Fragments of a Greek deed of sale from the Herakleopolite nome, about AD 645, in which a seller transfers property inherited in part from a brother to the most noble Theodora for a price in gold. The seller guarantees clear title, promises to defend the sale and pay double damages, and the deed ends with witness signatures and the notary Psiur's subscription.
In English machine translation
[Fragment A]
[...]
[...]
[...] of my brother [...] and which fell to my share [...]
[of the price agreed] and accepted [between each other] [...]
[...] of refined gold, from carats 23 (?) [...]
which I have received here and now and been paid [the price] [...]
[...]
[...] all, having been asked the formal question, I have agreed [...]
possession and ownership free from [...]
[...] public [...] [so that the buyer],
the most noble Theodora, from now on [may hold, own and possess]
and have the power to administer, manage, [carry out] [...]
to sell, cede, give away [...] [with every right of ownership]
unhindered and unimpeded [...]
[...]
[Fragment B]
[...]
I will ward off at my own cost and expense [...]
double, and all damages and expenses [and all these double] [...]
[...]
the aforementioned [...], having been asked the formal question, I have agreed, and I have received [the price]
[...] of the city, the aforementioned, I am satisfied with [the aforementioned, as stated above].
[...] I, Isaak [...], wrote with my own hand. † T[...]
I witness this sale and the payment [of the gold as stated above].
† Andreas, [son] of the late Markos, [I witness this sale and the payment]
of the gold as stated above. † Phoibammon, [son of ...], [I witness]
this sale and the payment of the gold [as stated above].
Executed by me, Psiur, notary [...]
The object sold is lost in the gaps. The notary's closing formula 'di emu' is written in Latin script, as was usual in Byzantine notarial subscriptions.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Kaufvertrag). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.