PPennMuseum E16542A (18th year of Ptolemy III, late spring 229 bce), provisionally transcribed and edited by participants in Robert Kraft's papyrology class at the University of Pennsylvania, fall 2006 (Seth Bernard, Christina Gieske, Daniel Harris, Marian Makins, Andrew Mihailoff, Matthew Novenson, Amanda Reiterman, Jessica Sisk, Emlen Smith, Christian Teuchtler, Virginia Wayland) -- "A Hitherto Unnoticed Document from the 18th year of Ptolemy III Euergetes (PPennMuseum E16542A)". Some additional corrections and suggestions from Willy Clarysse have been incorporated and/or tagged with "[WC]" for further consideration (12oc & 29no 2007; his exact transcript of problematic readings with its ASCII coding is appended below, since it contains some uninterpreted markings [e.g. for accents and for questionable letters]). Final editing by RAK's papyrology class in spring 2009 (Natalia Bauer, Samuel Beckelhymer, Kevin Funderburk, Vernon Kerry Inman, Arthur T. Jones, Benjamin Truesdale, Tammie Wanta).

Description: 15.2 cm wide, 15 cm high; written against the fibers; top margin intact as well as most of the left margin; right margin broken after line 2, central part of lower margin preserved. Badly abraded in places. Traces of one line of writing on the other side, along the fibers at the level of lines 4-5.

1. The Dating Formula of our E16542A Ptolemy III Euergetes (247/6-221 bce) papyrus: see Bevan on the Ptolemies and their dating formulas (especially chapter 6, on Ptolemy III, and 4.7, on religious formulae)

2. Transcription and Additional Notes

Working Transcription and Translation, including WC suggestions and some selected parallels:


01 Β]ασιλεύοντος  Πτολεμαίου τοῦ Πτολεμαίου καὶ  Ἀρσινόης Θεῶν Ἀδελφῶν, ἔ[τους
     In the reign of Ptolemy, son of Ptolemy and Arsinoe the Gods Adelphi, the 18th year [230/229 bce],

02 ὀ]κτω καὶ δεκάτου, ἐφ'  ἱερέως  Κοκκάλου  τοῦ Εὐελθοντος Ἀλεξάνδρου καὶ
2   ojktwkaidekavtou [WC]

    when Kokkalos son of Euelthon was priest of Alexander and

03 Θεῶν Ἀδελφῶν καὶ Θεῶν Εὐεργετ̣ῶν, κανηφόρου Ἀρσινόης  [Φιλαδελφου
     of the Gods Adelphi and the Gods Euergetae, the Kanephoros of Arsinoe Philadelphos

 

04 Σω]τείρας  τῆς  Παμμένους, μηνὸς Ξα̣νδικοῦ, ἐμ Φεβίχι τοῦ Κωίτου[ ...

   being Soteira the daughter of Pammenes, the month Xandikos, in Phebichis of the Koitos district ...

**[PFuad 1.univ.App1-4dupl(8)] ἐπὶ τοῦ ἐμ Φεβίχι τοῦ Κ̣ω̣ίτου̣ λ̣ο̣γ̣ε̣υ̣τηρίου

**[PHib 1.90(04)] μηνὸς Γορπιαίου ἐν Θώλθι τ[οῦ Ὀξυρυγχί]τ̣ου. ἐμίσθωσεν

05 ... ν ἀπὸ τοῦ ὑπογεγραμμένου μηνος λογων ...

     ... from the month mentioned below, contracts ...

**[BGU 10.1954] ἐμ[ίσθ]ω̣σεν εἰς ἔτη δύο ἀπὸ [τοῦ προ]γεγραμμένου μηνὸς [...]

**[PMich 3.190(13-18)] ἐδάνεισεν [names and amounts] εἰς μῆνας ιγ ἀπὸ τοῦ προγεγραμμένου χρόνου, τόκων β (δραχμῶν)

**[PTebt 3.1.815(30)] ἀπὸ τοῦ προγεγραμμένου μηνὸς ἐχ̣ό̣μ̣ε̣ν̣ο̣ν

**[PTebt 3.1.815(fr4,r,1.26)] εἰς μῆνας ιβ ἀπὸ τοῦ προγεγραμμένου μηνὸς τόκου

06 ... ει του εαυτου κληρου γης αρουρας εξη...

