Contract whereby an ex-cosmetes of Oxyrhynchus apprenticed his slave to
a shorthand -writer for two years to be taught to read and write
shorthand, the teacher receiving 120 drachmae in all. The contract was
drawn up by an unprofessional scribe, and the language is often
confused.
translation:
"Panechotes also called Panares, ex-cosmetes of Oxyrhynchus, through
his friend Gemellus, to Apollonius, writer of shorthand, greeting. I
have placed with you my slave Chaerammon to be taught the signs which
your son Dionysius knows, for a period of two years dating from the
present month Phamenoth of the 1 8th year of Antoninus Caesar the lord
at the salary agreed upon between us, 120 silver drachmae, not
including feast-days; of which sum you have received the first
installment amounting to 40 drachmae, and you will receive the second
installment consisting of 40 drachmae when the boy has learnt the whole
system, and the third you will receive at the end of the period when
the boy writes fluently in every respect and reads faultlessly, viz.
the remaining 40 drachmae. If you make him perfect within the period, I
will not wait for the aforesaid limit ; but it is not lawful for me to
take the boy away before the end of the period, and he shall remain
with you after the expiration of it for as many days or months as he
may have done no work. The 18 th year of the Emperor Caesar Titus
Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius, Phamenoth 5."
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No. 725. Apprenticeship to a Weaver. 30.7 x 11 cm. AD 183.
A contract between Ischyrion and Heraclas, in which the former
apprentices to the latter a boy called Thonis, probably the ward of
Ischyrion, for five years, to be taught the trade of weaving.
Arrangements are made for the provision of wages (after two years and
seven months) and clothes for Thonis by Heraclas on an ascending scale,
and for the case of Thonis' absence from his work for more than the 20
days allowed for holidays. Cf 275, a similar contract with a weaver
written lao years previously, upon which the supplements in 11. 1-5 are
based.
translation:
"schyrion son of Heradion and . . ., of Oxyrhynchus, and Heraclas son
of Sarapion also called Leon, son of Heraclides, his mother being . .
., of the said city, weaver, agree with each other as follows
:—Ischyrion on the one part that he has apprenticed to Heraclas . . .
Thonis, a minor, to be taught the art of weaving for a period of five
years starting from the ist of next month, Phaophi, and will produce
him to attend the teacher for the stipulated period every day from
sunrise to sunset, performing all the orders that may be given to him
by the said teacher on the same terms as the other apprentices, and
being fed by Ischyrion. For the first 2 years and 7 months of the 3rd
year Heraclas shall pay nothing for the boy's wages, but in the
remaining 5 months of the said 3rd year Heraclas shall pay for the
wages of the said apprentice 12 drachmae a month, and in the 4th year
likewise for wages 16 drachmae a month, and in the 5th year likewise 24
drachmae a month; and Heraclas shall furnish for the said apprentice in
the present 24th year a tunic worth 16 drachmae, and in the coming 25th
year a second tunic worth 20 drachmae, and likewise in the 26th year
another tunic worth 24 drachmae, and in the 27th year another tunic
worth 28 drachmae, and likewise in the 28th year another tunic worth 32
drachmae. The boy shall have 20 holidays in the year on account of
festivals without any deduction from his wages after the payment of
wages begins ; but if he exceeds this number of days from idleness or
ill-health or disobedience or any other reason, Ischyrion must produce
him for the teacher during an equivalent number of days, during which
he shall remain and perform all his duties, as aforesaid, without
wages, being fed by the said Ischyrion, because the contract has been
made on these terms. Heraclas on the other part consents to all these
provisions, and agrees to instruct the apprentice in the aforesaid art
within the period of 5 years as thoroughly as he knows it himself, and
to pay the monthly wages as above, beginning with the 8th month of the
3rd year. Neither party is permitted to violate any of the aforesaid
provisions, the penalty for such violation being a fine of 100 drachmae
to the party abiding by the contract and to the Treasury an equal sum.
