Petition of a priest of Busiris for restoration of the temple allowance TM 18647Busiris (Herakleopolites)7 - 4 v.Chr.

To Asklepiades, the god and lord, from Stotoetis son of Nouchis, priest and prophet of Harpsenesis and Sarapis, the most great gods, of the temple that is in the village of Busiris in the Herakleopolite nome above Memphis. There is assigned to the aforementioned temple an allowance (syntaxis) from the revenue of Harpisis of 150 artabas of wheat a year, and it was paid by you up to year 18 of Caesar; but when you went abroad to the places outside, your agents have not given it to us from year 19 of Caesar until now. And the priests from the villages of Line and Koma, not receiving what was assigned to them, applied to the prefect Tyrrhanius and recovered it, while we regard your auspicious presence as a good thing, so that praying to the gods continually and always […] whatever favour […] the god and lord Caesar Imperator and his sons. Asking therefore to obtain piety from you […] we request, if it seems good, that you order the allowance owed to us to be restored […], so that we may be able to perform the sacrifices and do without hindrance the other things customary for the gods on behalf of you and your children, so that we may be benefited. Farewell.