6    . . . . . ejk tou' eJautou' klhvrou gh'" ajrouvra" eJxh.ª [WC]

     ... of  that inheritance, six (?) arouras ...
**[PHib 1.90(07)] ... ἐκ τοῦ ἰδίου κλήρου ...

**[PTebt 3.1.815(04)] τὸν αὑτοῦ κλῆρο̣ν̣ γῆς ἀρούρας ##

**[BGU 14.2388(7-11)] [ἐ]μίσθωσεν [names] τῆς ἐπιγον[ῆς τ]ῆς ἐ[κ το]ῦ ἑ[αυ]τοῦ [κλή] ρου γῆς ἀναπεπαυμένης

07 ... ας πρ<ο>τερον συνεγραψατο Πετοσιρις φερ[
7   . . . . . a" pr≥ov≥teron sunegravyato Petovsiri" Farª [WC]

     ... formerly Petosiris wrote to ...

08 τ ... της επιγονης (blank) και Σεσθωτη...
    ... the Epigone. And Sesthwte ...

**[PTebt 3.1.815(11, 37)] {name} τῆς ἐπιγονῆς  {new line} καὶ {name}

09 οτ ... και Παλουτις οντες ...
     ... and Paloutis, who are ...
**[PLond 7.1981(6)] καὶ Ζήνωνο̣[ς ὄ]ν̣τες κριταὶ αὐτοὶ

**[PDiosk 6(22-26)] τῆς τε τοῦ Κόσωνα ὄντες καὶ ... οἱ δὲ σὺν τοῖς περὶ τὸν Κόσωϝα ὄντες εἰς φυγὴν ὥρμησα̣ν

10 ... Πετωι και Πετοσιρι Ωρου και Κ ...
     ... to Petos and to Petosiris son of Horos ...
** [PCairZen.2.59218(36)] Πετοσῖρις Ὥρου Πετήσιος [254 bce]

11 ... φεβιχι θε...
11 . . . . . . . . Febici th'i tou' . . .ª [WC]

     ... inFebixi (?) ...

12 α ... των πυρων αρταβων δυο [
     ... two artabas of wheat ...

13 το ... το διαγεγραμμενον ...[
     ... written ...
**[PSI 6.659(6-8)] ἐγὼ δὲ εἶπ[α] αὐτῶι τὸ διαγεγραμ̣μ̣έ̣[νον] πλῆθος

**[SB 6.9215(16)] ἐπ[ὶ] τόπων τὸ διαγεγραμ̣μένον πλῆ̣θος

14 μετοχοι  ... δου ε ... και δ ... ουοτ .[
14  metovcoi . . . . . . .dou e. . . . kai d. . . . . .ª [WC]

     ... associates ...

15 εαμ μη προτερον η αφεσις γενηται πυρον κα[θαρον αδολον

15 εαμ μη προτερον η αφεσις γενηται πυρον η α[  [WC]
     if not sooner the payment of new crops is to be pure unmingled wheat
**[BGU 6.1267(05)] σῖ[τον καθαρὸν καὶ ἄδολον τὸν γενόμενον] ἐν τῆι γῆι

**[PHib 1.90(10)] σῖτον καθαρὸ]ν̣ κ̣α̣ὶ̣ ἄ̣δ̣ο̣λ̣ο̣ν̣ τὸν γενόμενον [ἐ]ν̣ τῆι γ̣[ῆ]ι̣

16 απο παντων μετρωι χοι δικαίωι μετρήσε[ι δικαια και ανεγκατω

16 απο.ν.ν μετρωι χοιχωι καί ωι μετρήσε[... [WC]
     from a correct pouring measure of all measured correctly and confirmed (?)
**[BGU 6.1267(06)] μέτ[ρωι χόϊ τῶι Νεοπτολέμου μετρήσει δικαίαι] καὶ ἀπενεγκάτωσαν τ[ὰ ἐκφόρια εἰς ...