This agreement is valid. The 24th year of the Emperor Caesar Marcus
Aurelius Commodus Antoninus Augustus Armeniacus Medicus Parthicus
Sarmaticus Germanicus IMaximus, Thoth 25. I, Heraclas son of Sarapion
also called Leon, have made this contract and consent to all the
aforesaid provisions. I, Thonis also called Morous, son of Harthonis,
wrote for him as he was illiterate."
_______________________________________________________________
No. 726. Appointment of a Representative. 20 x 9-2 cm. AD 135.
This is an agreement by which Apollonius authorizes another person to
appear for him in some legal proceedings in which he was concerned,
being prevented by illness from attending in person; cf. 97 and 261,
which are contracts of the same kind. The document is incomplete, the
name of the representative and the date not having been filled
in.
translation:
"The 19th year of the Emperor Caesar Trajanus
Hadrianus Augustus, Tubi , at Oxyrhynchus in the Thebaid. Apollonius
son of Apollonius son of Diogenes, his mother being Tanechotarion also
called Euterpe, daughter of Diogenes, of Oxyrhynchus, acknowledges to ,
of the said city (the contract taking place in the street), since he is
unable through sickness to make the voyage to the assize of the nome,
that he has forthwith appointed to represent him in the inquiry to be
held against him before his highness the praefect Petronius Mamertinus
or the epistrategus Gellius Bassus or other judges, and to carry out
everything concerned with the trial; for he gives his consent on these
terms. The agreement is valid."
_______________________________________________________________
No. 727. Delegation of the Duties of a Guardian, 33.3 x 15 cm. AD 154.
This is a deed drawn up by two brothers, who were Roman citizens and
owned property at Oxyrhynchus, authorizing an agent to act in their
absence from Egypt for a nephew and niece whose guardians they were.
The document, which is called a Sugchoresis, is addressed to the
archidicastes, whose official cognizance of the transaction was
desired. Other instances of private contracts being sent to the
archidicastes are 268, B. G. U. 729 and 741, the juristic significance
of which is discussed by Gradenwitz, Eiiifiihrioig, pp. 91-2, and
Mitteis, Archiv, I. p. 350. It is noticeable that, with the exception
of 268, the persons concerned in all these cases are Roman citizens,
and that the documents usually take the form of a Sugchoresis. The
procedure here is apparently to be distinguished from that exemplified
in 719 ; cf introd. to that papyrus.
translation:
"To . . . , son of Isidorus the ex-exegeles, late
strategus of the city, priest, archidicastes and superintendent of the
chrematistae and the other courts, through the deputy archidicastes
Demetrius son of Heraclides the ex-exegetes, from Gaius Marcius Apion
also called Diogenes and Gaius Marcius Apolinarius also called Julianus
and however we are styled, and from Ophelas son of Ophelas, of
Oxyrhynchus. Gaius Marcius Apion also called Diogenes and Gaius Marcius
Apolinarius also called Julianus, being at present unable to make the
voyage to Egypt, agree that they have appointed the aforesaid Ophelas,
who is the agent for their property in the Oxyrhynchite nome, by the
terms of the present authorization to act for and take charge of their
brother's children Valerius Theodotus also called Polion and Valeria
Apollonarion also called Nicarete, who are minors and their wards, and
further to collect rents and to make such leases as may be necessary,
and to appear against persons and to sell off produce as may be needful
on his own authority. Accordingly let those concerned do business with
Ophelas in the discharge of all the aforesaid duties ; and he shall
forward to the said parties accounts of all his acts every month, and
shall have power to act in all things no less than they themselves
would have if present. Ophelas the appointed representative assents to
this authorization ; and all bonds of every kind which Apion also
called Diogenes and Apolinarius also called Julianus hold of each other
remains in force. We request (your concurrence). The 17th year of the
Emperor Caesar Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius, Mecheir 2."
_______________________________________________________________
No. 728. Sale of a Crop. 27 x 19 cm. AD 142.
