Petition of Aurelius Isidoros to the governor for recovery of a loan secured on oxen TM 10523Karanis (Arsinoites)318 CE

To Valerius Ziper, the most eminent governor of Aegyptus Herculia, from Aurelius Isidoros son of Ptolemaios, from the village of Karanis in the Arsinoite nome. In the month of Phamenoth of the consulship of Sabinus and Rufinus, my lord governor, Kastor and his brother Ammonianos, from the same village, being in need, received as a loan from me 32 artabas of wheat and 18 artabas of beans, and they gave me written bonds for these on the security of three head of cattle; and on the same day their father-in-law Tomis gave me a written agreement by which he undertook the guarantee for the oxen, on condition that if they did not make delivery of the pulses to me within the month of Pauni, I should of course have ownership of the oxen in accordance with the bonds. Since, then, Kastor has departed this life and Ammonianos is in flight, the aforesaid Tomis and his brother Demetrios, who is the husband of Atola, sister of my debtors, have taken possession of everything left by them (I mean 8 head of cattle and house plots and the rest), providing me with nothing, neither the pulses nor the cattle, though so much time has passed, holding me in contempt. For this reason I appeal to your fortitude, begging and beseeching that, if it seems good to you, you order through whomever you approve that my opponents be compelled either to repay the pulses or to restore the three oxen to me in accordance with the bonds, and I shall acknowledge my gratitude to you. Farewell. Pharmouthi 18. [Subscription] The praepositus of the pagus, having examined the matter between you, will provide you with the appropriate assistance concerning the debts. Sheet 68.