**[PHib 1.90(11)] μέτρωι χ̣οει \τωι σ̣α̣  ̣  ̣τ̣ι̣ου̣[ - ca. ? - ]/ δικ̣α̣ί̣ω̣ι̣ μ̣ε̣[τρήσει δι]κ̣α̣ί̣α̣ι̣,

17 εμ Φεβιχι επι της αλω. Εαμ δε μη αποδωσιν [
17  ejm Febivci ejpi; th'" a{lw.  jjEa;n de; mh; ajpodw'sin .ª [WC]

     in Febixi on the threshing floor. But if they do not pay[ according to the contract (?)
**[BGU 6.1267(11)] ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀποδῶσι τὸν σῖτον ἢ τὸ ἄχυρον κατὰ τὰ γεγρ[α]μμένα, ἀποτεισάτωσαν

**[PHib 1.90(13)] ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀποδῶι [κατὰ τὰ γε]γ̣[ρα]μμένα

18 αποτισατωσαν Ευκρατης και οι μετοχοι  ... [ ... τιμην
     Eukrates and his associates must repay/forfeit ... amount
**[PHib 1.90(14)] ἀποτισάτω Εὐκράτ[ης Δ]ι̣ο̣[δώ]ρ̣[ω]ι̣ τ̣ι̣μ̣ὴ̣ν̣

19 της αρταβης εκαστης δραχμας τεσσαρας [ ... και η πραξις
     of four artaba per drachma ... and the right of execution
**[BGU 6.1267] τιμὴν τῆς μ̣ὲ̣ν̣ ἀρτάβ̣η̣[ς] ἑκά[σ]της τῶν πυρῶν δραχμὰς τέσσαρας, τοῦ δὲ ἀχ̣ύ̣ρ̣ο̣υ̣ [δρα]χμὰς δέκα

**[PHib 1.90(14)] τῆς ἀρτάβης ἑκάσ[της τῶν] π̣υρῶν(*) δραχμὰς τέσσαρες τοῦ δὲ ἀχύρου(*) δ̣ρ̣α̣[χμ]ὰ̣ς π̣έ̣ν̣τ̣[ε] ,

20 εστω Καφωι παρα Βρεμα...   βεβαιουτω δε Π..[ (names)

20 εστω κατα το διαγραμμα.  Βεβαιουτω δε ... [WC]
     shall be according to the contract. But let [name] secure
**[BGU 6.1267] καὶ ἡ πρᾶξις ἔστω Νεοπτολέμωι παρ̣[ὰ Πο]σ̣ε̣ι̣[δ]ωνίου καὶ Καρνεάδους πράσσοντι κατὰ τὸ διάγραμμα.

**[PHib 1.90(15)] κ̣α̣ὶ̣ ἡ πρᾶξ[ις ἔσ]τω Διοδώρωι παρὰ Εὐκράτους πράσ<σ>οντι(*) κατὰ τὸ δ[ι]άγραμμα.

**[BGU.10.1949(3-4)] ἡ πρᾶξ̣ις ἔ̣στω Ἀριστοφάνηι ... κατὰ τὸ διάγραμμα. βεβαιούτω δὲ Ἀριστοφάνης ...

21 ... τοις μετοχοις την γην ταυτην καιτασπαρ[μεντας ...

