Petition to the riparii about unreimbursed tax advances at Teruthis TM 22489Oxyrhynchos8. Juni 365

In the consulship of our masters Valentinian and Valens, eternal Augusti, Pauni 14. To the Aurelii Sarmates and Diogenes, riparii of the Oxyrhynchite nome, from the Aurelii Dorotheos and Papnouthios, both sons of Aphynchis, from the same city. Some time ago we were urged by Eulogios, a member of the city council, to fill the post of assistant at the village of Teruthis and to provide every advance needed for finding and paying the various public dues demanded, until we should carry out the collection of the aforesaid village; and indeed, persuaded on these terms, we performed the service for him blamelessly. But in the meantime he furnished no advance at all, but handed us over to the collectors, and with insults we were made to pay the dues pertaining to that village. Since, therefore, owing to our great poverty, possessing absolutely nothing, we borrowed from lenders a specified quantity of silver and of solidi, which were indeed paid towards these same public dues, and since we have not been permitted by the same Eulogios to go out to the aforesaid village from the month of Tybi until the present, and we are paying interest to the lenders who obliged us, not being permitted to make the collection of what we advanced, but he has even sent his son Sarapion and Dorotheos as assistant to Teruthis in our place, and they have made the collection, for this reason we submit this petition to your diligence, asking that the public officials, who are also responsible, be summoned and compelled to repay everything advanced by us, so that we too may be able to repay those who obliged us and remain in our own home, and not on this account become fugitives from our native place.