Fragmentary minutes of proceedings before the strategos at Oxyrhynchus in the early 4th century AD. A man named Neilos disputes the council's decree nominating him to the euthеniarchy (the liturgy responsible for the food supply), claims the council only discussed the gymnasiarchy, and threatens appeal to the prefect, while council advocates allege he has not performed his duty.
In English machine translation
[Column 1]
[...]
[...] mostly unjust
[...] we ought to sit together [...] by the decision in the decree
[...] and guardians (?) these very [...] of the property and all my property [...] council (?), I cede to them
[...]. Ploution, advocate, said:
[...] Neilos said: whatever property is pledged, quickly
[...] I make my appeal to my lord the prefect [...] if the scriba shows the [...] on behalf of [...]
[...] they do not wish, accordingly we [...] in the minutes we shall preserve the right [...] of the euthеniarchy. The advocates [...] that Neilos had not furnished his euthеniarchy, Neilos said:
[...] The strategos said: meanwhile therefore someone will have to [...] he himself ought to make the provision
[Column 2]
[...]
[...] royal (?) [...]
[...] and [...]
[...] his guarantee contains. The strategos said: [...]
[...] the members of the council [asked] that the [...] be transferred [...]
[...] by you, of the liturgy of the euthеniarchy [...]
Neilos said: in vain then I wish through you, the strategos, [...]
The strategos said: meanwhile the decree of the council [...] Neilos said: it discussed with the council only the gymnasiarchy [...] the euthеniarchy. The strategos said: not now concerning the gymnasiarchy [...] can decide, or my lord the most eminent prefect [...]
Neilos said: from those who are to have the decisions [...] The strategos said:
you, the euthеniarchs lawfully appointed, [...] of my lord
the prefect we have made clear to you [...]
in the examination and will acquire of the liturgies (?) [...] is defined by the decree of the council [...] of the provision being made by someone [...]
Thonios said: to you [...]
The euthеniarchy was a compulsory public service (liturgy) for provisioning the city with food; a syndikos was the council's legal advocate.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Report of a Trial concerning the Senate). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.