Petition to the prefect Clodius Culcianus concerning an unpaid deposit TM 12591Ptolemais Euergetis (Arsinoites)28. Febr. 303

To Clodius Culcianus, the most eminent prefect of Egypt, from Aurelius Demetrios son of Nilos, former high priest of the city of the Arsinoites. Since you are the protector of people of modest means, my lord prefect, I bring my supplication, confident of obtaining justice from your Magnificence. For in the 17th, 16th and 9th year of this fortunate reign, Aurelius Sotas, former gymnasiarch of the same city, acknowledged by two contracts that he held from me a deposit free of risk and not subject to deductions, one made in the month of Tybi of 2 talents of silver, the other in Phamenoth of 20 talents of silver, which he promised through the same contracts to repay without lawsuit or trial and without any delay or evasion. Now when I pursued him for the money before the former strategos Heron, he attempted some fraud in order to defraud me, because I am illiterate; but being caught in the act and about to be in danger before your Magnificence, he asked to make settlement of the debts without legal proceedings. Since, then, up to now he evades paying the money, despising my modest station, I ask and beg, since I myself owe to the most sacred treasury on account of deficits from the supervision of the annona which I carried out, and moreover on behalf of our property and of the office which I undertook for the city, and I have no other resources than this money, that you order, if it please you, either the strategos or whomever you approve to compel Sotas, with seizure of securities according to his written contracts, at least now to make repayment, or, if he is obstinate, that he be sent up to your Greatness so that he may also face danger for his earlier fraud, so that I may be able to recover my own and give thanks to your Fortune. Farewell. I, Aurelius Demetrios, have submitted this. Year 17, Year 16, Year 9, Phamenoth 4. […]