A contract of a somewhat novel character, called a karponea, by which two
tenants sell part of their crops standing, the money to be paid by the purchaser
within a given time direct to the landlord, who has the same rights of execution
as in the case of a loan. At the end is an acknowledgement from the landlord
of the receipt of the money.
translation:
"Patliotes and Livius, both styled as having
Harseis for iheir mother, from the village of Tliosbis, have sold to
Diogenes son of Amois and Abeis, from the said Thosbis, out of the land
belonging to Apion son of Horion, of Oxyrhynchus, which they cultivate
at Thosbis in the holding of Charixinus, consisting of 20 arourae, the
crop of hay upon three arourae as fixed by a survey in the eastern part
for 276 drachmae of silver, on condition that Diogenes may cut the crop
bought by him and transport it to any place that he may choose, and
shall hand over to the aforesaid Apion who is the owner of the land the
276 drachmae of silver before Epeiph 10 of the present 5th year of
Antoninus Caesar the lord. If he fails to pay it within the stipulated
date he shall forfeit the 276 drachmae of silver increased by one half,
with interest at the rate of a drachma a month for each mina, Apion
having the right of execution upon both Diogenes and all his property
as if in accordance with a legal decision. This sale of a crop is
valid. The 5th year of the Emperor Caesar Titus Aelius Hadrianus
Antoninus Augustus Pius, Pharmouthi 23. We, Pathotes and Livius, our
mother being Harseis, have sold to Diogenes the crop of 3 arourae of
hay as fixed by a survey for the payment of 276 drachmae of silver, as
aforesaid. I, Dionysius son of Dionysius, wrote for them as they were
illiterate. The same date. Apion son of Horion to Diogenes son of
Amois, greeting. I have received from you the 276 drachmae which were
agreed upon for the price of the hay and I make no complaint against
you, as aforesaid. The 5th year of Antoninus Caesar the lord, Epeiph
2."
_______________________________________________________________
No. 729. Lease of a Vineyard. 21x 29.7 cm. AD 137.
A contract for the sub-lease of a vineyard for four years from
Sarapion, who was himself a lessee (of 1. 14), to Ammonius and Ptoilas.
The body of the document (11. 1-35) is written in a very small hand in
lines of exceptional length, of which the first 35-40 letters on the
average are lost, while a few lines at the beginning are also wanting,
being represented only by a detached fragment which is illegible and
half decayed.
No extant lease of the Roman period has been drawn up with such
elaboration of detail as the present document, and though P. Tebt. I.
105, of the second century BC, is equally long its formula is quite
different. Of the known leases of vineyards C. P. R. 244 is a mere
fragment, and P. Brit. Mus. 163 is incomplete in the most important
part. Hence the restoration of the lacunae in 72, which was moreover
written by a somewhat careless scribe, is far from easy, and the sense
of some of the provisions is obscure, though the general construction
and meaning are usually intelligible.
The rent paid for the ampelon,the extent of which does not appear, was
(11. 36-7) half the vine produce in addition to 50 jars of wine and
perhaps a sum of money or corn ; but that does not seem to include the
rent of a piece of dry land which had once been a vineyard
(chersampelos, 1. 30). This is leased (II. 30-32) for three years,
starting from a year after the date of the contract itself, and was to
be cultivated as the lessees chose with the usual exceptions of the
more exhausting crops, the rent being 60 drachmae and perhaps half the
produce. The ampelon is subdivided in 1. 22 into a
ktema and a kalameia. The former term refers mainly to the vines
(though including a rose garden, V. inf.), the latter apparently to a
crop of some kind of reeds ; but the passages dealing with the kalameia
(11. 3-4 and 25-7) are unfortunately very imperfect, and the connexion
between the vines and the kalamos is not made clear ; cf. 1. 3, note.
Lines 5-10 deal with the embankments (chomatismos), 11. l0-11 with the
manuring (koprismos), 1. ii with the watching of the
fruit(oporophulakia),11. i2-8 with the irrigation, for which the
lessees were to receive a loan of both money and cattle, 11. 18-22 with
the payment of the rent and penalties for failure to carry out the
terms of the contract. Lines 23-7 regulate the condition in which the
vineyard was to be delivered up at the end of the lease, while II.
