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A certificate (libellus) of sacrifice from the Decian persecution, in which Aurelius Sakis of Theoxenis and his children Aion and Heras, living at Theadelphia, declare to the sacrifice commissioners that they have sacrificed, poured libations and tasted the offerings as ordered. Two officials, Serenos and Hermas, sign as witnesses. It is dated 17 June AD 250.
Such libelli were required under the emperor Decius' edict ordering everyone to sacrifice to the gods; refusal, notably by Christians, led to persecution.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Libellus of the Decian Persecution). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.
Certificate, signed by two official witnesses, proving that Aurelius Sakis has participated to a sacrifice to the traditional gods, as ordered by an edict of the emperor Decius. This was considered as a proof of loyalty to the government, and the Christians who refused to do this…
τοῖς ἐπὶ τῶν θυσιῶν ᾑρημένοις παρὰ Αὐρηλίου Σάκις ἀπὸ κώμης Θεοξενίδος ἅμα τοῖς τέκνοις Ἀιῶνι καὶ Ἡρᾷ καταμένοντες ἐν κώμῃ Θεαδελφείᾳ. ἀεὶ θύοντες τοῖς θεοῖς διετελέσαμεν καὶ νῦν ἐπὶ παρόντων ὑμῶν κατὰ τὰ προσταχθέντα ἐθύσαμεν καὶ ἐσπείσαμεν καὶ τῶν ἱερείων ἐγευσάμεθα καὶ ἀξιοῦμε…
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