21 ... τοις μετοχοις τα ... ην και τας ... [WC]
     ... for the associates this field sown (?) ...
**[BGU 6.1267] βεβαιούτω δὲ [names in dative] τὴν γῆν καὶ τοὺς γενομέ[νους] καρποὺς

**[PHib 1.90(17)] βεβαιούτω δὲ Διόδωρος(*) καὶ τοὺς κατ[ασπαρμέντας(?)](?)(*) καρποὺς

22 ...καρπος καθ α μεμισθοκεν εαμ δε μη βεβαιωι[ κατα τα γεγραμμενα

22    ... μαι εκ ... εαν δε μη βεβαιωι [WC]
     ... crop as it was leased. But if it is not secured as contracted
**[BGU 6.1267] καθ᾽ ἃ μεμίσθωκεν· ἐὰν δὲ μὴ βεβαιώσῃ,

**[PHib 1.91(05)]   ̣  ̣  ̣ν κ̣α̣θ̣᾽(* κ̣α̣ὶ̣ ) ἃ̣ μεμίσθωκεν. ἐὰν δ[ὲ μὴ] [βεβαιώσηι κ]ατὰ [τὰ] γεγραμμένα

**[PHib 1.90(18)] καθ᾽(* καὶ ) ἃ μεμίσθωκεν, ἐὰμ δὲ μὴ βεβαιώσηι κατὰ τὰ γεγραμμένα

23 ]σατωσαν Ευκρατης ...ς μετοχοις επιτιμον [ αργυριου δραχ
23                                     τοις μετοχοις επιτιμον [ δραχ [WC]

     ... Eukrates with the associates a payment of 300 silver drachmas,

**[BGU 6.1267] ἀποτ[ε]ισάτω ἐπίτιμον ἀργυρίου δραχμὰς πεντακοσία[ς],

**[PHib 1.91(06)] ἀποτεισάτω Κλ[εο][πάτρ]α Εὐ[πό]λει ἐπίτιμον ἀργυρίου δραχμὰς ἑκατὸν

**[PHib 1.90(18)] ἀ̣π̣[οτεισάτω] Διόδωρος Εὐκράτε̣[ι ἐπί]τιμον ἀργυρίου δραχμὰς πεντακοσίας ,

24 μας τριακοσιας εαμ μη τι βασιλικον κωλ[υμα γενηται
     if there is no royal restriction
**[BGU 6.1267] ἐὰμ μ̣ή̣ [τι] βασιλικὸν [κώλυμα γέν]ηται.

**[PHib 1.91(08)][ἐὰν] μή τι βασιλικὸν κώλυμα γένηται. ἐὰν δέ τι βασιλικὸν [κώ]λυμα γένηται

**[PHib 1.90(19)] ἐὰν(*) μή [τι βα]σιλικὸν κώλυμα γ̣[ένηται.]

25 το δε πο ...καρπων ... κοντα εξ ...[ ... η δε
25  to de po [WC]

     ...

**[PHib 1.91(09)] ἀποδότω Κλε[οπά]τρα Εὐπόλει τὰς τριά[κο]ντα ἀρτάβας τῶν πυρῶν, ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἀποδῶι [ἀποτεισάτω]
[τιμ]ὴν τῆς ἀρτάβης ἑκάστης τῶν πυρῶν ἀργ[υρίου δραχμὰς   ̣,] [κα]ὶ̣ ἡ πρᾶξις ἔστω Εὐπόλει παρὰ Κλεοπάτρας [πράσσοντι] [κα]τὰ τό διάγραμμα.

26 συγγραφη ηδε κυρια εστω ου αν επιφερητ[αι μαρτυρες
26  s≥u≥ggrafh; h{de k≥u≥r≥iv≥a≥ e[≥s≥t≥w≥ ou| a]n ejpifevrhtªai [WC]

     But let the contract forthwith be valid whenever it is produced. Witnesses:
**[BGU 6.1267] ἡ δὲ συγγραφὴ ἥ̣δ̣[ε] [κυρία ἔστω οὗ ἂν ἐπιφέρηται. μ]άρτυρες.

