Returns of unwatered land
Two reports concerning unflooded land, one from a certain Ptolemaios, the other from the veteran Julianus
One text, 3 sources · Trismegistos-Text 12555
Two returns of unwatered land at Karanis TM 12555Karanis, Herakleidou meris, Arsinoite nome, province of Egypt163/164 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 →
Two declarations to Sokmenis, village scribe of Karanis, reporting land that had not been flooded by the Nile in the 4th year of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus (AD 163/164). The first is from Ptolemaios son of Orsenouphis for 5 arouras on imperial estate land; the second, badly damaged, is from the veteran Julianus for catoecic land.
In English machine translation
[1]
To Sokmenis, village scribe of the village of Karanis,
from Ptolemaios son of Orsenouphis, from the village of Karanis.
In accordance with the orders, I register the 5 arouras which I farm near the aforesaid village of Karanis, of the 23rd allotment of Psenarpsenesis, of the Maecenatian estate and the Camelian estate, being unwatered for the present 4th year of Antoninus and Verus the lords Augusti. Therefore I submit (this return).
Ptolemaios, about 17 years old, scar on the right thumb.
I, Sokmenis, have signed.
[2]
To Sokmenis, village scribe of the village of Karanis,
from […]ros Julianus, veteran […]. I register in accordance with the orders the […] arouras which I farm near the aforesaid village of Karanis, of the […] allotment of catoecic land, through transfer of registration (?) to […] and to […], being unwatered for the present 4th year of Antoninus and Verus the lords Augusti. Therefore I submit (this return). […]
I, […]ros Julianus, have submitted it.
Returns of unwatered (abrochos) land were filed so that the land could be exempted from or have reduced rent and taxes for a year of insufficient flooding. The Maecenatian and Camelian estates were former private estates (ousiai) that had passed to imperial ownership.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Returns of Unwatered Land). 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.oslo.2.26a
[1] Σοκμῆνι κωμογραμματεῖ κώμης Καρανίδος παρὰ Πτολεμαίου Ὀρσενούφεως ἀπὸ κώμης Καρανίδος. κατὰ τὰ κελευσθέντα ἀπογράφομαι ἅς γεωργῶ περὶ τὴν προκειμένην κώμην Καρανίδα τῆς κγ κληρουχίας Ψεναρψενήσεως Μαικηνατιανῆς οὐσίας καὶ Καμηλιανῆς οὐσίας ἀρούρας ε οὔσας ἐν ἀβρόχῳ πρὸς τὸ ἐν…