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Petition to the defensor about a debt owed by a saddle-maker TM 22019Oxyrhynchos21. Dez. 504

The same ancient text or artifact as recorded by 2 records across 2 independent projects, recognised as one entity by its TM-Text identifier. View on Trismegistos →

A petition from Flavius Ala, deputy commander (vicarius) of the fort of Psobthis, to Flavius Hermias, defensor of Oxyrhynchus. He complains that Menas, a saddle-maker of the same city, owes him money under a written agreement and keeps delaying payment, and asks that Menas be taken into custody and forced to pay. It is dated 21 December 504 at Oxyrhynchus.

In English machine translation

To Flavius Hermias, the most eloquent scholasticus, defensor of the city of the Oxyrhynchites, from Flavius Ala, vicarius of the fort of Psobthis, from the city of the Oxyrhynchites. Menas, saddle-maker, originating from the same city, owes me a balance by written bond, and when ordered by me to act in good faith he keeps putting it off. Being under necessity, I call upon your learning, through the submission of this petition, that he be placed under security and compelled to act fairly towards me, most illustrious defensor, most learned lord. I, Flavius Ala, vicarius, have submitted this. In the consulship of Flavius Cethegus, most glorious, Choiak 25.

The defensor (ekdikos) was a city official charged with protecting citizens and settling minor disputes. A vicarius here is a deputy officer of the military garrison at Psobthis.

Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Petition to a Defensor). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.

DDbDP-text Full record →

p.oxy.16.1883

Papyri.info — DDbDP (Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri) — text · 21. Dez. 504 · Oxyrhynchos

Φλαουίῳ Ἑρμίᾳ τῷ ἐλλογιμωτάτῳ σχολαστικῷ ἐκδίκῳ τῆς Ὀξυρυγχιτῶν πόλεως παρὰ Φλαουίου Ἄλα οὐικαρίου κάστρου Ψώβθεως ἀπὸ Ὀξυρυγχιτῶνπόλεως. Μηνᾶς σαγματοράπτης ὁρμώμενος ἐκ τῆς αὐτῆς πόλεως ἐποφείλει μοι ἐγγράφως καὶ κελευσθεὶς παρʼ ἐμοῦ τὴν εὐγνωμοσύνην ποιήσασθαι ὑπερτίθεται. ἀνά…