End of a land lease in which Aurelius Anouphis, a farmer of the village of Thotis, undertakes to pay annual rent in wheat and barley, delivered to the landowners' granary, plus customary extras such as cheese, ears of grain, vegetables and milk. The lease was written for him by an illiterate's scribe and witnessed by three men from Hermopolis in the 6th century AD.
In English machine translation
[recto]
[… lines lost …]
[…] in the place Pou… […] and […]
the rent for this each year in wheat-and-barley, half and half, of […] artabas […]
as the old lease of the cultivators before me also contains, […]
and Apion, sons of Toranios, which rent, new, clean, sieved,
I will deliver and measure out to your overseer by your receiving measure,
the Athenian, at the time of harvest each year without delay, in flooded and unflooded land alike, and
I will deliver this rent to your granary […]
with my own animals and at my own expense; and I will provide each year by way of customary dues […]
one worth 1 1/2 carats of gold, and one satisfactory cheese […]
20 bundles of ears of grain and 2 jars of charlock and a pot of milk […] The lease is valid and secure, and having been asked I agreed. † I, Aurelius Anouphis son of E…[…], have leased
as stated above. I, Aurelius Apollos son of Phoibammon, assistant, wrote on his behalf at his request, as he does not know letters.
† I, Flavius Serenos son of Christodoros, from Hermopolis, witness the lease, having heard it from the party making it.
† I, Aurelius Leontios son of Kyriakos, from Hermopolis, witness the lease, having heard it from the party making it.
I, Aurelius Isakos son of Asklepiades, from Hermopolis, witness the lease, having heard it
from the party making it. ☧
† Written by me, Apollos. †
[verso]
[…] cultivator from the village of Thotis in the Hermopolite nome.
The 'customary dues' (synetheia) were small extra payments in kind or money added to rent; the item worth 1 1/2 carats is lost in a gap. 'Charlock' renders lapsane, a wild greens plant.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Lease. Land). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.