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One text, 2 sources · Trismegistos-Text 11383

Complaint to the strategos Hierax about negligent officials at Philadelphia TM 11383Arsinoites160 - 162 (?)

The same ancient text or artifact as recorded by 2 records across 2 independent projects, recognised as one entity by its TM-Text identifier. View on Trismegistos →

Valerius, Sarapion, Gebinas and their colleagues, appointed by the strategos to take charge of the village of Philadelphia, complain to Hierax, strategos of the Herakleides division of the Arsinoite nome, that local officials, especially the field guards, are neglecting tax collection. They ask him to examine these men so collection proceeds more diligently. The text dates to about AD 160-162.

In English machine translation

[recto] To Hierax, strategos of the Arsinoite nome, Herakleides division, from Valerius and Sarapion and Gebinas and the others whom you ordered to be put in charge of the village of Philadelphia, to their lord, greetings. Since the assessment (?) of this village is not small, and we have great need of help, and most of those in charge in the village, especially the field guards, are not attending diligently to the collection, we ask that they receive an examination from you, so that the collection may also be carried out more carefully. We pray for your health. [verso] To Hierax, strategos of the Arsinoite nome, Herakleides division.

The Greek term ekthesis here refers to the posted list or schedule of amounts due for collection, so 'assessment' is approximate. Field guards (pediophylakes) were village officials who also assisted with collection.

Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Beschwerde der Dorfältesten von Philadelpheia an den Strategen). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.

DDbDP-text Full record →

p.hamb.1.35

Papyri.info — DDbDP (Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri) — text · 160 - 162 (?) · Arsinoites

[r] Ἱέρακι στρατηγῶι Ἀρσινοίτου Ἡρακλείδου μερίδος Οὐαλέριος καὶ Σαραπίων καὶ Γεβινᾶς καὶ οἱ λοιποί, οἷς ἐκέλευσας προσταθῆναι κώμης Φιλαδελφείας, τῶι κυρίωι χαίρειν. ταύτης τῆς κώμης ἐκθέσεως οὐκ οὔσης ὀλίγης καὶ χρείας ἡμῖν οὔσης πολλῆς βοηθείας τῶν τε πλειόνων τῶν τῆς κώμης πρ…