A contract of sale with advance payment from the Hermopolite nome, dated 14 February 539. The vinedresser Aurelius Kollouthos acknowledges receiving payment from Flavius Georgios, a soldier of the Hermopolite unit, for 1 1/3 artabas of wheat and 10 knidia of new wine, to be delivered at the next harvest and vintage, with a penalty of 6 gold carats if he fails.
In English machine translation
[recto]
†
† After the consulship of Flavius Ioannes, the most glorious and most extraordinary, Mecheir 20, 2nd indiction.
Aurelius Kollouthos son of Lythios, mother Tsa…, vinedresser from the hamlet called Teuparat of the plains, of the village of Enseu in the Hermopolite nome, to Flavius Georgios son of Silvanus, former soldier (?), of the (unit) of the Hermopolitans, greetings. I acknowledge that I have received and been paid in full by you the complete price, agreed between us, of 1 1/3 artabas of wheat and 10 knidia of new wine-must, total 1 1/3 artabas of wheat and 10 knidia of wine, which I will deliver to you as follows: the wheat in the month of Pauni, at the time of the harvest of crops of the third indiction, coming in with God's help, in new, clean, sieved wheat, by your Athenian measure; and the wine in the month of Mesore, at the time of the vintage of crops of the same indiction, without delay, in new, finest and acceptable wine, by the measure of the vineyard estate under my care, you providing the empty jars for them. If I am unable to give you the said wheat and wine within the same term, I will pay you for their price 6 carats of gold immediately after the […] of the same term, at my own risk and that of all my property. This deed is valid and binding, and having been asked the formal question I gave my assent.
I, Aurelius Kollouthos son of Lythios, the aforesaid, have made this deed as stated above. I, Aurelius Apaleus, Hermopolite, having been asked, wrote on his behalf since he does not know letters.
I, Flavius Isakos son of Phoibammon, from Mo[…], witness the deed, having heard it from the party who made it.
[…] from Hermopolis, witness the deed, having heard it from the party who made it.
† Written by me, Victor […]
[verso]
Note of hand of Kollouthos son of Lythios, vinedresser from the hamlet called Teuparat […], 1 1/3 artabas of wheat and 10 knidia of wine.
A knidion was a wine jar used as a liquid measure; the price was paid in advance, a common form of credit. The phrase 'apo stratioton' usually means 'from the soldiers' (of the Hermopolite unit), not necessarily a retired soldier.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below. It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.