Associations in the Greco-Roman World (AGRW)

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

Records (frag.) of Association Property Purchases with Royal Decree (124 BCE) Tebtynis - Fayum region


Tebtynis (Fayum region, Egypt — Pleiades map), 124 BCE (May 24)
PTebt III 700 = Papyri.info TM 5311 = AGRW ID# 20614
Copenhagen Inventory info: 746


bibliography            

Papyrus preserving fragments of a series of documents recording two land purchases (including payments and taxes) made by Ammonios at an auction by the government.

The order of documents for the two land purchases is chronologically reversed and runs as follows:
(1) Banker's receipts (lines 1-4, 80-83);
(2) Copies of official letters authorizing the banker to receive the payments (lines 5-8, 85-87); and,
(3) Statements of the details and circumstances of the purchases (lines 9ff, 88ff), with a royal decree (of Euergetes II) concerning properties and associations (lines 22-55).

The translation of the opening lines presented here is that of Hunt and Smyly from PTebt (now in the public domain).

(Front side [recto]:)

(Receipt and official letter authorizing the banker to receive the payments for one purchase, lines 1-8 only)

In the 46th year. . . Paid in the bank at Krokodiliopolis to Dionysius, banker (trapezitēs), to the king’s credit for the separate account of receipts, from Ammonios in accordance with the appended statement: 5 talents of copper on the silver standard, tax 3000 drachmai, for the sixtieth 500 drachmai, for the thousandth 30 drachmai.

Theon to Dionysios, greetings.  Receive from Ammonios–with Ischyrion the royal secretary countersigning–5 talents of copper on the silver standard and the tenth (?) and other proper taxes, and pay over to the royal treasury, in accordance with the appended statement.  The 46th year . . .

The remainder of the documents are too fragmentary to translate.  The royal decree itself concerns the purchase of properties owned by associations and uses the terms “corporate bodies” (politeumata) and “synods” (synodoi) for such groups. 

Hunt and Smyly (PTebt III, p. 40) describe the fragmentary royal decree as follows:

Part certainly of the land now bought by Ammonius (line 11), and presumably all of it, had belonged to such an association; hence the relevance of the decree.  Unfortunately this, the most important component of the document, is very imperfectly preserved.  It begins with a lengthy preamble (lines 22-36) giving the grounds for the enactment. They cannot be clearly followed, but it seems that the ownership of property by the bodies concerned had given rise to difficulties or abuses which called for correction.  Gymnasia and other associations at Alexandria were therefore now to alienate the property specified (lines 37-9).  Reference is made to a previous decree bearing on the subject (lines 40-2), and holders of property belonging to such associations in the Arsinoite nome were ordered to declare it within a given time (lines 42-5).  Other obligations were laid upon gymnasiarchs and various financial officials of the nome (lines 45-8).  Disobedience was to be punishable by death, and rewards were offered for information leading to its detection (lines 49-52).  Finally, purchasers of property sold in accordance with the decree were promised the ordinary rights of ownership (lines 52-5).

Translation by: Arthur S. Hunt and J. Gilbart Smyly



{front side of papyrus [recto]}

{column 1}

{banker's receipt for a first purchase, lines 1-5:}
[ἔτους μϛ ][ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ πέπτωκεν ἐ]πὶ τὴν ἐν Κρ[οκοδίλων πόλει τρά(πεζαν)] | [Διονυσίωι τρα(πεζίτηι) ὥστε βασιλεῖ εἰς τὸν κε]χωρισμένο[ν λόγον τῶν λημ]|[μάτων παρʼ Ἀμμωνίου κατὰ τὴν ὑ]ποκειμένην̣ [διαγραφὴν χα(λκοῦ) πρὸς] | [ἀργ(ύριον(?)) τά(λαντα) ε, -ca.?- ] τέ(λος) Γ, (ἑξηκοστῆς) φ, (χιλιοστῆς) [λ.] ||

{Copies of official letters authorizing the banker to receive the payments, lines 5-8:}
[Θέων Διονυσίωι χαίρειν. δεξ]άμενος π̣[αρʼ Ἀμμωνίου συνυπο]|[γράφοντος Ἰσχυρίωνος] τ̣ο̣ῦ̣ βα(σιλικοῦ) γ̣ρ̣(αμματέως) χα(λκοῦ) πρ(ὸς) [ἀργ(ύριον) τά(λαντα) ε καὶ τὴν] | [(δεκάτην) καὶ τἆλλα τὰ καθήκο]ν̣τα ἀνένεγκʼ εἰς τ[ὸ βασιλικὸν κατὰ τὴν] | [ὑποκειμένην δια]γραφήν. ἔρρωσο. (ἔτους) μ[ϛ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣] |

