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One text, 2 sources · Trismegistos-Text 26928

Formulary for an acknowledgement of deposit TM 26928Oxyrhynchites (?)II

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 model form for a deposit acknowledgement, with placeholder words ('so-and-so', 'so many') in place of real names and sums. The depositary acknowledges receiving silver drachmas on deposit and promises to return them on demand, under the law of deposits. It dates to the 2nd century AD, probably from the Oxyrhynchite nome.

In English machine translation

So-and-so, son of so-and-so, son of so-and-so, his mother being so-and-so, from such-and-such a place, to so-and-so, son of so-and-so, son of so-and-so, his mother being so-and-so, from such-and-such a place, greetings. I acknowledge that I have received from you from hand to hand on deposit so many drachmas of silver, total so many drachmas, which I shall also repay to you whenever you choose, without delay. Otherwise I shall pay you according to the law of deposits, you having the right of execution upon me and upon all my property, as if by a court judgment. This deposit note, written in my own hand, of so-and-so, made in two copies, is valid wherever it is produced and for anyone who produces it on your behalf. Year […]

This is a template rather than a real contract: Greek indefinite words (tis, tinos, posas) stand where names, places and amounts would be filled in. A cheirographon (handwritten note) of this kind was enforceable 'as if by a court judgment'.

Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Formula of Deposit). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.

DDbDP-text Full record →

p.oxy.33.2677

Papyri.info — DDbDP (Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri) — text · II · Oxyrhynchites (?)

τίς τινος τοῦ τινος μητρός τινός ποθέν τινί τινος τοῦ τινος μητρός τινός ποθεν χαίρειν. ὁμολογῶ ἔχειν παρὰ σοῦ διὰ χειρὸς ἐν παραθέσει ἀργυρίου δραχμὰς ποσὰς γίνονται δραχμαὶ ποσαί· ἃς καὶ ἀποδώσω σοι ὁπηνίκα ἐὰν αἱρῇ ἀνυπερθέτως. εἰ δὲ μή, ἐκτείσω σοι κατὰ τὸν τῶν παραθηκῶν νόμο…