Petition of an orphan girl against an illegal sale of her inherited land TM 10527Karanis (Arsinoites)342 CE

To Flavius […], the most eminent prefect […] from Aurelia Tapais, daughter of Heras, her mother being Allous, from the village of Karanis of the Arsinoite nome. Having submitted a most just plea to your Magnificence, my lord prefect, I am confident of obtaining help from your Magnificence. I have testified to the following: that Antiourios son of Abous and Atisios son of Leonides, from the same village of Karanis, committed against me a most unlawful act, which the laws urge your Greatness to annul. […] to me, being an under-age child and an orphan […] my 4 arouras inherited from my mother […] to a certain scribe Didymos and […] paying taxes. For it is necessary […] subscribes […] to subscribe, […] of them lawfully […] having contrived, he was able to sell […] of my maternal arouras, amounting to 9 1/2, near the same village of Karanis. And he made the hand another and […] in this sale, which he did not pay out, imposing ownership of them by legal action […]. Therefore these documents, especially those drawn up to defraud minors […] as has been said before, the laws annul, and the […]. For this reason, having had the good fortune of your beneficent rule, I take refuge at your feet, an orphan child, begging, and […] since I speak the truth in these matters, that you order Ptolemaios […] this man from […] that the unlawful sale that took place be void, and that the ownership of the plots be handed over to me, so that, having obtained this, I may be able to have the benefit of them and be grateful to you forever. Farewell. I, Aurelia Tapaeis, have submitted this. I, Aurelius Dioskoros, wrote on her behalf since she is illiterate.