Extracted Text

Koine Greek

ἐπάρ]χωι Αἰγύπ[του ἐπάρ]χ̣ωι Αἰγύπ[του πα]ρ̣ὰ Αἰλίου Συρ[ί]ω̣νο[ς] παλ̣α̣ι

στρατιώτου τῶν ἐν]τείμ̣ω̣ς̣ ἀπολελυμένων(?) ἐ]ξ ὀπ̣τ̣ίων[ος λεγε]ῶνο̣[ς(?)]. περ̣ὶ̣ τ̣ῶν [κα]τ’ ἐμ̣[οῦ]

υ τετολ[μ]ημέ̣[νων, δέσποτ]α ἡγ̣εμ̣ών, ἕτε̣[ρον δ]ι̣καστὴν̣ μ̣ὴ διαλ̣[αμ]βάνειν

ἡγε]μονίας φανερόν ἐ̣[στιν ἐκ] τῶν δωρηθέντω̣[ν ἡ]μεῖν τοῖς οὐετρα[νοῖς] καὶ προ]σκυνηταίων θεσπ̣[ισμάτω]ν̣.

ὅθεν προσέ[ρχομ]α̣ι αὐτὸς ἀξιῶν τ̣[ῆς] ἀ̣πὸ κρίσε]ως τυχεῖν. ἔχει δὲ οὕ̣[τως·] καταμείναν̣[τός μ]ου, κύριε, ἐν̣ τ̣ῷ̣ [Ἡ]ρ̣ακλε-

οπολίτῃ(?) ἐνταῦ(?)]θα, καὶ πρo ἐπιμελουμέν̣[ου ἐ(?)]κ̣ τῶν τῆς γῆ̣[ς ἔργ]ω̣ν̣ ἐ]κ̣’ χρησιμότητος

ο̣τε δωνατ[ί]β̣ω[ν κα]ὶ ὀψωνίω̣ν κ̣α̣[ὶ τ]ῶν ἔτυχεν Αὐρηλίους ν̣αν Πτολεμαίου Α[ εα καὶ Νεμεσ̣ι̣[ανὸ]ν̣ Σαρα-

νιον τὸν καὶ Νικα̣[Ἀ]μ̣μωνίου καὶ Ν̣[εμ]ε̣σάμμωνα καὶ Ἡ̣[ρ]α̣κλεί- Νινναρᾶ ἀ̣πὸ τῆ̣[ς προει]ρημένης Ἡρακλέο[υ]ς πόλεως προσελθεῖ̣ν μοι

παρ’(?)] ἐ̣μοῦ εἰς ἰδ̣[ίαν χρείαν] ἀρτάβας ο[ὐ]κ̣’ ὀλίγας ἐ̣[ν] τε πυρῷ [κα]ὶ λαχανο̣σ̣πέρμῳ

ω̣ αὐτῶν κα̣[ι ὑπὲρ τῆ̣[ς] ἐ̣μῆς ἀ̣[σφ]αλείας ἰ[δι]ο̣γράφοις̣ [γ]ρ̣αμμ̣α̣[(?)]

ἐν τῷ δ]ιωρισμέ̣[νῳ χρόνῳ π]ρὸς τ̣ὴ̣ν̣ [ἀπό]δοσιν, κ̣α̣[ὶ] τῆς προθ̣[ε]σ̣μίας ἐ̣ν̣στά-

σων τε αὐτ̣[οὐκ [ε]ἶδ[ον] ὡ̣ς οἱ ἐκ̣ τῶν ἐν[αν]τ̣ίων ἐ̣μ̣οῦ οὐ]ετρανοῦ κ̣α̣[ὶ] β̣ίον, τ̣ὸ \αὐτὸ̣/ π[

