A covering letter from Argaios to Aphthonetos forwarding a copy of a ruling by the chrematistai (royal judges) at Alexandria. On the petition of Apollonios son of Sokles, a man named Ammonios is to be summoned to Alexandria within the legal time limit with his documents; if he fails to appear, Apollonios wins, and if Apollonios loses, he must pay Ammonios's travel costs.
In English machine translation
[recto]
Argaios to Aphthonetos. We have appended for you [the copy] of the subscription made by the chrematistai who judged the cases arising.
Year 19, Hyperberetaios 25 […]
through Zoilos son of Hephaistion.
From Alkidemos […] and […] and Artemidoros, of the chrematistai who dealt with the cases arising ⟦…⟧.
Apollonios son of Sokles having appeared […] […] […] priest […] (that he?) was in prison, (and) had not been able, having come within the days fixed by the ordinance, to deliver [the …] from the praktor of the district […] to Aristippos and the praktores […] but that it was possible (?) for Ammonios to be present, and having asked that Aphthonetos be written to so that he might order Ammonios to appear and, when the sealed record (?) had been presented to him, give surety (?) for him […] and a written oath concerning the whole […] for the suit concerning […], and Apollonios agreeing that, if Ammonios appears, the sealed record of the suit be accepted from him […] suit […], and if he does not appear, the sealed record be accepted from him […] write […] to Aphthonetos to instruct those under him […] Ammonios in […] […] from Apollonios a copy
[verso]
of the petition sent to the chrematistai who judge the cases arising, to give it to him and to require him to sail down to Alexandria within the days fixed by the ordinance, bringing also the documents of proof for the hearing; and if he does not appear, Apollonios's claim will be granted; but if he appears and Apollonios does not obtain his claim, he will repay him the expenses incurred for the voyage down, and concerning these matters he will write back to him in whatever way it is arranged. Year 19, Hyperberetaios 25,
through Zoilos son of Hephaistion, the eisagogeus.
The chrematistai were Ptolemaic circuit judges; the eisagogeus was the court officer who introduced cases. The middle part is badly damaged and several restorations are uncertain.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Legal Documents). It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.