Advance payment to a chief stonecutter for delivering stones to a cistern TM 20773OxyrhynchusA.D. 569

[recto] † In the reign of our most divine and most pious master, greatest benefactor, Flavius Justinus, eternal Augustus and Imperator, year 4, in the 2nd consulship of their Serenity, Pauni 15, indiction 2. To Flavius Apion, the all-renowned and most magnificent former ordinary consul and patrician, landowner also here in the splendid city of the Oxyrhynchites, through Menas, household servant, who makes the formal question and acquires for his own master, the same all-renowned man, the right of action and liability, John, head of the stonecutters, son of Menas, mother Sara, originating from the hamlet of Nesos Leukadiou in the Oxyrhynchite nome, belonging to your Magnificence. I acknowledge that I have received from it (your Magnificence) here and now one gold solidus on the private standard, total 1 gold solidus on the private standard, and in return for this I agree to bring to the cistern of its estate of Tarouseb 200 large stones, without any delay. The acknowledgement, written in a single copy, is valid, and having been formally asked I gave my assent. I, John, agree to this. I, Justus, wrote on his behalf, as he is illiterate. † Executed through me, Justus, deacon. [verso] Acknowledgement of John, head of the stonecutters, son of Menas, from the hamlet of Nesos Leukadiou, for 1 gold solidus on the private standard.