Application for a Lease
Application for the lease of 5 1/2 arourai, with the subscription by a representative of the lessor
One text, 3 sources · Trismegistos-Text 12339
Application for the lease of 5 1/2 arouras of catoecic land at Philadelphia TM 12339Philadelphia, Herakleidou meris, Arsinoite nome, province of Egypt212/213 A.D.
The same ancient text or artifact as recorded by 3 records across 3 independent projects, recognised as one entity by its TM-Text identifier. View on Trismegistos →
An offer to lease addressed by Sarapion son of Paseis of Philadelphia to Ammonarion daughter of Syros, for 5 1/2 arouras of catoecic land for two years at a rent of 31 artabas of wheat. The lessor supplies a yoke of oxen, and the text ends with a subscription by one Nepous.
In English machine translation
To Ammonarion daughter of Syros,
from Sarapion son of Paseis, from the village of Philadelphia. I wish to lease from you for two years from the coming 22nd year the 5 1/2 arouras of catoecic land belonging to you near the village of Philadelphia, at a total rent of 31 artabas of wheat, including the 5 artabas of wheat seed which I shall receive, free from deductions and risk, all the work being the responsibility of the lessee, and Ammonarion providing one yoke of oxen. And I shall pay the rent at the threshing floor in the month of Pauni, and after the term I shall hand over four arouras after a fallow crop of hay and the rest after stubble; the [...] of the public (?) [...] to be the responsibility of Sarapion, and those of the animals the responsibility of Ammonarion, if it seems good to lease.
I, Nepous, have signed as stated above.
[… 3 lines lost …]
The word 'pholetra', apparently charges of some kind divided between the parties, is obscure and its translation is uncertain. Catoecic land was land originally allotted to military settlers, later held privately.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Application for a Lease). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.
p.mich.18.791
[1] Ἀμμωναρίῳ Σύρου παρὰ Σαραπίωνος Πασεῖτος ἀπὸ κώμης Φιλαδελφείας. βούλομαι μισθώσασθαι παρὰ σοῦ εἰς ἔτη δύο ἀπὸ τοῦ εἰσιόντος κβ ἔτους τὰς ὑπαρχούσας σοι περὶ κώμην Φιλαδελφείαν κλήρου κατοικικοῦ ἀρούρας πέντε ἥμισυ ἐκφορίου τοῦ παντὸς πυροῦ ἀρτάβας τριάκοντα μίαν σὺν αἷς λήμψ…