Register of trees

Description

Both entries begin with �ǣand in the temple of Isis�ǥ. Then, the first letters of the following words, which are preserved partially (in l. 2 and in l. 5), seem to be epithets of Isis. The genitive of the noun �ǣof the village�ǥ in ll. 3 and 6 is another common detail in both entries. Therefore, at the end of l. 5 an expression of place (cf. l. 3 �ǣto the east�ǥ) is expected. At the end of the entries (ll. 3 and 6) the tree(s) planted in these temples are mentioned (cf. l. 6 mulberry-tree(s)).;There is a reference to a register or survey of trees and the papyrus-sheet of a tomos synkollesimos, as the resolved abbreviation (sheet )points out. The ink in the text that follows (especially in l. 4) is damaged.;Registers of tress are mentioned in P.Vind.Pher. 161 (Pheretnouis; A.D. 196-197) and P.Congr. XV 15, 41 (Karanis; A.D. 80). These registers were drawn up by the village scribes (for their practice see P.Congr. XV 15, introd., p. 76). Also, three documents (SB XIV 11654, 11655 and 11656), published by G.M. Par��ssoglou, �ǣOn Idios Logos and Fallen Trees�ǥ, APF 24/25 (1976), pp. 91-99, preserve detailed records of measurements of fallen trees; in particular, the latter one is a set of entries on trees and branches fallen on temple grounds. These trees were considered as without a private owner and were a concern of idios logos (see Par��ssoglou, loc. cit., p. 93). It is true the entries of the Michigan papyrus record trees in temple groves (ll. 2 and 5) but these entries are a kind of shortened references or of abstracts of detailed descriptions and totally different that the ones of the papyri mentioned above. Also, the surviving text does not provide further information on whether it is about trees fallen upon the ground or just mulberry- and other trees still cultivated in the temples. It is plausible that the papyrus might have served as the draft during the schedule or itinerary for the inspection of some trees in the temple. In that case the responsible officials might have checked on spot the present copy up on the complete register or survey of trees (probably on a _____ _____ of one of the previous years) and have written down the reference to the sheet of the tomos synkollesimos, if something had changed or not since the last inspection. Later all the new information should had to be copied and reported officially in a new register.