OPES – Oslo Papyri Electronic System

Background and Physical Properties

Material:

Papyrus

Connections:

–

Size:

15 x 18.5 cm.

Lines:

18

Publication side:

Recto, the Verso is blank

Palaeographic description:

The document is written in an upright, broad, semi-cursive hand. The text is written in one column and runs parallell to the fibres.

State of preservation:

A medium to light brown papyrus. The left margin is 2 cm., the right 0.5 cm., and the bottom margin is 10 cm. The upper part of the document is missing.

Content

Date:

October 2, 54 A.D.

Origin:

Ptolemais Melissourgon, Polemonos meris, Arsinoite nome, province of Egypt

Language:

Greek

Genre:

Documentary

Author:

Petechon, son of Horos;Petesouchos, son of Arsenouphis

Title / Type of text:

Affidavit of state farmers

Content:

The text is a declaration on oath by state farmers.

Subjects:

Imperial oath Illiteracy Public land Land ownership Agriculture Farmers

Named people:

Petechon, son of Horos Phasiyris, son of Phasipsemis Petesouchos, son of Arsenouphis Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, Imperator (unnamed) nomographos of Ptolemais Melissourgon

Named places:

Ptolemais Melissourgon, Polemonos meris

English translation:

(We swear by the Emperor Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus) to cultivate and to sow from the current 15th year of Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus the Imperator, the public land near Ptolemais Melissourgon in the meris of Polemon: (I) Petechon, son of Horus, (swear to cultivate) the parcels previously cultivated by Phasiyris, son of Phasipsemis, one and a half aruras on the north side, and likewise: (2) Petesouchos, son of Arsenouphis, one and a half arouras of (the land) about the same village, previously farmed by the same person, making (altogether) the three aruras formerly assigned to Phasiyrei, son of Phasipsemis, (land) for which we will measure out the appropriate annual public rentals, and (pay) the expenses in accordance with the other joint farmers, and we will not allow (the parcels) to be left unsown, whether unflooded or flooded. If we swear truly, may it be well with us, but if we swear falsely, the reverse. The nomographos of the village wrote on their behalf. The 15th year of Emperor Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus. Phaophi 14th.

Provenance:

Unknown place, province of Egypt

Acquisition:

Purchased from M.Nahman, Cairo 1934

Acquisition year:

–

Editions

• Forselv IL, SO 78, 2003, 19-29, picture: p. 25

Further Literature

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