OPES – Oslo Papyri Electronic System

Background and Physical Properties

Material:

Papyrus

Connections:

–

Size:

18.7 x 12.9 cm.

Lines:

Recto - 26;Verso - 2

Publication side:

Recto; Verso

Palaeographic description:

Three hands can be discerned in the document: John the private notary (l.1-13 and 23-26), Peirobi-, the deacon (the vendor) (l. 14 init.), and Aurelius Menas, who writes for Peirobi- (l. 14 fin.-23). Both John and Aurelius Menas have experienced, cursive hands.

State of preservation:

The beginning of the document is lost, and a number of letters have been lost or damaged along a vertical fold. Breakage lines in the papyrus indicate that it was folded twice vertically. Pressure on the folded edge seems to have caused a downward displacement of the middle of lines 9-12. As a result the middle of line 12 is partly hidden beneath line 13.

Content

Date:

494 A.D.

Origin:

Oxyrhynchite nome, province of Egypt

Language:

Greek

Genre:

Documentary

Author:

Peirobi-

Title / Type of text:

Contract

Content:

Contract for delivery of jars for bottling wine

Subjects:

Contract Delivery Jars Wine Deacon

Named people:

Ioannes, private notary Petronius, deacon and potter Aurelius Menas

Named places:

Oxyrhynchite nome

English translation:

Recto:.. to the lip ... that is two lae ... that is new jars ... and two dichora, which new jars, in perfect condition, I shall necessarily deliver in the month of Mesore in the present 171st/140th year of the present third indiction for the bottling of wine of the vintage of the 4th indiction without delay, you having the right of execution upon me and all my property. This document, of which a double (?) copy is written, is authoritative, and in answer to the formal question I have given my consent. (2nd hand) Petronius. (3rd hand) I, Petronius, deacon of the holy church of Victor, potter, the aforementioned, have received the price of two hundred and fifty new jars and two lae and two dichora, and will deliver (them) on the appointed day, and everything is agreeable to me as it is above. I, Aurelius Menas, elder, have written for him at his request, he being present ... having signed in his own hand. I, John, private notary, have signed as aforesaid. Executed by me, John.Verso:... of the deacon and ... from the hamlet of A- ... 2 lae and two dichora in the third indiction for the vintage of the 4th indiction

Provenance:

Oxyrhynchite nome, province of Egypt

Acquisition:

Purchased by Eitrem in Egypt 1936

Acquisition year:

–

Editions

• Tidemandsen-P, SO 71, 1996, 172-180, picture: p.174-175
• Tidemandsen P, ZPE 128, 1999, 165-166
  SB: XXVI 16752

Further Literature

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