27-30 are concerned with the apportionment of the various epya. After a
section dealing with the lease of the chersampelos (11. 30-2) follows
one concerning a rose garden in the ktyma (11. 32-3), and the lease
concludes with the usual clause assigning the taxes to the lessor (11.
33-4), and another by which two rooms in a farmhouse are secured to the
lessees (1. 34). Lines 35-8 contain the signature of the lessees,
written for them in a large uncultivated hand by Ptolemaeus, while in
11. 38-46 is a supplementary agreement in a third hand, drawn up a year
after the original contract, and acknowledging firstly (11. 38-44) the
loan of the cattle mentioned in 1. 16, and secondly (11. 44-5) another
loan of which the previous mention is lost.
translation:
[excerpts:]
10-11. "The necessary amount of pigeon's dung for manuring the vineyard
shall be provided half by the lessees and the other half by the lessor.
Sarapion shall send any guard whom he chooses in order to protect the
fruit at the time of bearing, being himself responsible for the payment
of him."
18-24."The said lessees are therefore required to perform all the
aforesaid duties blamelessly, leaving nothing undone at the right
season, so that no damage may accrue to the vineyard . . . and they
shall pay to the lessor the wine at the vat, new and unadulterated,
each party providing at the vat a sufficient number of jars, and for
every failure to perform work at the proper time... twice the amount of
the damage, and forgiving up the lease before the end of the period a
fine of 500 silver drachmae and to the Treasury an equal sum without
affecting the validity of the lease, and the lessor shall have the
right of execution both upon the lessees who are each other's sureties
for payment, and upon whichever of them he chooses and upon all their
property, as if in accordance with a legal decision. And at the end of
the period the lessees shall deliver the vine-land and reed-land
planted, well cared for, free from rushes, grass and weeds of all
kinds, and the plants healthy . . . , and the . . . palisaded, the
embankments of the vineyard firm and watertight, and also any doors and
keys they may have received, and the waterwheel in good repair except .
. . ; and they shall irrigate the vine-land and reed-land every fifth
day to the satisfaction of Sarapion, and shall transfer Sarapion's
share of the wine from the . . . ."
_______________________________________________________________
No. 730. Lease of Domain Land. 19.5 x 7.3 cm. AD 130.
A sub-lease of 5 arourae of domain land at Sencpta fcr one year, at the
rent of 24 drachmae per aroura, with an extra payment of 4 drachmae.
The crop specified is grass, while the other provisions follow the
usual formulae ; cf. e. g. 499.
translation:
" Sarapion son of Herodes, of Oxyrhynchus, has
leased to Valerius son of Apollonius, of the village of Senepta, a
Persian of the Epigone, for the current 15th year of Hadrianus Caesar
the lord, out of the domain land standing in his name 5 arourae in the
holding of Damon, to be cultivated with grass for cutting and grazing
at a fixed rent of 120 silver drachmae and 4 drachmae for the slaves
for a libation on account of all the land, the rent being secured
against every risk, and the taxes on the land being paid by the lessor,
who shall also be the owner of the crop until he receives the rent. If
this lease is guaranteed, the lessee shall pay the rent in the month
Pauni of the said year, and the lessee shall forfeit any arrears
increased by one half; and the lessor shall have the right of execution
upon the lessee and upon all his property. This lease is valid. The
15th year of the Emperor Caesar Trajanus Hadrianus Augustus, Athur 19.
(Signed) I, Valerius son of Apollonius, have leased the land at a rent
of 120 silver drachmae... . . ."
_______________________________________________________________
No. 731. Engagement of Services. 11.7 x 13.4 cm. AD. 8-9.
A contract for services to be rendered on certain specified occasions,
among which are the festivals of Isis and Hera, at a salary of 40
drachmae a year, besides an of 13 drachmae 3 obols. The commencement of
the contract is lost, and the nature of the services to be performed is
uncertain ; but it may be conjectured on the analogy of e.g. 475, P.
