Prefect's letter ordering registration and examination of priests and pastophoroi TM 18649Busiris (Herakleopolites)4. Juni 4 v.Chr.

Copy of a letter from the prefect of Egypt, Gaius Turranius, ordering that the priests and pastophoroi admitted to the temples be registered with their children and duties, so that he can examine their status in year 26 of Augustus. Those not of priestly descent are apparently to be dealt with without delay. Dated 4 June 4 BC, from Busiris in the Herakleopolite nome.

In English machine translation

Pastophoroi were a lower grade of temple personnel; the examination (epikrisis) determined who legitimately belonged to the privileged priestly class. 'Caesar' here is Augustus.

Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Schreiben des Statthalters). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.