Petition to the nomarchs
Petition from an Egyptian weaver to the nomarchs in order to be relieved from the weavers' tax.
One text, 3 sources · Trismegistos-Text 25908
Petition of an aged weaver to the nomarchs for release from the weavers' tax TM 25908Karanis, Herakleidou meris, Arsinoite nome, province of EgyptLate Ist century A.D.
The same ancient text or artifact as recorded by 3 records across 3 independent projects, recognised as one entity by its TM-Text identifier. View on Trismegistos →
Petition by Theabennis son of Hieranouphis, an elderly weaver of Karanis in the Arsinoite nome, to the nomarchs Menoukios Celer and Eirenaios. Citing failing eyesight and old age, he asks to be released from the tax on weavers. Late 1st century AD.
In English machine translation
To Menoukios Celer and Eirenaios, nomarchs,
from Theabennis son of Hieranouphis, grandson of Theabennis, his mother being Thaesis, one of those from the village of Karanis, an old man past age.
Since I am no longer strong enough to practise the weaver's craft because I am weak in my eyesight and also afflicted by old age, being about 80 (?) years old, I therefore ask you, lord, that I be released from the weavers' tax from […]
[…]
The age is only partly legible (beginning with 80 in Greek numerals); the end of the request, presumably giving the starting date of exemption, is lost. 'Past age' (hyperetes) refers to being beyond the age liable to such obligations.
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 the Nomarchs). 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.oslo.3.124
Μενουκίωι Κέλερι καὶ Εἰρηναίωι νομάρχαις παρὰ Θεαβέννιος Ἱερανούφιος τοῦ Θεαβέννιος μητρὸς Θαήσιος τῶν ἀπὸ κώμης Καρανίδος ὑπερετοῦς ἀρχαίου. ἐπεὶ οὐκέτι εὐτονῶ τὴν γερδιακὴν τέχνην ποιεῖν διὰ τὸ ἀσθενῆ με εἶναι τῇ ὁράσει καὶ ὑπὸ γήρους συνεχόμενον εἶναι ὡς ἐτῶν π…, διὸ ἀξιῶ σε τ…