**[PHib 1.91(13)] ἡ δὲ συγγραφὴ ἥδε κυρί[α οὗ ἂν ἐπιφέρη][τ]α̣ι. μάρτυρες

**[PHib 1.90(20)] ἡ δὲ συγγραφὴ ἥδε κυρία ἔστω ο̣ὗ̣ ἂ̣ν̣ ἐ̣π̣ι̣φ̣έ̣ρ̣η̣τ̣α̣ι̣. μάρτυρες

27 ... σπερ ... ακιρακα ...

28 ... βοκα ...

29 ... Χαλκιδευ η[

30  (b l a n k) συγγραφοφυλ...
   (blank) Keeper of the contract is [name]

**[PTeb 3.1.815(44 and passim)] συγγραφοφύλαξ Ἀντιφάνης ἑκατοντάρουρος.

Notes: recommended searches for parallels from 300 bce to 100 bce.

lines 01-04 contain the standard dating formula for documents in the reign of Ptolemy III Euergetes (247/6-221 bce), consisting of the following elements: ruler, year, priest of Alexander, kanephoros of Arsinoe, month, location. All or part of the formula is found in 10 inscriptions and over 70 papyri from the Duke Data Bank and other materials found on the Packard Humanities Institute IBYCUS disk #7 (1996) and the PERSEUS site (as of Nov 2006); an exact count is difficult due to duplications in the editions of the Petrie papyri).

line 02: few Greek documents are attested explicitly from the 18th year of Ptolemy III -- see P.Koln 8.345 and probably P.Grad.4 [= P.Fuad 1 Univ. App. 1]. the Demotic documents listed by Van der Veken are "P. dem. Berl. ined. 23507; P. dem. Brux. ined. E 8439 (Quaegebeur, Cd E 55, 1980, p. 255-258)." Three other Demotic documents mention "year 18" but list the priests of  year 17, and one other has "year 18" with the priests of year 19. See The Eponymous Priests of Ptolemaic Egypt: Chronological Lists of the Priests of Alexandria and Ptolemais With a Study of the Demotic Transcriptions of Their Names (Papyrologica Lugduno-Batava 24, 1983) by Willy Clarysse and Griet Van Der Veken assisted by S. P. Vleeming (Van der Veken is listed as responsible for part one, the chronological lists).

line 02: in 1983, Van der Veken did not know of any Greek documents that contained the name of KOKKALOS and his father, although he lists several unpublished Demotic documents for the 18th year (see the preceding note), with "KKls, var. KKwrs" as the named priest, son of ">w>rtn (Euelthon)." For additional work on these (and other) names, see

http://www.iaw.uni-heidelberg.de/hps/pap/WL/WL.pdf compiled in summer 2006 by Dieter Hagedorn (Wo%rterListen aus den Registern von Publicationen griechischer und lateinischer dokumentarisher Papyri und Ostraka). He lists a KOKALOS for Sammelbuch 21, and a EUELQWN for PKöln 08 (345 =20773r) and PMich 18. PKöln was published in 1997, SB 21 and 23 in 2002, PMich 18 and POxy 63 in 1996, and Tyche 9 (a journal) in 1994. Willy Clarysse adds: "For the name, I can refer you to L.Robert, Noms Indigène, p. 130-135, who says it is typical of the west coast of Asia Minor. With Fraser's lexicon it must be easy to find instances in Greece proper."

lines 03-04: The corrected reading Pammenes (not Epimenes, as we first transcribed) is offered by Willy Clarysse. Van den Veken lists as Kanhphoros for the 18th year [Demotic] "Str> (Swteira), d[aughter of] >pymns, var. Pmns (Epimenes?)." Hagedorn lists SWTEIRA for PKöln 08 (also EPIMENHS), POxy 63, SB 23, and Tyche 09, all of which were published since 1994 (see the previous note). Of these, only PKöln 08.345 (=20773r) actually refers to this priestess SWTEIRA. POxy 63.4364 has an Aurelia Soteira from the 3rd or 4th century CE, and SB 23 and Tyche 09 refer to the same papyrus (PTurku 5), a 2nd century CE reference to another SWTEIRA. For more information about the kanephoros, see E.R. Bevan, The House of Ptolemy (Methuen 1927), chapter 4, section 7, and M. Minas, "Die KANHFOROS: Aspekte des Ptolemaeischen Dynastiekults," in Le Culte du Souverain dans l’Égypte ptolémaïque au IIIe siècle avant notre ère: Actes du colloque international, Bruxelles 10 mai 1995, edited by H. Melaerts (Studia Hellenistica 34; Peeters 1998). [Christina Gieske is responsible for this note.]