Grenf. II. 67, and P. Brit. Mus. 331 (cf. Archiv, I. p. 153), that the
person engaged was an artiste of some kind, though to judge from the
scale of remuneration, not of a very high class. The document was drawn
up by a careless scribe, who makes a number of mistakes.
translation:
". . of the 39th year of Caesar to Thoth of the
40th year of Caesar, on condition that I give you my services on the
9th and loth of each month and for two days at the festival of Isis and
three days at the time of the stars of Hera; and if you require me you
shall pay me I drachma 2 obols of silver daily, or a fixed yearly
salary of 40 drachmae of silver, and a present of 13 drachmae 2 obols
of silver; and for every day that I am unemployed I will forfeit 1
drachma 2 obols of silver. This contract of engagement shall be valid
as if publicly registered. The 38th year of Caesar . . ."
_______________________________________________________________
No. 732. Receipt for the Tax on Ferry-Boats. 8.2 x 23 cm. AD 150.
A receipt issued by two farmers of the wne porthmedon at Oxyrhynchus
and certain villages to two persons who apparently were ferrymen at one
of these villages, acknowledging the payment first of 200 and
subsequently of 100 drachmae for phoros porthmeios, the total, 300
drachmae, being probably the whole sum due from them for a year. This
impost, the title of which is new, seems to be a tax upon the profits
of privately owned ferry-boats rather than a revenue derived from a
State monopoly, though the latter interpretation is also possible.
translation:
"Heliodorus son of Heliodorus and Leontas son of
Pekuris, of Oxyrhj-nchus, farmers of the contract for the tax on
ferry-boats at the city, Ision A . . . , and other (villages) for the
present 13th year of Antoninus Caesar the lord, to Achillas son of
Thoonis and Apeis son of Apeis, of the said city, greeting. We have
received from you on account out of the sum which you owe us for the
revenue from ferry-boats at Pankulis hundred drachmae, total 200 dr."
Date and signatures of Heliodorus and Leontas, followed by their further acknowledgements of the remaining hundred drachmae.
_______________________________________________________________
No. 733. Tax-Receipt. 12 x 9.7 cm AD 147.
A receipt for the tax on pigs (cf 288, introd.) and poll-tax paid by an
inhabitant of Oxyrhynchus and his son. The payments are no doubt
installments of the whole amount due for a year.
translation:
"The l0th year of Antoninus Caesar the lord,
Pachon 4. Amois also called Papontos, son of Diodorus, has paid to
Diogenes, collector of money taxes of . . . street, for the pig-tax of
the said l0th year 1 drachma 5 1/2 obols, total 1 dr. 5 1/2 ob. . . . ,
his son, his mother being Tapontos, has paid for the poll-tax of the
said l0th year 4 drachmae, for the pig-tax 1 drachma 5 1/2 obols."
_______________________________________________________________
No.
736. Private
Account. 17.3 x 54.3 cm.
About AD 1
Of this lengthy account of private expenses parts of seven columns in
all remain, five on the recto and two on the verso ; the first column
of the recto, however, which is separated from those following by a
broad blank space, is too fragmentary to be worth reproducing, and the
same may be said of a narrow half-effaced column corresponding to this
one but written in the reverse direction on the back. The remainder is
in fairly good condition, but the papyrus is broken at the top and
bottom, and the short column on the verso is sometimes difficult to
decipher owing to discoloration. The various payments are arranged
according to the days of the month, and some interesting items and
prices occur.
translation:
11. 1-95:
"The 21st : . . . through Zm ... for the cloak of Coraxus, l0 drachmae;
turnips for pickling 1 dr. 2 obols; for the kettle, payment for
enamelling 2 ob.; salt 1 ob.; cost of grinding 1 artaba of
wheat on the 18th 3 ob.; omelette for the bread 2 ob.; cost
of mending the cloak of Coraxus 1 1/2 ob.; for treating (?) the
wife of Gemellus 4 ob.; perfume for the dispatch of the mummy of the
daughter of Phna 4 ob."