μὴ ἐπισταμ̣[έν]ου μου ἐ̣πελθ̣[σεσοβημέ[κ̣τ̣α̣ι̣ ̣ ̣ ̣

μ̣ην αὐ̣τοὺς κώ̣[θ]ω̣νας, καθεστ̣ὼ[ς] πόλεως τω̣[ν πρω̣[το]β̣αθριτῶν θεάτρ[ου], oὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ

ε̣ι̣ς̣ α̣ὐ̣τ̣ῶ̣ν̣ [κώθων̣ας καὶ πο̣ιοῦσιν. ἐζη̣τήθη ὑπὸ τῆς

οὐκ’ ἐβου̣[λήθησαν μ]ετρη[θῆ]ν̣α̣ι̣ αὐτοῖς ὑ̣π̣’ ἐ̣μοῦ ἐν τε πυρῷ̣ κ̣α̣ὶ̣ λ̣α̣χ̣α̣ν̣ο̣σ̣π̣έ̣ρ̣μ̣ῳ̣

ω̣ μόνῳ̣ καὶ δ̣ί̣κ̣ας ἐ[π]ά̣γ̣ειν ἂν εἰς ἐμὲ̣ τ̣ọ̀ν̣ ο̣ὐε̣τ̣ρα-

νόν ἐ̣ναντίον τ̣[ολ]μ̣ήσαντ[ες] τοιγαροῦν τῶν προτεταγμένων προσκυνη-

τέων ω̣ν γραμμάτ[ω]ν τοῦ μήτ̣ε̣ ὑβρίζεσθαι ἢ τύπτεσθαι. ὅθεν κατὰ τὸ

ἀναγκαῖον ἀνά]γ̣κην ἔσχον π̣ρ̣οσδραμεῖν̣ σοι τῷ κυ̣ρ̣ίῳ, ἀκολούθως τοῖς̣ προτεταγμέ-

νοις γραμμάσιν, [ἐ]ξιστορῶν τ̣ὰ τετολμη̣μένα κατ’ ἐμοῦ, καὶ ὡς οὗτοι ἐκ τῆς

συμφ]ω̣νίας λόγον [ο]ὔ̣τε τοῦ ἐκεῖσε στρατηγοῦ ἀλλὰ μηδὲ τῶν μιζόνων

ἔχου- κ̣[αὶ] τ̣οῦ ἀγῶνος̣ [ο]ὐδενὸς ἑτ̣έρου δικαστοῦ τυγ’χάνοντος, ὡς προτέτακται,

ἀκοῦσαί μ[ο]υ πρὸς αὐτ̣[ο]ὺς εἰς τὸ δύνασθαί με ἐκ’δικηθέντα ὑπὸ σοῦ

κ̣αὶ ἀπολαβόν̣[τ]α̣ πλήρης̣ τ̣ὸ ἴδιον διὰ παντὸς τῇ τύχῃ σου εὐχαριστεῖν̣. διευτύχει.

[Αἴλιος Συρίων οὐε]τ̣ρανὸς ἐπ̣[ιδέδωκα].

ἔντ]υ̣χέ μοι δικάζοντι.

Latin

recogno[v]i

κ̣[όλ(λημα) ζ´ τόμ(ου) α´

Translation

"I, the governor of Egypt, in the presence of Aelius Syrianus, an ancient soldier of the honored legions, concerning those who have been entrusted to me, I come to you, O lord, seeking to obtain a favorable judgment. It is evident from the gifts given to us that the authority is clear. Therefore, I approach you, hoping to receive a favorable decision. I have remained here, O lord, in the city of Heracleopolis, and I am concerned about the works of the land, for the benefit of the state and the people. I have been asked to provide a certain number of rations, not a few, in both fire and vegetable supplies, for the sake of my own safety. I have not seen how those entrusted to me have behaved, nor have I seen any other judge who has been appointed. I have heard that I should be able to be vindicated by you and to receive my due thanks for your fortune."

