One text, 2 sources · Trismegistos-Text 22632
Deed of divorce between two gravediggers of Kysis TM 22632Kysis (Ägypten, Oasis Magna); Schreibort: Hibis ? (Oasis Magna, Ägypten) oder Kysis ? (Oasis Magna, Ägypten)305 - 306
The same ancient text or artifact as recorded by 4 records across 2 independent projects, recognised as one entity by its TM-Text identifier. View on Trismegistos →
A deed of divorce in which Aurelius Soulis and Senpsais, both gravediggers from the toparchy of Kysis in the Great Oasis, dissolve their marriage. Each declares the other has returned what was owed, the wife's dowry and household goods and the husband's gifts, and the wife is free to remarry. It dates to AD 305-306.
In English machine translation
Aurelius Soulis, gravedigger, from the toparchy of Kysis, to Senpsais daughter of Psais, her mother being Teous, gravedigger, from the same place, greetings.
Since, from some evil demon, it has happened that they have been separated from one another in their common married life, I therefore agree, I the aforesaid Soul, that I have been paid in full for all the articles of every kind handed over to her by me, and that I send her away and will no longer proceed against her either concerning the marriage or concerning the bride-gift, but that she is free to depart and to marry whomever she wishes; and the aforesaid Senpsais (agrees) that she has been paid in full by the aforesaid Soul himself for all that was given to him on account of the dowry, and at the same time simply for all the household goods from her and in any other way whatsoever, and that henceforth they will not proceed against one another concerning anything at all, written or unwritten, or any matter whatsoever, because the separation is complete. This deed of separation, written in duplicate with signature, shall be valid and secure as if deposited in a public archive, and having been asked the formal question I gave my consent.
Year 14 and year 2 of our lords Constantius and Maximianus, Augusti […]
[…]
The couple blame their separation on 'an evil demon', a formula found in late antique Egyptian divorce deeds. The word rendered 'bride-gift' (hednon) refers to gifts from the husband, distinct from the wife's dowry (proix).
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Deed of Divorce). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.
p.grenf.2.76
p.nekr.34
Αὐρήλιος Σοῦλις νεκροτάϕος ἀπὸ τοπαρχίας Κύσεως Σενψάιτι θυγατρί Ψάιτος ἐκ μητρὸς Τεοῦτος νεκροταϕίσσᾳ ἀπὸ τῆς αὐτῆς χαίρειν. ἐπεί ἔκ τινος πονηροῦ δαίμονος συνέβη αὐτοὺς ἀπεζεῦχθαι ἀλλήλων τὴν κοινὴν αὐτῶν συμβίωσιν, ἐντεῦθεν ὁμολογῶ ὁ μὲν προκείμενος Σοῦλ πεπληρωμένος πάντων τῶ…