Marriage contract between Lykaina and Hierax with dowry guarantee TM 18494Alexandria30 v.Chr. - 14 n.Chr.

To Protarchos from Lykaina daughter of Asklepiades, with her guardian, her father Asklepiades son of Lykos, and from Hierax son of Apollonios, and from his mother Didyme daughter of Dionysios, who stands surety for him for payment, with her guardian, the same Hierax. Lykaina and Hierax agree that they have come together with one another for a shared life, and that Hierax has received from her, through his surety Didyme, as dowry, by hand out of the house, 184 drachmas of Ptolemaic silver, together with the value of an unstamped (?) bracelet (?) of 8 drachmas. From now on he is to provide Lykaina with all necessities and clothing as befits a wedded wife, in proportion to their means, and not to mistreat her, nor throw her out, nor insult her, nor bring in another wife; otherwise he and Didyme are to repay at once the aforementioned dowry with half as much again, the right of execution belonging to Lykaina against Hierax himself and against the surety Didyme and against whichever one of them she chooses and against all their property, as if by a court judgment. Lykaina, for her part, is not to be absent from the house even for a day without Hierax's consent, nor ruin the household, nor live with another man; otherwise she too, if she does any of these things and is judged to have done so, is to be deprived of the dowry, besides the party in breach being liable to the fixed penalty. Concerning […] within 5 (?) business days from the day on which they give notice to one another […] [… 2 lines lost …]