Petition for appointment as guardian of orphaned nephews TM 10693Philadelphia (Arsinoites)12. Jan. 225

To Aurelius Didymos, strategos of the Arsinoite nome, Herakleides division, from Marcus Lucretius Diogenes, citizen of Antinoopolis. A copy of the petition which I submitted to Claudius Herennianus, his excellency the iuridicus also administering the prefecture, and of the subscription I obtained, is appended below, and I ask that the consequent steps be taken, that you appoint a guardian for the minors written below so that nothing of theirs be lost, in accordance with the laws. It is as follows: To Tiberius Claudius Herennianus, his excellency the iuridicus also administering the prefecture by divine command, from Marcus Lucretius Diogenes, citizen of Antinoopolis. Bringing a request befitting your nobility, I am confident of obtaining justice from you. I shall set out the matter briefly. In the past month of Phaophi my sister Octavia Lucretia died intestate, leaving as heirs three sons from different marriages, Marcus Aurelius Julias, Lucretius and Rufus, minors. One of them, Julias, being under the authority of his own father Marcus Aurelius Heron, has received the share of the estate falling to him. Of the others, Lucretius happens to be fatherless, and Rufus's father has died, and they have no one nearer in kin than I, Lucretius Diogenes, for whose sake I make this […] request, and I beg you, if it seems good to your fortune, to order by your sacred subscription the strategos of the Herakleides division of the Arsinoite nome, where their property is, to appoint me guardian of the orphaned children, so that I may manage what was left to them, in order that it be preserved for them until they come of age. Farewell. I, Marcus Lucretius Diogenes, submitted it through me, Aurelius Sarapion. The strategos, keeping his own risk before his eyes, will see to appointing a guardian for the minors. Sheet 68.