OPES – Oslo Papyri Electronic System

Background and Physical Properties

Material:

Papyrus

Connections:

P.Mich. inv. 158a and 158b are duplicates of P.Oslo III 99, but in much better condition

Size:

13.4 x 5 cm.

Lines:

23

Publication side:

Recto, the Verso is blank

Palaeographic description:

–

State of preservation:

The left side of the papyrus is missing (about a third of each line). The last couple of lines are also missing.

Content

Date:

January/February(?) 160/161 A.D.

Origin:

Alabanthis, Hermopolite nome?, province of Egypt

Language:

Greek

Genre:

Documentary

Author:

Paesis, son of Nebteichis

Title / Type of text:

Census return

Content:

Declaration of the family and possessions of Paesis, son of Nebteichis

Subjects:

Administration Economy Family Social relations

Named people:

Paesis, son of Nebteichis Pachomis Furius Victorinus, prefect Horus Athenais alias Kinna Besis Tereus Harpechis Caesar Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius, emperor

Named places:

Alabanthis

English translation:

From Paesis son of Nebteichis whose mother is Pachomis, from Alabanthis. In accordance with the instructions given by the ex-prefect Furius Victorinus, I declare for the house-by-house census of year 23 of our lord Antoninus Caesar: myself,Paesis, son of Nebteichis, over-age 72 years; Horus my son whose mother is Athenais alias Kinna daughter of Besis, under-age in Year 23, 8 years; Women: Athenais alias Kinna, my wife 57 years; Tereus, my daughter, whose mother is the same; Athenais 40 years.And there are in the possession of my wife Athenais daughter of Besis son of Harpechis shares in landed property in Alabanthis, and in other places other shares inherited from her father in other landed property and appurtenances. And I swear by the Fortuna of Imperator Caesar Titus Aurelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius ...

Provenance:

Unknown place, province of Egypt

Acquisition:

Purchased through British Museum, Egypt 1923. Cf. the reports and inventory list written by H.I.Bell

Acquisition year:

–

Editions

• Eitrem S-Amundsen-L, P.Oslo III, 1936, 99
• Whitehorne J, SO 65, 1990, 145
  SB: XX 14668

Further Literature

Bagnall R, ""Notes on Egyptian Census declarations I"", BASP 27 (1990) 9-10