Extracted Text

Koine Greek

ἔπαρχος Αἰγύπτου λέγει· κατηχοῦμαι τοὺς τελώνας δι̣[ν]ῶ̣ς σο̣φί̣σ̣ασθαι τοῖς διε̣ρ- χ̣ο̣μ̣έ̣νοις καὶ ἀπαιτεῖν τ̣ὰ μ̣ὴ̣ ὀφιλόμενα αὐτοῖς ἐπὶ πλεῖ- [ον] κ̣α̣ὶ̣ κρατεῖν τοὺς ἐπιγομέν̣[ο]υ̣ς [ἵνα] καὶ τὸ τάχιον ἀποχωρῖν̣ τι- νὲς ἐ̣ξωνήσωνται. παραγγέλ- λω [δὲ] οὖν αὐτοῖς παύσασθαι τῆς [τοιαύ]της πλ[ε]ονεξίας παρ̣[α-] [χρῆμα (?)]

βαίη τοῖς ἐπάρ[χοις(?)] ρω ζήτησιν εγ̣[α-] ναγκαῖον ἡγη[σάμην (?)] δια- τ̣ά̣γ̣μ̣α̣τ̣ι̣ παρὰ ἡγ̣[εμόνος(?)] τὴν τῆς εἰρήνη[ς] αν πρὸ παντὸς [σ]ιας χρῄζοντ[αι (?)] σι χωρὶς π̣άσης τ[ ἐ-] πὶ τὰς κρίσεις παρ[α-] ται ἐντεῦθεν κ[ στρα-] τηγοῖς κίνδυν[ον (?)] παραγ- γ̣έ̣λ̣λ̣ω̣ αν̣οχν̣ι̣[

Latin

(No Latin text was extracted from the document.)

Translation into English

The governor of Egypt says: "I am instructing the tax collectors to act wisely towards those who are in need and to demand what is not owed to them, in order to be more powerful and to hold those who come after them, so that they may quickly depart. Therefore, I command them to cease this kind of greed immediately."

"Let it be to the governors that I consider it necessary to seek a solution from the leaders regarding the peace that they need before everything else, without any exception, in order to address the crises that arise from here, and to the generals, I warn them of danger."

Extracted Koine Greek Text

Fragment A

ἔπαρχος Αἰγύπτου λέγει·
κατηχοῦμαι τοὺς τελώνας δεινῶς σοφίσασθαι τοῖς διερχομένοις καὶ ἀπαιτεῖν τὰ μὴ ὀφειλόμενα αὐτοῖς ἐπὶ πλεῖον καὶ κρατεῖν τοὺς ἐπειγομένους, ἵνα καὶ τὸ τάχιον ἀποχωρεῖν τινὲς ἐξωνήσωνται. παραγγέλλω δὲ οὖν αὐτοῖς παύσασθαι τῆς τοιαύτης πλεονεξίας παραχρῆμα.

Fragment B (partial and uncertain)

βαίη τοῖς ἐπάρχοις(?) ...
... ἀναγκαῖον ἡγη[σάμην(?)] διατάγματι παρὰ ἡγ[εμόνος(?)] τὴν τῆς εἰρήνη[ς] ... πρὸ παντὸς ...
... χωρὶς πάσης ... ἐπὶ τὰς κρίσεις παρ[...] ... στρατηγοῖς κίνδυν[ον(?)] παραγγέλλω ...

English Translation

Fragment A

The prefect of Egypt says:
"I am informed that the tax collectors are maliciously devising schemes against travelers, demanding from them payments that are not owed, and detaining those who are in a hurry, so that some may be compelled to buy their quicker release. Therefore, I command them to immediately cease such greed."

Fragment B (partial and uncertain)

"... may it go well for the prefects(?) ...
... I considered it necessary by decree from the governor(?) to [ensure] peace ... above all ...
... without any ... concerning judgments ... [there is] danger(?) for the generals ... I command ..."

Apparatus (Corrections)

• FrA.4: δεινῶς (corrected from δι̣[ν]ῶ̣ς)
• FrA.6: ὀφειλόμενα (corrected from ὀφιλόμενα)
• FrA.7: ἐπειγομένους (corrected from ἐπιγομένους)
• FrA.8: ἀποχωρεῖν (corrected from ἀποχωρῖν)