"The 22nd: a chous of oil 4 dr. 4 ob.; wax and stilus for the
children 1 ob.; pure bread for Prima 1/2 ob.; for treating
Tyche 3 ob. "
"9th Mecheir ... the l0th : ... for the weaver's breakfast 1 ob.;
... for the Sarapeum 2 ob.; pure bread for the children 1/2
ob.; beer for the weaver 1 ob.; leeks for the weaver's
breakfast 1 ob.; a pigeon 1 ob.; to Antas 2 dr. 2
ob.; up at the city for the bread, cost of grinding 2 artabae of
wheat, through Isas, I dr. 2 ob. "
"The 11th: at the camp, through Theodorus, for the bread, cost of
grinding 1 artaba of wheat 4 ob.; for the weaver's breakfast 1
ob.; asparagus for the dinner of Antas when (he went) to the
funeral feast of Athe . . . the fuller 1/2 ob.; and to the slaves
(?), for a cabbage for dinner 1/2 ob.; to the child 1/2
ob.; . . ."
"The 16th : a relish 1/2 ob.; omelettes for the bread 2 1/2 ob."
"The 17th: milk for the children 1/2 ob.; pure bread 1/2 ob. "
"The 18th: to Secundas, a cake for the children 1/2 ob."
"The 19th: barley water for the same 1/2 ob."
"The 20th : sauce 1 ob.; pure bread 1/2 ob.; for treating
Antonia 2 ob.; and for Taptollous daughter of Caecilius 3
ob.; on the birthday of Tryphas, for garlands 2 ob.; on the
birthday of . . . for garlands 2 ob. "
"The 21st: pomegranates for the children 1 ob.; playthings and
... for the children 1 ob.; beer 3 ob.; sauce 1 ob. "
"The 22nd: sauce 1 ob.; Thaesis ... for 2 days 5 ob.; the
mother of Ammonas for . days . . .; Taarpaesis for 2 days 5
ob.; Berous similarly for 10 days 4 dr. 1 ob. "
"The 24th: cost of grinding 1 artaba of wheat 4 ob.; 2 ... of
pickle 2 ob.; salt 1 ob.; a needle and thread 1 ob.; cost
of grinding 1 artaba of wheat, through Theodoras, 4 ob.; cost of
weaving a cloak 1 dr. 2 ob.; pure bread for Ph . . . 1 dr.;
a pigeon for the children 1 ob.; pure bread for the same 1/2
ob.; to Secundus for a cake for the children 1/2 ob., and for dry
meal 1/2 ob.; milk 1/2 ob.; perfume for the mummy of the
daughter of Pasis I dr. . . ."
"The l0th: ... for the women 2 dr. 3 ob.; relishes for the women
on 2 days 2 1/2 ob.; cost of tinkering a lamp 2 1/2 ob.;
pulse when . . . was dining here 1 1/2 ob.; for treating Laodice
2 1/2 ob."
_______________________________________________________________
No. 738. Account of Food. 13.5 x 10.3 cm. About AD 1
A fragment of an account of articles of food consumed on different
days; cf. 108. The ends of lines of a preceding column are preserved.
translation:
"For dinner on the 5th a Canopic liver; for
dinner on the 6th 10 oysters, 1 lettuce; for dinner on the 7th 2 small
loaves, 1 bird . . . from the water, 2 snipe (?)."
_______________________________________________________________
No. 739. Private Account. 32 x 10 cm. About AD 1
A private account for a month, reckoned in silver drachmae and copper
obols. Lines i-3 mention a receipt, 11. 3-32 give an account of
expenditure for various purposes. The account is written on the verso,
the recto being blank.
translation:
"Isas has received from Apollonius, an inhabitant
of Cynus [1], 4[.] drachmae. Deduct on account of expenses : price of .
. . paid to Nechtheus 28 dr., for making bread I dr. 4 ob., (for oil 4
dr. 2 ob., erased)."
"On the 4th, for grinding 5 ob., powder (?) for a relish 1 ob."
"5th, 3 baskets 4 1/2 ob:"
"6th, plates 2 ob., a relish for the builder I ob., a chous of oil 4 dr. 2 ob. Total 40 dr. 3 1/2 ob."
"7th, a relish for the builder 1 ob."
