Petition to a centurion about stolen wheat TM 11842Soknopaiu Nesos (Arsinoites)7. Apr. 216

To Aurelius Calvisius Maximus, centurion, from Aurelius Pakysis son of Tesenouphis, priest and stolistes of the notable temple of the village of Soknopaiou Nesos in the Herakleides division. I have a room in the house of the wife of my son Aurelius Tesenouphis in the hamlet called Pisai in the Themistos division, in which is stored my wheat set aside for maintenance. Recently, then, when my household members entered the room, since I was in Alexandria, the wheat was not found, having been carried off. The cause of the theft appeared to be that, the room being an upper storey, the crime was committed by boring through the floor. When those living inside were confronted, on the grounds that this had happened through their abuse, they promised, through the chief of police of the village and through others, to give 7 artabas of wheat on account of the theft. But since they agreed to the promise but have not until now come forward with the payment, I am compelled to take refuge with you and I ask that the accused, Panouphis son of Stotoetis and Pakysis son of Kanneis, be brought, so that by your authority I may recover, in place of the greater amount stolen, the 7 artabas of wheat settled on me. Farewell. I, Aurelius Pakysis, have submitted this. Year 24 of Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus Parthicus Maximus Britannicus Maximus Germanicus Maximus Pius Augustus, Pharmouthi 12.