Petition against a village headman for assault on the petitioner's wife TM 20286Kellis (Oasis Magna)6. Jan. 321

To Aurelius Faustianus, former magistrate of the city of the Mothites of the Great Oasis, […] defender (ekdikos) of the district, from Aurelius Pamouris son of Psais, from the village of Kellis of the city of the Mothites. If acts of insolence were to succeed for everyone, and if the strictness of the laws were not accustomed to follow upon them, life would have become unlivable for us who […] time. Now then, Sois son of Akoutis, village headman of the same village of Kellis, constantly plotting against me every day, […] me on every occasion the soldiers and officials (expunctores) staying in the village, making riotous attacks on my wife and assailing me. For yesterday, in my absence, having split […] door with an axe, he burst in together with the son of Psenamounis the carpenter from Pmoun Pamo, who is neither a liturgist nor even […] my fellow villager, and attacking my wife he beat her with blows of the club he had, as the blows are visible on her body, as though they were not subject to the laws. Since therefore such is the intent of the aforementioned, both the village headman and the son of Psenamounis, and being unable to remain quiet, I submit this petition to your clemency, asking that these very matters be reported to the excellency of my lord the most perfect prefect Valerius Victorinianus, so that the outrage may meet with fitting punishment. Farewell. After the consulship of our masters Constantine Augustus for the 6th time and Constantine the most illustrious Caesar for the 1st time, Tybi 11. I, Aurelius Pamouris son of Psais, the aforesaid, have submitted it. Aurelius Phibion, former magistrate of Hermopolis, wrote on his behalf since he does not know letters.