{Statements of the details and circumstances of a first purchase, beginning in line 9}
[βασιλεῖ καὶ βασιλίσσηι Ἀμμ]ώνιος Ταυρίνου τ[ῶν κατοικούντων] || [ἐν Ὀξυρύγχοις τῆς] Πολέμωνος μερίδ[ος εἰς τιμὴν ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣] | [- ca.15 -] ̣ συνόδου ἐ̣ν̣ ἱερᾷ γ[ῆι τῆς οὔσης περὶ τὴν] | [αὐτὴν κωμὴν ἐμβρ]όχου ἐν δυσὶ σφραγῖσι [ἀρ(ο)υ(ρῶν) κη, γείτονες τῆς μὲν (πρώτης)] | [νότου ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣, ἀπ]ηλιώτου τῆς ὀρεινῆς δ[ιώρυγος -ca.?- ] | [ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ καὶ τῶν μ]ετόχων φοινικών, [βορρὰ -ca.?- ] || [- ca.11 - λι]βὸς ὀρεινὴ διῶρυξ [ -ca.?- ] | [ ̣ ̣ τῆς δὲ δευτέρας] γείτονες νότου ̣[ -ca.?- βορρᾶ -ca.?- ] | [- ca.12 - ἀπη]λ̣ι̣ώτου Ἰσιεῖον κ[αὶ -ca.?- λιβὸς -ca.?- ] | [- ca.15 -] ̣ε̣λ̣άβομε̣ν̣ ἐκ̣ ̣ε̣κ̣[- ca.9 - διὰ Φιλί]|[νου τῶν (πρώτων) φίλ(ων) καὶ στρα(τηγοῦ)] κ̣α̣ὶ̣ γραμμα[τέως τοῦ - ca.12 -] || [ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ λογιστηρί]ου ἀπὸ τοῦ ὑ̣[ποκειμένου προστάγματος -ca.?- ] | [τοῦ ἐκκειμένου] ἐν Κροκοδίλων [πόλει τῆι β τοῦ Θωὺθ τοῦ μϛ (ἔτους).(?)] |

{Royal decree of Euergetes II concerning purchase of properties owned by associations, lines 22-55:}
[βασιλέων προστα]ξάντων. θε[ -ca.?- ] | [- ca.15 - ἐ]π̣ὶ̣ τῶν ἰδίων ̣ [ -ca.?- ] | [ -ca.?- ] ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣[ -ca.?- ] || {column 2} [- ca.36 - ο]υς ἀλλὰ καὶ εἰς γυμνασιαρχίας καὶ | [- ca.35 -] ̣ους τὰ ἐκ πλείονος χρόνου καὶ διὰ | [- ca.35 -]ε̣τι συνλελεγμένα οὓς ἴδια ἐξαργυρι|[- ca.36 -]τ̣αμένους τὸν λοιπὸν τοῦ ζῆν | [χρόνον - ca.29 -]η̣ρίων ἐλαττωμένους διὰ τὴν || [- ca.33 - σπο]υ̣δὴν τῶν ἡγουμένων καὶ τῶν | [- ca.36 -]των ὥστʼ ἐκ τοῦ τοιούτου μηδεπότ̣ε̣ | [- ca.36 -]ι̣τυγχάνειν, πάντων δὲ τὰ ἴδια̣ | [- ca.35 -]ν̣ομένας παραγγελίας καὶ συνλόγους | [- ca.36 -]ούμενοι εἰς εὐδίαν πάντας ἀπο ̣ ̣ ̣ || [- ca.36 -]ς περιαιρεθέντων πρὸς τὸ καὶ τῆ̣ς̣ | [- ca.35 -]μ̣ένης ἀπερισπάστους γενηθέν[τα]ς̣ | [- ca.29 - προστετά]χαμεν τὰ ἐν Ἀλεξανδρείᾳ γυμνάσια | [καὶ - ca.21 - καὶ πολιτεύμα]τα καὶ συνόδους ἐκδιοικεῖν ἀν̣α|[- ca.35 -] ̣γεσθαι πλὴν τοῦ προτέρου πολιτικοῦ || [- ca.32 - καὶ] κατὰ τὴν χώραν γενηθῆναι ὅσα μὲν | [- ca.25 - προστετάχα]μεν διὰ τοῦ προεκκειμένου ἐν τῶι | [ ̣ ̣ (ἔτει(?)) προστάγματος - ca.20 - τ]οὺς ἔχοντάς τι τῶν ἐν τῶι Ἀρσινοΐτηι | [νομῶι γυμνασίων καὶ - ca.10 - καὶ συνόδ]ω̣ν καὶ πολιτευμάτων ἀπογράφεσθαι | [- ca.18 - ἐν ἡμέραις τριάκοντα ] ἀφʼ ἧς ἂν ἡμέρας τὸ πρόσταγμα || [ἐκτεθῆι καὶ - ca.26 -]ν ἐν ἄλλαις πέντε , τοὺς δὲ γυμνα- [σιάρχους καὶ - ca.25 -] καὶ ἐγλο̣γ̣[ι]σ̣τὰς καὶ [ο]ἰ̣κ̣[ον]ό̣μους καὶ | [ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους πάντας τοὺς ἔχοντ]άς τι τῶν τοιούτων ̣ ̣[ ̣] ̣ ̣ ̣ν̣αι | [- ca.23 - ἐν ἄλλαις ἡμέρα]ι̣ς̣ πέντε καὶ ἀναφέρειν ἐν ταῖς | [- ca.13 - τὸν δὲ μὴ οὕτω ποιήσαντα θαν]άτωι ἔνοχον εἶναι· μηνύειν δὲ || [τὸν βουλόμ]ε̣[νον - ca.22 -]ε̣ίου ἐφʼ ὧι ὁ μὲν ἐλεύθερος λήψεται [τῆς τ]ο̣ῦ̣ ἐνσχεθησομένου οὐσίας τὸ τρίτον μέρος, ὁ δὲ δοῦλος ἐλεύθερος ἔσται καὶ | [προσ]λήψεται τὸ ἕκτον. τοῖς δὲ προσελευσομένοις πρὸς τοὺς [ἀγορασμοὺς] | {column 3} τῶν προκειμένων αἱ δ[ιαγραφαὶ ἐγδοθήσονται ἐκ τ]οῦ | βασιλικοῦ, καὶ ἐξέσται α[ὐτοῖς χρῆσθαί τε καὶ οἰκον]ο||μεῖν ἀνυπευθύνοις οὖ[σιν. -ca.?- ] |