"9th, for the workman 4 ob., a relish for the builder 1 ob., the carpenter . . . "
"13th, price of oil 4 dr. 3 ob., purple 20 dr., thread for a woman's robe . . ., to Philoutarion . . . "
"22nd, price of oil 4 dr. 2 ob. Total . . ."
note:
[1] Kunon, if correct, is the name of a village, but the writer is
careless about his cases (cf. 1. 7), and he may mean Kunwn, i.e.
Cynopolis.
_______________________________________________________________
No. 741.
List of Articles. 16.5 x 9.5 cm.
Second century AD.
A list of miscellaneous articles, containing, as such lists commonly do, a number of rare or unknown words.
translation:
"Account of articles at order of Eugenetor
in a double sack: 1 double basket of nuts, 5 other small ones, 1 wicker
crate, 1 sheepskin, 1 scraper, 8 pairs of men's ...., 6 pairs of
women's ditto, 2 donkey straps (?), 1 horse's ditto, 1 three-flagon
jar,1 bag (?) of ..., 2 hold-alls containing 3 half-sets of glass, 4
... cups and 1 ..., 4 plates, 2 bowls, 1 saucer."
_______________________________________________________________
No.
742. Letter of Antas.
26.5 x 13.7 cm. 2 BC
A letter from Antas to Faustus, chiefly concerning reeds (kalamos),
written like many other letters of this period in vulgar Greek.
translation:
"Antas to Faustus, many greetings. Take over from
Pothus the reeds all together, and send me word how many bundles you
have received, and put them in a safe place in order that we may take
them on the journey up. Deliver a certain number of them to one of our
friends in order that a friend may deliver them to me safely, and if
you can . . . give your attention to it . . . I have bought from
(Pothus?) the 1000 bundles for 15 drachmae. Don't forget.
Good-bye. The 28th year of Caesar, Pauni i. (Addressed) To Faustus ...
at Nekle."
_______________________________________________________________
No. 743.
Letter to a Friend. 21.5 x 17.7 cm.
2 BC
A letter in two columns, of which the first is much broken. The greater
part is concerned with the explanation of the writer's reasons for
sending Damas, whom he recommends to his friend's good offices.
translation:
"...I wish you and the . . . of Caesar to read
this (?), for although I (?) have had trouble with others you must
assist him for the sake of our friendship. I am quite upset at Helenos'
loss of the money ; for when Damas arrived at Alexandria we came to
Epaphroditus, and it was discovered that he had neither received nor
paid anything. I wish you therefore to know this that I had given him
orders to go to Takona for the rents, and now I have dispatched him to
collect them all and have entrusted to him the care of the whole
matter. Whatever service he may require from you, stand by him, as he
will agree in everything for you just as for me. Owing to my worries I
was unable to meet Apollonius the Libyan in order to inform him of
this. Write to me yourself about anything you want, and I will do it
without hesitation; for Damas has agreed in everything with me. It is
well for him to come quickly, for lie will instruct you. Take care of
yourself so that you may remain in good health. Look after all your
household. Good-bye. The 29th year of Caesar, Phaophi 6."
_______________________________________________________________
No. 744. Letter of Ilarion. 25 x 14.7 cm. 1 BC
A letter from a man who had gone to Alexandria, addressed to his sister
(who was no doubt his wife), and to two other women, regarding certain
domestic matters. A curious injunction occurs in 11. 9-10.
translation:
" Ilarion to Alis his sister, many greetings, and
to my dear Berous and Apollonarion. Know that I am still even now at
Alexandria; and do not worry if they come back altogether (?), but I
remain at Alexandria. I urge and entreat you to be careful of the
child, and if I receive a present soon I will send it up to you. If
(Apollonarion .') bears offspring, if it is a male let it be, if a
female expose it. You told Aphrodisias " Don't forget me." How can I
forget you? I urge you therefore not to worry. The 29th year of Caesar,
Pauni 23. (Addressed.) Deliver from Ilarion to Alis."
_______________________________________________________________
No. 745. Letter to Gaius Rustius. 11.1 x 18.8 cm. About AD 1.
