Petition of Soknopaiou Nesos villagers against obstruction of sowing on shore land TM 11214Soknopaiu Nesos (Arsinoites)12. Okt. 207

[1] To Julius Julianus, centurion, from Herieus son of Stotoetis, stonemason, and Paboukas son of Pabous, and Herieus son of Pakysis, and Apynchis son of Horion, and Esouris son of Paouites, and Demas son of Demas, and Orsenouphis son of Herieus, and Petesouchos son of Sotas, and Horos whose mother is Thaisas, and Soterichos, father unknown, whose mother is Thaesis, and Teikas son of Pakysis, and Pates son of Satabous, and Pabous son of Pabous, and Kannis son of Pates, and Sostas son of Pabous, and Pais son of Satabous, and Pakysis son of Psenesis, and Apynchis son of Apynchis, and Abous son of Satabous, and Pakysis son of Herieus, and Pousis son of Matais, and Pakysis son of Apynchis, and Satabous son of Pakysis, and Aeis son of Kannes, and Melas son of Areus, all from the village of Soknopaiou Nesos in the division of Herakleides. We bring before you, lord, a petition requiring your vindication, which runs as follows. There is among us registered shore land around our village, amounting to very many arouras; and whenever such land is uncovered, it is leased and sown according to custom at a rent per aroura, and this is measured out to the most sacred treasury, and through this very portion all the dues falling on the village, which are very numerous, are paid, because the village has neither private land nor royal land nor any other kind. But so that all may be able to remain in their own homes, especially since the most illustrious [2] prefect Subatianus Aquila has ordered all who are abroad to return to their own homes and keep to their customary work, since therefore Orsenouphis son of Stotoetis and his brothers, five in number, have attacked us, preventing us from sowing this land, we necessarily submit this petition, asking you, if it seems good to you, to order them to be brought before you to give account concerning this. Farewell. Year 16, Phaophi 14.