line 04: several Ptolemaic documents contain the location formula ἐμ Φεβιχι τοῦ , which some editors understandably (but perhaps also unfortunately; see further below) emend to read ΕΝ ...; the sequence of ΝΦ apparently is responsible for this feature. See P.Fuad 1 Univ. App 1.4.8 = P.Grad 4.8 (SB 1.5680) from Herapolis in 229 bce (if the date has been read correctly), P.Hib. 1.106.3 (Hibeh 246/245 bce), P.Hib. 1.110.r.3.36 (Hibeh c. 270 bce), P.Hib. 2.209.5 (Hibeh 263/262 bce), P.Stras. 7.641.4 (Phebichis 266 bce). Hagedorn adds references to BGU 16, BL 11, P.Heid. 08, SB 23, and Tyche 10 under Φεβῖχις, and P.Heid. 09 (with BGU 16 and P.Heid. 08) for Κωίτης.

lines 04-05: The term following the formula is important for exact identification of the type of document: options include ἐδάνεισεν [one "lends"; about 30 times; see e.g. BGU 6.1277=14.2393(03)], ἐμίσθωσεν [one "hires/farms out"; over 20 times], ὁμολογεῖ/ ὁμολογοῦσιν [one "agrees/promises"; more than 20], τάδε διέθετο νοῶν καὶ φρονῶν [one "resolves/promises" something?; about 20], ἀδικοῦμαι ὑπὸ [one "is harmed/injured/wronged by"; frequent in formal letters with χαίρειν greeting], προσάγγελμα [a "report/message"; few], ἐπὶ προέδρου ["to the presiding officer"; 6 (2)], ἐξεδόθη [one "gives out (manumits?)"?; 6 (2)], ἀπέσταλκα [petition; infrequent], ἀγορανομοῦντος [as one holds the office of agoranomos?; rare], συνγραφὴ [contract; 2],

line 05 : no exact parallels found for ἀπὸ τοῦ ὑπογεγραμμένου μηνος; no parallels found for μηνὸς followed immediately by λογ-.

line 06a and 6b :

line 07a and 7b : no parallels found for προτερον συνεγραψατο; although προτερον with other forms of γραφ- is not infrequent. Φα.[  could be part of the name -- e.g. Πετοσῖρις Φαμούνιος

line 08a and 08b : the name Σεσθωτη was not found, but Χεσθώτης is frequent as well as the similar word μισθωτὴς.

line 09a and 09b : the exact form Παλουτις is not paralleled, although we do find Παλουτι.

line 10a and 10b : the form Πέτωι does occur a few times, and the name Πετῶς.

line 11 :

line 12 :

line 13 :

line 14a and 14b: references to οἱ μέτοχοι  are frequent in these materials

line 15a and 15b : no exact parallel to this line has been located in 3rd century bce documents

line 16a and 16b : there are two normal patterns for μέτρωι χόϊ in 3rd century bce documents -- it is either followed by δικαίωι (11 times) or by τῶι (12 times, almost always followed by a name); we noted no exceptions. The XOUS is a measure of capacity (L-S-J), here in the dative case.

line 17a and 17b :

line 18a and 18b :

line 19a and 19b :

line 20a and 20b :

line 21a and 21b :

line 22a and 22b : several documents contain almost identical formulas (collected by Arthur Jones): a probable reconstruction would be

