OPES – Oslo Papyri Electronic System

Background and Physical Properties

Material:

Papyrus

Connections:

–

Size:

9 x 27.5 cm.

Lines:

19

Publication side:

Recto, the Verso is blank

Palaeographic description:

–

State of preservation:

Light brown papyrus. Regularly cut at right side, the top margin is 2cm, the left 1 1/2 and the bottom one 5.5 cm.

Content

Date:

September 29, 71 A.D.

Origin:

Karanis, Herakleidou meris, Arsinoite nome, province of Egypt

Language:

Greek

Genre:

Documentary

Author:

Limnaios, son of Limnaios

Title / Type of text:

Petition to the centurion

Content:

Petition to the centurion Lucius A(nnius?) from Limnaios, requesting the arrest of two thieves.

Subjects:

Petition Arrest Olive Theft

Named people:

Lucius A(nnius?), centurio Limnaios, son of Limnaios, epitropos Doryphoros Apollonios, son of Abokis Aphrodisios Caesar Vespasianus Augustus, emperor

Named places:

Karanis

English translation:

To Lucius A(nnius?) ... ...... centurion, from Limnaios, son of Limnaios ... administrator of the Aphrodisian estate, secretary (in charge) of (the property) of Doryphoros. On the 1st day of Phaophi in the present 4th year of Imperator Caesar Vespasianus Augustus my men caught Apollonios son of Abokis, from Karanis, in the olive-yard of Aphrodisios together with another (person) picking olives earlier than the appointed season. Therefore I demand that he is brought to/arrested by you. I, Limnaios son of Limnaios and however else I may be styled have submitted the present petition, so that I can take action (?). In the 4th year of the Imperator Caesar Vespasianus Augustus, Phaophi 1.

Provenance:

Arsinoite nome, province of Egypt

Acquisition:

Purchased 1923 through British Museum, with M. Nahman as the dealer. Cf. the reports and the inventory list by H. I. Bell

Acquisition year:

–

Editions

• Eitrem S-Amundsen L, P.Oslo II, 1931, 21

Further Literature

Preisendanz K, Phil. Wochenschr. 52 (1932) 231;Youtie HC, Class.Phil. 27 (1932) 88;Zucker F, Gnomon 9 (1933) 255Kelly B, Petitions, litigation, and social control in Roman Egypt, Oxford 2011. p. 80 n. 14, 214 n. 22, 271