Account of Woodwork for a House
Account concerning the making and painting of the woodwork in a new house, probably built for Diotimos
One text, 3 sources · Trismegistos-Text 1938
Account of woodwork for a house built to the architect Hedylos' specification TM 1938Philadelpheia, Herakleidou meris, Arsinoite nome, EgyptIIIrd century B.C. (ca. 255-254 B.C.[?])
The same ancient text or artifact as recorded by 4 records across 3 independent projects, recognised as one entity by its TM-Text identifier. View on Trismegistos →
An account addressed to the carpenters Semtheus and Apollonios listing the windows, doors and frames they were to make for a house according to the architect Hedylos' specification, totalling 180 drachmas, followed by a record of payments made to them. It comes from the Arsinoite nome, about 254 BC.
In English machine translation
[1]
To Semtheus ⟦Athemmeus⟧ and Apollonios.
You must receive, according to the specification which Hedylos the architect drew up:
for the seven-couch room and the exedra, 10 panelled windows with hollow frames, closing inward, having fillets, at 2 drachmas each, total 20 drachmas;
and for these, 10 hollow frames at 4 drachmas each, total 40 drachmas;
and 2 double-faced side doors, height of each 3 cubits, width in proportion, at 6 drachmas each, total 12 drachmas;
and a doorway with hollow frame, height 6 cubits, width in proportion, 12 drachmas.
For the bedroom, 8 lattice windows, height […] cubits, width in proportion, at 2 drachmas each, total 16 drachmas;
[2]
and for these, hollow frames closing inward at 4 drachmas each, total 32 drachmas;
a doorway with hollow frame, height 4 1/2 cubits, width in proportion, 8 drachmas;
and for the hidden passage leading into the exedra, height 3 1/2, width 10 palms, 4 drachmas;
single-leaf doors of 3 cubits to the staircase, 4 drachmas;
and for the privy likewise, 4 drachmas;
for the bath, 4 false double doors having solid frames, at 4 drachmas each, total 16 drachmas;
12 minas of glue, 12 drachmas.
Total 180 drachmas.
Towards this you have received:
[3]
through the bank of Artemidoros […]
Pachon … […]
Pauni 4 […]
7 […]
19, 20 drachmas
27, through Charmos, 8 drachmas
Total 155 drachmas.
Remainder 25 drachmas.
And from Theopompos in Krokodilopolis 12 drachmas;
from Sosos 10 drachmas;
through Ephesos, Mesore 19, for the contract for the carpentry, on account, 4[…] drachmas […]
Thoth 30, through the bank, 8 drachmas
[…]
Phaophi 8, through the bank […]
To Semphtheus, who contracted for the exedra beside the bath according to the specification, 18 drachmas;
11, to the same for the doorways, 8 drachmas.
The ekdosis (specification) is the architect's written contract specification. The house was probably built for Diotimos; a 'seven-couch room' is a dining room holding seven couches.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Account of Woodwork). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.
Account of Woodwork for a House
Account concerning the making and painting of the woodwork in a new house, probably built for Diotimos.
p.mich.1.38
[1] πρὸς Σεμθέα καὶ Ἀπολλώνιον. δεῖ ὑμᾶς λαβεῖν κατὰ τὴν ἀπέγδοσιν ἣν ἐποιήσατο Ἡδύλος ὁ ἀρχιτέκτων. τοῦ ἑπτακλίνου καὶ τῆς ἐξέδρας θυρίδας κανονωτὰς κοιλοστάθμους ἔσω κλειομένας ι ἐχούσας ταινίδια ἀνὰ δραχμὰς β γίνονται δραχμαὶ κ καὶ ταύταις κοιλόσταθμα δέκα ἀνὰ δραχμὰς δ γίνοντ…