Contract for a rod-bearer's post with animals sent to Babylon for an imperial visit TM 21939Paneuei (Oxyrhynchites)26. Mai 325

Mutually agreeing with one another are the Aurelii Alois son of Choous and Herakles son of Pudens and all their associates, the decurions (dekanoi) from the village of Paneuei, with a guarantor for the payment of the wages that shall fall due, Ptolemaios son of Ptolemaios, headman (meizon) of the same village; and Aurelius Herakleides son of Skylakios, superintendent of animals being sent to Babylon for the imperial visit. The decurions (agree) that they have contracted with the superintendent for one post of rod-bearer (rhabdouchos) for these same animals from the 8th of the present month Pauni, the superintendent receiving from the decurions as wages 2,000 drachmas a day. Accordingly the superintendent acknowledges that he has received from the decurions as wages for two months from the same 8th 20 talents of silver, and what falls due until the completion of the superintendence he will receive from the same decurions; and I, Ptolemaios, (agree) to provide the salaries that fall due, so as to keep them unmolested, untroubled and free from loss in respect of matters concerning the said rod-bearing. The agreement, written in duplicate, is valid, and in answer to the formal question they gave their assent. In the consulship of Paulinus and Iulianus, viri clarissimi, Pauni 1. We, the Aurelii Alois and Herakles, consent to all the foregoing and in answer to the formal question gave our assent. I, Aurelius Ptolemaios, stand guarantor as aforesaid, having written also on their behalf since they do not know letters.