OPES – Oslo Papyri Electronic System

Background and Physical Properties

Material:

Papyrus

Connections:

–

Size:

27 x 24 cm.

Lines:

10

Publication side:

Recto (Verso: blank)

Palaeographic description:

–

State of preservation:

Dark brown papyrus, very lacunose.

Content

Date:

March 3rd, 197 A.D.

Origin:

Arsinoite nome, province of Egypt

Language:

Greek

Genre:

Documentary

Author:

–

Title / Type of text:

Proceedings before a strategus

Content:

Satabous appears before the strategos, asking to be exempt from liturgical service.

Subjects:

Proceedings Minutes Report, Petition Liturgy

Named people:

Hierax, alias Nemesion, strategos of the Arsinoite nome Satabous, son of Maron Lucius Septimius Severus Pius Pertinax Augustus, emperor

Named places:

Karanis Arsinoite nome

English translation:

Copy of the minutes of Hierax, alias Nemesion, strategos of the district of Arsinoite. In the fifth year of Imperator Lucius Septimius Severus Pius Pertinax Augustus, on the fifth of Phamenoth (=March 3, A.D.197, at the office (sc. of the strategos). Appearing before the court, Satabous, son of Maron, son of Satabous, from the village of Karanis, delivered a petition including a subscription by the prefect, of the following contents: 'In the fifth year, Mecheir 7th (=February 1st, A.D. 197) Whatever your request may be, the strategos will examine it. Deliver your petition.' The strategos: 'Tell me what you want.' He (said): 'They have put forward my name for (liturgical) service although I am in foreign parts and without means.' The strategos: 'Let his name not be put forward for the village secretary's office.'

Provenance:

Arsinoite nome, province of Egypt

Acquisition:

Purchased by Eitrem in Egypt 1920

Acquisition year:

–

Editions

• Eitrem S-Amundsen L, P.Oslo III, 1936, 81
  ▾ Corrections:

  • Thomas JD, The epistrategos in Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt, vol.2 (1982) p. 71, n.11 (l.9-10)

Further Literature

Catalogues

TM 12577 / DDbDP / HGV / BL Online

Discussions

• Lewis, N. (1997). The compulsory public services of Roman Egypt [2nd ed.]. Edizioni Gonnelli.
  • On the procedure for protesting nominations for compulsory service; see p. 97 n. 43 & p. 98 n. 47.
  • List of protests; see p. 121.
  • On the aporia plea for exemption from liturgies; see p. 144 n. 40, p. 159 w/ n. 37 & p. 160 n. 42.
• Kelly B. (2011). Petitions, litigation, and social control in Roman Egypt. Oxford. See p. 171.