Acknowledgement of receipt of a waterwheel axle from the Apion estate TM 20776OxyrhynchusA.D. 584

[recto] † In the reign of our most divine and most pious master Flavius Tiberius Mauricius, eternal Augustus and Imperator, year 3, after the consulship of our master of divine memory Tiberius Constantinus, year 6, Tybi 15, indiction 2. To the most magnificent heirs of Apion of glorious memory, former protopatrician, landowners also here in the splendid city of the Oxyrhynchites, through Menas the servant, who makes the stipulation and acquires for his own masters, the same most renowned men, the right of action and liability, Aurelius Ptollion son of Anouthios, mother Nonne, originating from the hamlet of Ambious of the Oxyrhynchite nome belonging to your magnificence, its registered farmer, greetings. Since need has again arisen for one axle for the estate waterwheel in my charge, called 'of the plot of Anianos', which irrigates arable land, I came up to the city and asked your magnificence to order that the said axle be supplied to me; and at once your magnificence, taking care for the maintenance of its own affairs, charged its price to me in my accounts, (an axle) new, suitable for irrigation, satisfactory. I have received it for the completion of all the machinery on this present day, which is Tybi 15 of the present second indiction, for the water supply for the crops of the third indiction, God willing, the said axle to serve for the irrigation for a period of seven years, the old one having been given to the doorkeeper. This written acknowledgement, written in a single copy, is valid, and having been asked the formal question I have agreed. I, Ptollion son of Anouthios: this acknowledgement satisfies me as set out above. I, Papnouthios, wrote on his behalf, as he is illiterate. † Total: one axle only. † † † † Through me, Papnouthios, notary. [verso] † Acknowledgement of Ptollion son of Anouthios from the hamlet of Ambious, for receipt of one axle. †