Petition about failure to irrigate a leased estate marsh at Theadelphia TM 12285Theadelphia, Themistou meris, Arsinoite nome, province of Egypt145/146 A.D.

To Theon, strategos of the Arsinoite nome, divisions of Themistos and Polemon, from Ptolemaios son of Diodoros alias Dioskoros, lessee of the estate marsh (drymos) near the village of Theadelphia in the division of Themistos and of other places. Although I have often approached Apollonios the shore-guard and the irrigation officer (katasporeus) of the district, and made many representations to him while he was present in the village, while the Nile was still at its height and before the waters had withdrawn onto the land, to supply the aforesaid marsh with the customary and sufficient water, and although up to now I have been put off by them, they have not been willing to supply it, even though the most sacred Nile brought its full rise and ought to have flooded the whole nome […]; the marsh is therefore to this day in the greatest need, for it received altogether little water, and was unproductive from the overflows and had received none at all from the main channel (?). Wherefore, being unable to keep silent, I ask that a copy of this notice be served on both the shore-guard and the irrigation officer of the district, Tyrannos, through one of your attendants, so that the aforesaid marsh may be filled, or so that they may know that, if any damage follows from this, they will have to render account before the most illustrious prefect and the most excellent procurator. For if the aforesaid marsh dries out to the ground and the growth and the root-stocks are diminished, damage results not only to the present year's rent, but damage results also for three successive years until the marsh has growth and root-stocks for increase. And I reserve my claim against the shore-guard concerning the […] notice which I hold about the same marsh for the past eighth year before the most excellent epistrategos.