Extracted Koine Greek Text

[ἐπάρ]χωι Αἰγύπ[του ἐπάρ]χ̣ωι Αἰγύπ[του πα]ρ̣ὰ Αἰλίου Συρ[ί]ω̣νο[ς] παλ̣α̣ι στρατιώτου τῶν [ἐν]τίμως [ἀπολελυμένων(?)] ἐξ ὀπ̣τ̣ίων[ος λεγε]ῶνο̣[ς(?)]. περὶ τῶν [κα]τ’ ἐμ̣[οῦ] υ τετολ[μ]ημέ[νων, δέσποτ]α ἡγ̣εμ̣ών, ἕτερον δ̣ι̣καστὴν μὴ διαλ̣[αμ]βάνειν [ἡγε]μονίας φανερόν ἐ̣[στιν ἐκ] τῶν δωρηθέντω̣[ν ἡ]μῖν τοῖς οὐετρα[νοῖς] καὶ [προ]σκυνητέων θεσπ̣[ισμάτω]ν̣. ὅθεν προσέ[ρχομ]α̣ι αὐτὸς ἀξιῶν τ̣[ῆς] ἀ̣πὸ [κρίσε]ως τυχεῖν. ἔχει δὲ οὕ̣[τως·] καταμείναν̣[τός μ]ου, κύριε, ἐν̣ τ̣ῷ̣ [Ἡ]ρ̣ακλε[οπολίτῃ(?)] ἐνταῦ[θα], καὶ πρo[...] ἐπιμελουμέν̣[ου ἐ(?)]κ̣ τῶν τῆς γῆ̣[ς ἔργ]ω̣ν̣ [ἐ]κ̣’ χρησιμότητος [...] δωνατ[ί]β̣ω[ν κα]ὶ ὀψωνίω̣ν κ̣α̣[ὶ τ]ῶν [...], ἔτυχεν Αὐρηλίους [...] Πτολεμαίου Α[...] καὶ Νεμεσ̣ι̣[ανὸ]ν̣ Σαρα[...]νιον τὸν καὶ Νικα̣[...] [Ἀ]μ̣μωνίου καὶ Ν̣[εμ]ε̣σάμμωνα καὶ Ἡ̣[ρ]α̣κλεί[δην...] Νινναρᾶ [...] ἀ̣πὸ τῆ̣[ς προει]ρημένης Ἡρακλέο[υ]ς πόλεως προσελθεῖ̣ν μοι [...] παρ’ ἐ̣μοῦ εἰς ἰδ̣[ίαν χρείαν] ἀρτάβας ο[ὐ]κ̣’ ὀλίγας ἐ̣[ν] τε πυρῷ [κα]ὶ λαχανο̣σ̣πέρμῳ [...] ὑπὲρ τῆ̣[ς] ἐ̣μῆς ἀ̣[σφ]αλείας ἰ[δι]ο̣γράφοις̣ [γ]ρ̣αμμ̣α̣[...] [ἐν τῷ δ]ιωρισμέ̣[νῳ χρόνῳ π]ρὸς τ̣ὴ̣ν̣ [ἀπό]δοσιν, κ̣α̣[ὶ] τῆς προθ̣[ε]σ̣μίας ἐ̣ν̣στά[σης...] οὐκ [ε]ἶδ[ον] ὡ̣ς οἱ ἐκ̣ τῶν ἐν[αν]τ̣ίων ἐ̣μ̣οῦ [...] οὐετρανοῦ [...] β̣ίον, τ̣ὸ αὐτὸ̣ [...] μὴ ἐπισταμ̣[έν]ου μου ἐ̣πελθ̣[...] [...]σεσοβημέ[...] [...] αὐ̣τοὺς κώ̣[θ]ω̣νας, καθεστ̣ὼ[ς...] [...] π]όλεως τω̣[...] πρω̣[το]β̣αθριτῶν θεάτρ[ου], oὐ μὴν ἀλλὰ καὶ [...] κώθων̣ας καὶ πο̣ιοῦσιν. ἐζη̣τήθη ὑπὸ τῆς [...] οὐκ’ ἐβου̣[λήθησαν μ]ετρη[θῆ]ν̣α̣ι̣ αὐτοῖς ὑ̣π̣’ ἐ̣μοῦ ἐν τε πυρῷ̣ κ̣α̣ὶ̣ λ̣α̣χ̣α̣ν̣ο̣σ̣π̣έ̣ρ̣μ̣ῳ̣ [...] καὶ δ̣ί̣κ̣ας ἐ[π]ά̣γ̣ειν ἂν εἰς ἐμὲ̣ τ̣ọ̀ν̣ ο̣ὐε̣τ̣ρα[νόν...] ἐ̣ναντίον τ̣[ολ]μ̣ήσαντ[ες] τοιγαροῦν τῶν προτεταγμένων προσκυνη[τέων...] γραμμάτ[ω]ν τοῦ μήτ̣ε̣ ὑβρίζεσθαι ἢ τύπτεσθαι. ὅθεν κατὰ τὸ [ἀναγκαῖον ἀνά]γ̣κην ἔσχον π̣ρ̣οσδραμεῖν̣ σοι τῷ κυ̣ρ̣ίῳ, ἀκολούθως τοῖς̣ προτεταγμέ[νοις...] γράμμασιν, [ἐ]ξιστορῶν τ̣ὰ τετολμη̣μένα κατ’ ἐμοῦ, καὶ ὡς οὗτοι ἐκ τῆς [συμφ]ω̣νίας λόγον [ο]ὔ̣τε τοῦ ἐκεῖσε στρατηγοῦ ἀλλὰ μηδὲ τῶν μειζόνων ἔχου[σιν...] κ̣[αὶ] τ̣οῦ ἀγῶνος̣ [ο]ὐδενὸς ἑτ̣έρου δικαστοῦ τυγχάνοντος, ὡς προτέτακται, [...] ἀκοῦσαί μ[ο]υ πρὸς αὐτ̣[ο]ὺς εἰς τὸ δύνασθαί με ἐκδικηθέντα ὑπὸ σοῦ [...] κ̣αὶ ἀπολαβόν̣[τ]α̣ πλήρης̣ τ̣ὸ ἴδιον διὰ παντὸς τῇ τύχῃ σου εὐχαριστεῖν̣. διευτύχει. [Αἴλιος Συρίων οὐε]τ̣ρανὸς ἐπ̣[ιδέδωκα].

