Associations in the Greco-Roman World (AGRW)

An expanding collection of inscriptions, papyri, and other sources in translation (run by Philip A. Harland)

Court Records Concerning Exemption for a Linen Weaver (192 CE) Alexandria - Delta region


Alexandria (Delta region, Egypt — Pleiades map), 192 CE (March 13)
GRA III 266 = POxy XXII 2340 = Papyri.info TM 22212 = AGRW ID# 31509


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Papyrus (39 x 17.7 cm) now in the Papyrology Rooms at the Sackler Library at Oxford (P.Oxy. 2340). Although there is no mention of an association here, we know that linen-weavers regularly formed such groups so it is likely this man would belong to an association.

Year 32 of Lucius Aelius Aurelius Commodus Caesar the Lord, on the 17th of Phamenouth. On the petition of Isidoros Eudaemon, his advocate said, “Epimachos son of Gaius, assistant commander (stratēgos) of the fourth district, has nominated my client in place of himself. My client is a foreman linen weaver who has many workers in his factory and men in his position have in the past been exempted because they are useful (chrēsimos) to the treasury.  I now urge you to order Epimachos to nominate someone else in place of himself.”

When . . . was read . . . (column 2) until the 22nd of Pharmouthi. Hippias the advocate said, “Epimachos asserts that Isidoros is not a linen weaver but a perfumer and a well-to-do man.” Julianus said, “According to decisions given in similar cases, if he is a foreman weaver he can use the same precedent and in turn nominate someone else instead of himself.”

(traces of a second document)

Translation by: Kloppenborg



{column 1} ἔτους λβ Λουκίου Αἰλίου Αὐρηλίου | Κομμόδου Καίσαρος τοῦ κυρίου Φαμενὼθ ιζ | ἐντυχόντος· Ἰσιδώρου Εὐδαίμων ῥή|τωρ εἶπεν· Ἐπίμαχος Γαίου ὑποστράτη||γος δέλτα γράμματος ἀνέδωκεν τὸν | ἡμέτερον ἀνθʼ αὑτοῦ ἐργαστηριάρχην | ὄντα λινού(λινοϋφων)φων πολλοὺς ἐργαζομέ|νους ἐν τῇ ἐργασίᾳ ἔχοντα. οἱ δὲ | τοιοῦτοι ἀφείθησαν διὰ τὸ χρήσι||μο[ν] (χρησίμ[ου]ς) εἶναι τῷ ταμε̣[ί]ῳ (ταμιε[ί]ῳ) καὶ παρακαλῶ | [δὲ] κελεῦσαί ([δια]κελεῦσαί) σε τῷ [Ἐπιμ]άχῳ ἕτερον | [ἀνθʼ αὑτο]ῦ ἀναδ[οῦναι κ]α̣ὶ̣ ἀναγν[ώ]|[σομαι] (ἀναγν[ώσθ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣]) [ὑπό]μ̣νημ̣[α Μακρίν]ου (α̣ν̣ι̣κ̣ο̣[ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣]υ) κε[χρο] (κο[ ̣ ̣ ̣])| {column 2} -νισμένον εἰς τὸ κβ Φαρμοῦ||θι. Ἱππίας ῥήτωρ εἶπεν· ὄ Ἐπί|μαχός φησιν μὴ εἶναι αὐτὸν | λινόυφον ἀλλὰ μυροπώλην | εὐσχήμονα ἄνθρωπον. Ἰου|λιανὸς εἶπεν· κατὰ τὰ ἐφ᾿ ὁμο̣[ι]|ων κριθέντα εἰ ἐστὶν ἐργα|στηριάρχης λινόυφος (λινούφων) τῷ αὐ|τῷ παραδείγ[μ]α̣τι χρήσασθαι | δύναται κα[ὶ αὐτὸς ἀ]ντ᾿ ([ἀ]νθ᾿) αὑ̣το[ῦ] | ἕτερον ἀν[αδοῦναι]. | περὶ τάξεως ἐμβολ(ῆς). | -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- | [ -ca.?- ] ̣[ ̣ ̣] | [ -ca.?- μ]ὲ̣ν οὖν ἀπαλ|[ -ca.?- ὁ στρ]ατηγὸς εἶπεν· | [ -ca.?- ἐκά]λ̣εσεν τοὺς ο||[ -ca.?- ]ι̣ανὸς εἶπ[ε]ν· | [ -ca.?- ] γ̣ὰρ τῶν ο|[ -ca.?- ] αἰτίαν ἀφε|—— | (hand 2) [ -ca.?- ] ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ | [ -ca.?- Καί]σαρος τοῦ κυρίου.

Item added: July 15, 2020
Item modified: July 17, 2020
ID number: 31509
Short link address:
http://www.philipharland.com/greco-roman-associations/?p=31509

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