{Further details on a first purchase, lines 56-80:}
πρὸς ἃ καὶ Ἰσχυρίωνος τ[οῦ βασιλικοῦ γραμματέω]ς̣ | ἐπιδόντος τὰς γραφὰς ὡ[ς ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ἀνενηνοχέναι] | τοὺς κωμογραμματέ[ας διὰ τῶν - ca.13 -]ων | ὑπάρχειν τοῖς προκει[μένοις τὰς προκειμένας] || ἐμβρόχου ἀρ(ο)ύ(ρας) κη ῶ̣[ν - ca.12 - εἶναι τὴν] | ἀξί(αν) τά(λαντα) β̣ ω καὶ ἄλλω̣[ν ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ τά(λαντα) β̣ Εσ, (γίνεται) τά(λαντα) ε,] | καθὰ καὶ προτεθῆναι(*) εἰ̣[ς πρᾶσιν ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ πωλουμένων] | ἅμα τοῖς ἄλλοις διὰ τοῦ π[αρʼ ἡμῶν -ca.?- ἐν Κροκο]|δίλων πόλει ἐπὶ τοῦ δρό[μου -ca.?- συμ]||παρόντων Ἀμβροσίου π̣[ -ca.?- ] | ἐν τοῖς (πρώτοις) φίλ(οις), Εὐβίου τ̣[οῦ πρὸς τῆι στρατηγίαι] | τεταγμένου καὶ ἐπὶ τῶ̣[ν προσόδων τοῦ Ἀρσινοΐτου (?) -ca.?- ] | Πτολεμαίου Ἀσκληπι[άδου -ca.?- ] | ἐν τοῖς πρώτοις φίλοις [ -ca.?- ] || τοῦ συγγενοῦς καὶ ὑπομν[ηματογράφου -ca.?- ] | Θηραμένου Ἀττίνου τ[ -ca.?- ] | Ἰσχυρίωνος τοῦ βασιλι[κοῦ γραμματέως καὶ ἄλλων] | πλειόνων διὰ κήρυκ[ος -ca.?- ] | ὑποστῆναι πρὸ Ἀνδρον[ίκου -ca.?- ] || ἀκολούθως, τούτου δὲ μ̣[ὴ παραγενομένου ἐκυρώθη(?)] | Ἀμμώνιος ὁ προγεγραμ[μένος ἐφʼ ὧι παραλαβόντα] | διαγραφὴν ἀκολούθως τ̣[οῖς διὰ τοῦ προστάγματος] | διασαφουμένοις τάξα̣[σθαι -ca.?- ] | ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣[ ̣] ̣ ̣ ̣α γ̣ῆς τιμὴν̣ [ -ca.?- ] ||

