One text, 2 sources · Trismegistos-Text 22922

Sale of half a share of gravedigger's rights at Pmounesis TM 22922Oasis Magna28. Juni 244

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 private contract in which Psennesis, a gravedigger from Kysis, sells to Polydeukes alias Mersis, a freedman and gravedigger from Hibis, a half share of his inherited right to perform burial services for those who die in the village of Pmounesis near Kysis, for 300 silver drachmas. It was drawn up in the Great Oasis in AD 244, with signatures of the seller's scribe, a checker and witnesses.

In English machine translation

Psennesis son of Horos, his mother being Senamounis daughter of Klaudia, gravedigger from Kysis, to Polydeukes also called Mersis, freedman of Petechon and of Petosiris, both sons of Petechon, gravedigger from Hibis, greetings. I acknowledge that I have ceded to you from now for all time a half share of the service and funerary care as gravedigger for the people who will die in the village of Pmounesis of Kysis and who dwell on the same estates, of which people I hand over to you [the share] concerning it, and that you are to receive for the service of it, [the share] having come to me by inheritance from Horos my father, for a price which I have received from you today from hand to hand in full, 300 silver drachmas, total 300 dr. On these terms I am content and satisfied, and I will guarantee it to you with every guarantee against every claimant, and whenever you wish I will register for you through a public record this sale written as a simple document. Let it be valid and secure as if deposited in a public archive, and having been asked the formal question I gave my assent. Year 1 of Imperator Caesar Marcus Iulius Philippus Pius Felix Augustus, Epeiph 4. I, Aurelius Psenamounis also called Ammon, have read it through. I, Psennesis son of Horos, the aforesaid, have sold and received the price as stated above. I, Aurelius Basileides also called Sarapiodoros, wrote on his behalf at his request, I who also wrote the body of the text. I, Aurelius Apion son of Sarapion, witness. I, Aurelius Dionysides, [witness.]

Gravediggers (nekrotaphoi) held hereditary rights to the funerary services, and fees, for particular villages, which could be sold like property. The clause about the people and the service is grammatically garbled in the original and is rendered loosely.

Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Sale of Nekrotaphic Rights). 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.nekr.9

Papyri.info — DDbDP (Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri) — text · 28. Juni 244 · Oasis Magna

Ψεννῆσις Ὥρου υἱοῦ Σεναμούνιος μητρὸς Κλαυδίας νεκροτάϕος ἀπὸ Κύσεως Πολυδεύκῃ ἐπικεκλημένῳ Μέρσι ἀπελευθέρῳ Πετεχῶντος καὶ Πετοσίριος ἀμφοτέρων Πετεχῶντος νεκροτάφῳ ἀπὸ Ἵβεως χαίρειν. ὁμολογῶ παρακεχωρηκέναι σοι ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν μέχρι παντὸς μέρος ἥμισυ ὑπηρεσίας καὶ κηδείας νεκροταφ…