Decree
A decree of the dux of the Thebaid, forbidding functionaries of the tribunal to take more than two keratia as sportulae from plaintiffs. The aforesaid ruling will have to be translated into coptic. Belongs to the archive of Dioscoros.
One text, 3 sources · Trismegistos-Text 18995
Decree of the dux of the Thebaid limiting sportulae charged for summonses TM 18995Antinoopolisc.AD 543-45
The same ancient text or artifact as recorded by 5 records across 3 independent projects, recognised as one entity by its TM-Text identifier. View on Trismegistos →
Decree of the dux and augustalis of the Thebaid, issued at Antinoopolis, limiting the fees (sportulae) that court officials serving summonses may extract from litigants to 2 keratia, with penalties for overcharging. It orders the ruling to be translated into the local language (Coptic) and posted publicly; it belongs to the archive of Dioskoros.
In English machine translation
Flavius Ioannes Theodoros Menas Narses Chnoubammon Horion Hephaistos, the most glorious quaestor, dux and augustalis of the Thebaid province:
† […]
one, from the beginning, since with God's help we took up office, zeal and […]
and here, in accordance with the benevolent purpose of our most pious and most serene lords Flavius Justinus and Aelia Sophia […]
of office. Having learned, then, from the approaches made to us, that the […] are being oppressed in the name of sportulae by members of the staff who serve summonses on the basis of unwritten orders […]
we thought it right, above all for the service of God, […]
of those taking place on an unwritten ground; for in the case of written petitions […]
of our most mighty and gloriously victorious emperor. Let it be known therefore […]
owing to pay no more than 2 keratia to the official serving the summons, the governor's executor, or of whatever rank he may be; […] let him pay 4 keratia to the one serving the summons […]
having brought the charge, the one who caused the summons and the demand for the aforesaid sportulae […]
will be compelled […] to the one from whom it was demanded without reason, and if a member of the staff […]
of those withdrawing will be brought, so that each of the […]
to send up (prayers) for the safety and continuance of the divine power of the most serene emperor […]
and that it be translated into the local language and posted […]
understanding. Let it be posted.
Given on the 13th day before the Kalends of December, at Antinoopolis […]
The mention of Justin and Aelia Sophia points to the reign of Justin II (from AD 565), which conflicts with the c. AD 543-45 date in one record. Sportulae were customary fees paid to court officials; the closing formula is in Latin.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Arrêté). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.
Decree
A decree of the dux of the Thebaid, forbidding functionaries of the tribunal to take more than two keratia as sportulae from plaintiffs. The aforesaid ruling will have to be translated into coptic. Belongs to the archive of Dioscoros.
chla.41.1196
Φλαύιος Ἰωάννης Θεόδωρος Μηνᾶς Ναρσῆς Χνουβάμμωων Ὡρίων Ἥφαιστος ὁ ἐνδοξότατος κυαίστωρ δοὺξ και αὐγουστάλιος τοῦ Θηβαίων ἔθνους † πρόθ[…]εν…[…] μίαν , ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἀφʼ οὗ σὺν Θεῷ τῆς ἀρχῆς ἐπελαβόμεθα, σπουδήν τε καὶ[…] καὶ ἐνταῦθα τῷ φιλανθρώπῳ σκοπῷ τῶν εὐσεβεστάτων καὶ γαληνοτάτω…