{column 4}

{banker's receipt for a second purchase, lines 80-83:}
ἔτους μϛ Παχὼν δ. πέπτωκεν ἐπὶ τὴ[ν ἐν Κροκοδίλων πόλει τράπεζαν] | Διονυσίωι τραπεζίτηι ὥστε βασιλεῖ εἰς τὸ̣[ν κεχωρισμένον λόγον τῶν λήμ]|μάτων παρʼ Ἀμμωνίου κατὰ τὴν ὑποκειμέ[νην διαγραφὴν χα(λκοῦ) πρ(ὸς) ἀργ(ύριον) τά(λαντα) ζ,] | τέλος Δσ, (ἑξηκοστῆς) ψ, (χιλιοστῆς) μβ. [ -ca.?- ]

(Copies of official letters authorizing the banker to receive the payments for a second purchase, lines 84-87:}
Θέων Διονυσίωι χαίρειν. δεξάμε[νος παρʼ Ἀμμωνίου συνυπογράφοντος] || Ἰσχυρίωνος τοῦ βασιλικοῦ γραμματέως χα(λκοῦ) [πρ(ὸς) ἀργ(ύριον) τά(λαντα) ζ καὶ τὴν (δεκάτην) καὶ τἆλλα τὰ κα]|θήκοντʼ εἰς τὸ βασιλικὸν κατὰ τὴν ὑποκε[ιμένην διαγραφὴν ἀνένεγκε.] | [ἔρρωσο. (ἔτους) μϛ ][ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣]

{Statements of the details and circumstances of a second purchase, lines 88- :}
βασιλεῖ καὶ βασιλίσσηι Ἀμμώνιος [Ταυρίνου τῶν κατοικούντων] | ἐν Ὀξυρύγχοις τῆς Πολέμων[ος μερίδος εἰς τιμὴν - ca.11 -] || τοῦ ὄντος περὶ τὴν αὐτὴν [κώμην ἀρ(ο(?))υ(ρῶν) ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣, γείτονες νότου] | Σαράπιδος θεοῦ ἱερὰ γηι(*), βορρᾶ [- ca.20 - , ἀπηλιώ]|του Πετοσίριος καὶ Τιμοῦς χέρ[σος, λιβὸς ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣, καὶ τῆς οὔσης] | περὶ τὴν αὐτὴν κώμην ἐν ἱερᾷ γῆι [χέρσου ἀρ(ο)υ(ρῶν) ι, ἧς γείτονες νότου] | Ἀματόκου (ἑκατοντάρουρος) κλ(ῆρος), βορρᾶ διῶρυξ, ἀπη[λιώτου - ca.17 -] || τοῦ Ἀπολλωνίου παράδεισος ἔρημ[ος, λιβὸς -ca.?- ] | ἀνὰ μέσον ὄντος ἐξαγωγοῦ, καθ[ὰ καὶ προετέθησαν εἰς πρᾶσιν διὰ] | Φιλίνου τῶν (πρώτων) φίλ(ων) καὶ στρα(τηγοῦ) καὶ γραμ[ματέως τοῦ - ca.14 -] | λογιστηρίου ἀπὸ τοῦ ἐκκειμένου προ[στάγματος ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ἐν Κροκο]|δίλων πόλει τῆι β τοῦ Θωὺθ τοῦ μ[ϛ(?) ἔτους.(?)] || ὑπέκειτο καὶ ἀντίγραφον τοῦ προστάγμ[ατος. -ca.?- ] | πρὸς ὃ καὶ Ἰσχυρίωνος τοῦ βασιλικοῦ γρ[αμματέως ἐπιδόντος τὰς γραφὰς] | ἐδήλου ἀνενηνοχέναι τοὺς κωμογρα̣μ̣[ματέας διὰ τῶν ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ων ὑπάρχειν] | τοῖς προκειμένοις τὸν προκείμενον [ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ οὗ εἶναι τὴν ἀξί(αν) τά(λαντα) δ Γ] | καὶ τῆς χέρσου ἀρ(ο)υ(ρῶν) ι τά(λαντα) β Γ, (γίνεται) [τά(λαντα) ζ, - ca.22 -] || πωλουμένων ἅμα τοῖς ἄλλοις διὰ [τοῦ παρʼ ἡμῶν -ca.?- ]

Item added: December 18, 2015
Item modified: May 27, 2021
ID number: 20614
Short link address:
http://www.philipharland.com/greco-roman-associations/?p=20614

Leave a Question, Comment or Correction

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*