ἐν αὐτῶι καρποὺς καθ᾽ ἃ μεμίσθωκεν, ἐὰν δὲ μὴ βεβαιώσῃ κατὰ τὰ γεγραμμένα (see e.g. BGU 10.1950), perhaps preceded by a variation of τὴν γῆν καὶ τοὺς γενομένους (so BGU 6.1267, from about the same year, including ε̣α̣μ̣) and followed by ἀποτεισάτω.

line 23a and 23b :

line 24a and 24b :

line 25a and 25b :

line 26a and 26b :

line 27a and 27b :

line 28a and 28b :

line 29a and 29b :

line 30 :

Names in the body of the text:

The use of Μ (not Ν) before Π and Μ  (lines 4 and 17) is not uncommon in Ptolemaic documents:

Note the orthography of αποτισατωσαν/αποτεισατωσαν in line 18 (editors change both ways!)

Translation:

In the reign of Ptolemy, son of Ptolemy and Arsinoe the Gods Adelphi,
the 18th year [230/229 bce],
when Kokkalos son of Euelthon was priest of Alexander and of the Gods Adelphi and the Gods Euergetae,
the Kanephoros of Arsinoe Philadelphos being Soteira the daughter of Pammenes,
the month Xandikos,
in Phebichis of the Koitos district ...
... from the month mentioned below ...

... of  that inheritance, six (?) arouras ...
... formerly Petosiris wrote to ...

... the epigone. And Sesthote ...

... and Paloutis, who were ...

... to Petos and to Petosiris son of Horos and ...

... in Phebichi ...

... two artabas of wheat ...

... what is written ...

... associates ...

if not sooner. The payment of new crops is to be pure unmingled wheat

from a correct pouring measure of all measured correctly and confirmed (?)

in Phebichi on the threshing floor. But if they do not pay[ according to the contract (?)

Eukrates and his associates must repay/forfeit ... amount

of four artaba per drachma ... and the right of execution

shall be according to the contract. But let [name] secure

... for the associates this field sown (?) ...

... crop as it was leased. But if it is not secured as contracted

... Eukrates with the associates a payment of 300 silver drachmas,

if there is no royal restriction

... fruits ...

But let the contract forthwith be valid whenever it is produced. Witnesses:

... [names] ...

... [names] ...

... [names] ...

(blank) Keeper of the contract is [name]

 

Similar texts can now be searched easily online.  Using the "DDBDP Search" option permits limiting by date and searching sequences of words, among other things. Of particular value for parallel formulae are the abstracts of documents such as PTeb 3.1.815.

PHib 1.84a (301/300 bce; advance sale of wheat in the Koite toporchy -- many provisions of the document follow the formulae of loans)

... E. has sold to T. 30 artabae of wheat and E. has received the price from T. concurrently with this contract.

E. shall deliver the corn to T. out of the coming new crops from the threshing-floor in the month P. free from all adulteration by royal χοι measure at the village of P., and if he falis to deliver it E. shall forfeit to T. as the value of each artaba four drachmae, and T shall have the right of execution upon the property of E., and may enforce it in any manner he chooses. This contract shall be valid whenever produced by T. or any other person on T.'s behalf, executing it as aforesaid. Witnesses: ... Keeper of the contract is [N].

P.Mich apis 1251 (Contract of loan, 248 bce)

...acknowledges that he has received

from Zenon, the Caunian, son of Agreiophon, of the entourage of Apollonios the dioiketes,

twenty (?) silver drachmas . . .

for which he will pay in Pharbaithos of the same nome

forty artabas of . . . in the receiving . . . in the month of Pauni
in the 37th year.

If he does not repay it in the time agreed upon

he shall forfeit to Zenon for the value of each artaba two drachmas;

and the right of execution shall rest with Zenon and the person bearing the note in behalf of Zenon. [Witnesses].

PHib 1.90 (222/221 bce; Lease)

... a penalty of 500 drachmae of silver, if there be no obstacle on the part of the state.

... guarantee the crops and what he has leased ....