Conclusion of a letter, chiefly concerned with money matters. The
writer had evidently been in financial difficulties, and was afraid of
their recurrence ; but the loss of the beginning of the letter makes
the transactions under discussion rather obscure. The addressee has a
Roman name.
translation:
". . . from my sister 65 jars of wine and
1 drachmae, and you bought the wine at 6 drachmae, for which you drew
me up a bond through Artemas that the said Antas would make the
repayment because you had ... as you promised through the politarch
Theophilus, in order that everything may not be completely . . . and we
go bankrupt again without any necessity. You don't know how he treated
me at Oxyrhynchus(?), not like a man who had paid but like a defrauder
and a debtor. I ask you therefore not to do otherwise ; but I know that
you will do everything well. I do not want to have any dispute with
you, as you are my friend. Salute all your household, and take care of
your health. Good-bye. (Addressed) To Gaius Rustius . . "
_______________________________________________________________
No.746.
Letter of Recommendation. 23.2 x 13.5 cm.
AD 16.
A letter from Theon to his brother Heraclides, a
basilicogrammateus, introducing the bearer, Hermophilus. Theon is
perhaps the same as the writer of 292, a similar letter of
recommendation addressed to the dioecetes on behalf of a brother named
Heraclides. Cf. also 787.
translation:
' Theon to Heraclides his brother, many greetings
and wishes for good health. Hermophilus the bearer of this letter is
(the friend or relative) of . . erius, and asked me to write to you.
Hermophilus declares that he has business at Kerkemounis. Please
therefore further him in this matter, as is just. For the rest take
care of yourself that you may remain in good health. Good-bye. The 3rd
year of Tiberius Caesar Augustus, Phaophi 3. (Addressed) To Heraclides,
basilicogrammateus of the Oxyrhynchite and Cynopolite nomes.'
_______________________________________________________________
No. 747. Invitation to a Feast. 5.1 x 7.3 cm. Late second or third c. AD.
An invitation to a feast given by a cavalry officer; cf. 110 and 523.
translation:
" The decurion invites you to his party on the sixth day before the Calends at eight
o'clock."
Footnotes:
1. [Editor's Note:] The original textual commentaries and notes provided by Grenfell and Hunt on
passages in Greek, and on some bibliographic references, have
frequently been abbreviated or omitted, if not essential to
understanding the content of the papyri documents. Any such omissions
are marked with "....", and any added words needed for clarity are
placed between brackets [ ]. These elisions are separate from those
used by Grenfell and Hunt in the translated text, which have not been
altered.
2. [Editor's Note:] References to all other papyri from the Oxyrhynchus
collections are given with their sequential number as "No. xx".
Abbreviations to other papyri collections and standard historical
references used by Grenfell and Hunt include the following:
Archiv.= Archiv fur Papyrusforschung.
B.G.U. = Aeg. Urkunden aus den K. Museum zu Berlin, Griechische Urkunden.
C.I.G. = Corpus Inscriptionum Graecarum
C.I.L. = Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum
Cod. Just.= Codex Justianus
Cod. Theod.= Codex Theodosianus
C.P.R. = Corpus Papyrorum Raineri, by C. Wessely.
Marcellinus =The late Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus.
P. Amh. = The Amherst Papyri (Greek), Vols. I-II, by B.P.Grenfell and A.S.Hunt.
P. Brit.Mus. = Greek papyri in the British Museum, vol.I-II by F.G. Kenyon.
P. Cairo = Catalog of the Greek Papyri in the Cairo Museum,by Grenfell & Hunt.
P.
Grenf. = Greek Papyri, Ser. 1 by B.P. Grenfell, and Ser. II by Grenfell and Hunt
P. Hibeh = The Hibeh Papyri by B.P Grenfell and A.S. Hunt
P. Leipzig = Griechische Urkunden der Papyrussammlung zu Leipzig by I Mitteis.
P. Leyden = Papyri Graeci Musei Antiquarii Lugduni-Batavi, by C. Leemans.
P. Tebt. = The Tebtunis Papyri, by B.P. Grenfell, A.S. Hunt, et al.
Perseus = the satirical ancient Roman playwright Perseus.
Wilcken, Ost. = Griechische Ostraka, by U. Wilcken.
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