Loan contract with guarantors from Hermopolis, dated 25 September 504. A gardener, Aurelius […], son of […]apios and Thekla, borrows 2 gold solidi from a noblewoman, with two men, K[…] son of Victor and Phoibammon son of Ioannes, standing surety; a scribe signs for the illiterate parties and three witnesses attest.
In English machine translation
[Fragments A+B]
After the consulship of Flavius Dexikrates, the most glorious, Thoth 28, 13th indiction.
Aurelius […], son of […]apios, his mother being Thekla, gardener from the [city of the Hermopolitans] […] who guarantee [his intention and] his undertaking for all [good faith and security] of this written contract and the [repayment of the debt written below], at their own [risk and from the resources of both] of our property, Aurelii K[…], son of Victor, his mother being […], and Phoibammon, son of Ioannes, his mother being […], from the same city, to A[…] […] the most noble daughter of the late […] of the city, greetings. I acknowledge […]
[Fragments C+D]
[…]
[and to have borrowed] from [you] […] from hand to hand […] of gold, [as capital], good imperial solidi […] [two], less […] carats […] [by the standard of the same] city […]
[Fragment E]
[…]
[…] just as [by legal judgment]. The document is valid and binding, and having been asked the formal question I gave my assent. I, Aurelius […], son of […]apios, the aforementioned, have received the 2 gold solidi and will repay them at the term as stated above. We, Aurelius K[…], son of Victor, and Phoibammon, son of Ioannes, the aforementioned, [guarantee everything] as stated above. I, Aurelius Kyr[…], son of Phoibammon, having been asked, wrote on their behalf since they do not know letters.
† I, […], son of […], from Hermopolis, witness the document and the payment of the gold of the 2 solidi. †
I, […], son of Apa[…], witness the document and the payment of the gold of the 2 solidi. †
I, […] Abraamios, son of Gerontios, [from Hermopolis], witness the document and the payment of the gold […]
[…] written.
The solidus was the standard gold coin of the late Roman empire; the phrase 'less […] carats' indicates coins slightly below full weight. The lender's name is lost.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Darlehensvertrag mit Bürgschaft). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.