Ἀρίστιος Ὀ[πτ]ᾶ̣τος ὁ διασημότ[ατ]ος ἔπαρχος Αἰγύπτου [λέ]γει·
γνόντε[ς οἱ] προνοητικώτατοι Αὐτοκράτορε[ς ἡμῶ]ν Διοκλητι[αν]ὸς καὶ Μαξιμιανὸς οἱ
Σεβαστο[ὶ] καὶ
Κωνστάντιος καὶ Μαξιμιανὸς οἱ ἐπιφανέστατοι Καίσαρ[ε]ς
ν̣ε̣
ὡς ἔτυχεν τὰς ἐπιβολὰς τῶν δη-
μοσίων εἰσφορῶν γίγνεσθαι ὥς τινας μὲν κου[φ]ίζεσθ[α]ι ἄλλους δὲ βαρῖσθαι
(*), τὴν κακίστην ταύ-
την καὶ ὀλέθριον συνήθειαν ἐκκόψαι ὑπὲρ τοῦ [συμ]φέροντος τῶν ἑαυτῶν ἐπαρχει-
ωτῶν
(*)
τύπον τε σωτήριον δοῦναι καθʼ ὃν δέοι τὰς εἰ[σφο]ρὰς γίγνεσθαι κατηξίωσαν.
πόσα οὖν ἑκάστῃ ἀρούρᾳ πρὸς τὴν ποιότητα τῆς γῆς ἐπεβλήθη καὶ πόσα ἑκάστῃ κεφαλῇ
τῶν ἀγροίκων καὶ ἀπὸ ποίας ἡλικείας
(*)
μέχ[ρ]ει
(*)
π[ο]ίας, ἀπὸ τοῦ προτεθέντος θείου διατάγματος
καὶ τοῦ αὐτῷ συννηννωμένου
(*)
βρεουίου [οἷς] τὰ ἀντίγραφα τούτου μου τοῦ διατάγματος
δημοσίᾳ προύταξα, ἔνεστιν πᾶσι
υνο[
̣ ]ν̣. [εὐ]εργετηθέντες οὖν καὶ ἐν τούτῳ τὰ μέγιστα
οἱ ἐπαρχειῶται
(*)
φροντισάτωσαν ἀκολούθως τοῖς θειωδῶς διατυπωθεῖσιν τὰς εἰσφο-
ρὰς μετὰ πάσης ταχύτητος ποιήσασθαι καὶ μηδαμῶς
(*)
ἀνάγκην τοῦ ἐπιξαντος
(*)
ἐκδέχεσ-
θαι. προσῆκεν γὰρ τὰ εἰς καθοσίωσιν σύνπαντα προθυμότατα ἕκαστον πληροῦν· εἰ γάρ
τις ἄλλο πράξας ὀφθείη
(*)
μετὰ τὴν τοιαύτην δωρεὰν κινδυνεύσει. προσετάχθησαν
δὲ οἱ ἄρχοντες καὶ οἱ προπολειτευόμενοι
(*)
ἑκά[σ]της πόλεως καὶ τοῦ θείου διατάγματος
μετὰ μεγαλοῦ
(*)
βρεουίου τὸ ἀντίγραφον ἔτι τε καὶ τούτου εἰς ἑκάστην κώμην εἴτ’ʼ οὖν τόπον
ἀποστεῖλαι ὑπὲρ τοῦ εἰς γνῶσιν ἁπάντων ᾗ τάχο[ς] ἐλθεῖν τὴν μεγαλοδωρίαν τῶν
Αὐτοκρατόρων ἡμῶν καὶ τῶν Καισάρων. ἀ[ν]α̣μιμν[ῄσ]κονται δὲ καὶ οἱ πρακτῆρες
ἑκάστου εἴδους πάσῃ δυνάμι
(*)
παραφυλάττειν· [εἰ] γάρ τις παραβὰς ὀφθείη κεφαλῇ
κινδυνεύσι
(*). (ἔτους)
ιγ
((s-etous)) καὶ
ιβ
((s-etous)) καὶ
ε
((s-etous)) τῶν κυρίων ἡμῶν Διοκλητιανοῦ καὶ Μαξιμιανοῦ
Σεβαστῶν καὶ Κωνσταντίου καὶ Μαξιμιανοῦ ἐπιφανεστάτων Καισάρων, Φαμενὼθ
κ.
Apparatus
^
4.
l. βαρεῖσθαι
^
5-6.
l. ἐπαρχι|ωτῶν
^
8.
l. ἡλικίας
^
8.
l. μέχ[ρ]ι
^
9.
l. συνηνωμένου
^
11.
l. ἐπαρχιῶται
^
12.
corr. ex
^
12.
l. ἐπείξαντος
^
14.
corr. ex αφθειη
^
15.
l. προπολιτευόμενοι
^
16.
l. τοῦ
^
16.
εἴτ’ʼ papyrus
^
19.
l. δυνάμει
^
20.
l. κινδυνεύσει
Aristios Optatos, the most renowned governor of Egypt, says:
"Knowing that our most foresighted emperors, Diocletian and Maximian, the
Augusti, and Constantius and Maximian, the most illustrious Caesars,
as it has happened that the impositions of the public taxes are such that some are lightened while others are burdened,
(*), to cut off this most wicked and deadly custom for the benefit of their own governors
(*), to provide a saving type according to which the taxes should be assessed.
Therefore, how much was imposed on each aroura according to the quality of the land and how much on each head
of the peasants and from what age
(*) until
(*) which, from the previously established divine decree
and the accompanying
(*) of the same
decree, I publicly presented the copies of this decree, it is for all
to be benefitted.
Therefore, let the governors take care to follow the divinely prescribed taxes with all speed and in no way
(*) to receive the necessity of the one who has imposed
(*). For it is fitting that all things for the establishment be fulfilled most eagerly by each; for if
anyone were to be seen doing something else after such a gift, he would be in danger.
And the rulers and those preparing for the city were commanded
(*) of each city and of the divine decree
with a great
(*) copy of the decree to send it to each village, whether to a place
to inform all how quickly to come the great generosity of our emperors and the Caesars. And the practitioners of each kind are to guard with all strength
(*) for if anyone were to be seen transgressing, he would be in danger.
(Year)
13
((s-etous)) and
12
((s-etous)) and
5
((s-etous)) of our lords Diocletian and Maximian,
the Augusti, and Constantius and Maximian, the most illustrious Caesars, Phamenoth
k.