Extracted Latin Text

praesentium [...] vero II co(n)s( ) [...] recogno[v]i κ̣[όλ(λημα)] ζ´ τόμ(ου) α´

English Translation

"[To the] Prefect of Egypt, from Aelius Syrion, a veteran soldier honorably discharged from the legion's optio. Regarding the offenses committed against me, my lord governor, it is clear from the privileges granted to us veterans and from imperial decrees that no other judge should intervene. Therefore, I myself approach, requesting to obtain judgment. The matter is as follows: While I was staying, my lord, in Heracleopolis, and was occupied with agricultural tasks and other useful duties, certain individuals—Aurelius [...] son of Ptolemaeus, Nemesianus Sara[...], also called Nica[...], son of Ammonius, Nemesammon, Heracleides, and Ninnara from the aforementioned city—came to me and received from me a considerable amount of grain and vegetable seed for their private use, providing written acknowledgments for my security. When the appointed time for repayment arrived, they refused measurement of the grain and seed by me, and even dared to bring charges against me, a veteran, contrary to the imperial decrees forbidding insult or assault. Thus, compelled by necessity, I have come to you, my lord, in accordance with the decrees, reporting the offenses committed against me, and noting that these men have no right to appeal to the local strategos or any higher authority. Therefore, I request that you hear my case against them, so that I may obtain justice from you and fully recover my property, forever grateful to your fortune. Farewell. [I, Aelius Syrion, veteran, have submitted this.]"