(also refers to the mysterious χοι measure)

PTebt 3.1.815.fr2,r,2.25 (228-221 bce)

PTebt 0815 fr 4 (223/222 bce; abstracts of contracts) -- cf lines 1-29

Krates son of N.N., Macedonian of the epigone

has lent to Themistos son of Olymp[--]

20 drachmas of bronze at par, visible,

the rent being included for twelve months

from the 10th of Hyperberetaios.

And if he does not pay back within the period mentioned as is written above.

(the sentence was not finished)

Charge 1 drachma, 4 obols.

Keeper of the contract, Trochinides.

And[--], Thracian of the first men of Menelaos

from the Hermopolite nome and the fourth hipparchy,

has lent to Eutychis daughter of Tarrhios,

with her legal guardian Syros son of Zenodotos, xx of the epigone,

48 drachmas of bronze at par, legal, visible,

for 12 months from the aforementioned month,

the rent being at two drachmas per mina each month.

Security for the payment of the 48 drachmas is Syros, her guardian aforementioned.

Charge 1 dr.

Keeper of the contract is Antiphanes 100-arouras-holder.

Additional Bibliography:

Joseph G. Manning, Land and Power in Ptolemaic Egypt: The Structure of Land Tenure.
(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003) ISBN: 0521819245
Chapter One available online: Download 240k PDF.

Exact provisional transcription from Willy Clarysse as received through email on 26no2007:

1            ªBºasileuªoºnto" Ptolemaivou tou' Ptolemaivou kai;  jArsinovh" qew'n  ajdelfw'n e[tou"

2            ojktwkaidekavtou ejf j iJerevw" Kokkavlou tou' Eujelqovnto" jAlexavndrou kai;

3            ªqew'nº  jAdelfw'n kai; qew'n Eujergetw'n, kanhfovrou  jArsinoªvh" Filadevlfouº

4            ªSwteivºra" th'" Pammevnou" mhno;" Xandikou' ejm Febici tou' Kwitou ª

5            . . . . . .n ajpo; tou' uJpogegrammevnou mhno;" lovgwn . . . ª

6            . . . . . ejk tou' eJautou' klhvrou gh'" ajrouvra" eJxh.ª

7            . . . . . a" pr≥ov≥teron sunegravyato Petovsiri" Farª

8            t . . . . . . . . th'" ejpigonh'" kai; Cesqwvth≥ª"

9            ot. . . . . . . . kai; Palouti" o[nte"≥ . .ª

10          . . . . . . petwi kai; Petosivri  {Wrou k≥a≥i≥; Kª

11          . . . . . . . . Febici th'i tou' . . .ª

12          aª. . . . .º. .ª. .º tw≥n purw≥n ajrtabw'n duvo ª

13          to. . . . .ª. . .º . to; diagegrammevnon .ª

14          metovcoi . . . . . . .dou e. . . . kai d. . . . . .ª

15          eja;m mh; provteron hJ a[fesi" givnhtai puron h aª

16          ajpop.n..n mevtrwi coikw'i kai; wi metrhseª

17          ejm Febivci ejpi; th'" a{lw.  jjEa;n de; mh; ajpodw'sin .ª

18          ajpotisatwsan Eujkravth" kai; oiJ metovcoi . . . . .ª

19          th'" ajrtavbh" eJkavsth" dracma;" tessavra" ª kai; hJ pra'xi"º

20          e[stw kata; to; diavgramma. Bebaiouvtw de; . . . ª

21          toi'" metovcoi" ta; . . . . . hn kai; ta;" . .ª

22                        mai ejjk . .         jEa;n de; mh; bebaioi' .ª

23                                      ªtoi'º" metovcoi" ejpivtimon ª drac-º

24          ma;" triakosiva" ejam mhv ti basiliko;n kwvl≥ªuma gevnhtai.º

25          to de po

26          s≥u≥ggrafh; h{de k≥u≥r≥iv≥a≥ e[≥s≥t≥w≥ ou| a]n ejpifevrhtªai

[nothing further]

//end (14de2006); +12oc2007+10fe2009+16mr2009; +2fe2012//