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One text, 3 sources · Trismegistos-Text 782

Oath of brickmakers to Zenon to remain at Philadelphia until their work is done TM 782Kharabet el Gerza (ancient Philadelphia)30th April, 256 B.C.

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 →

A sworn undertaking by five Egyptian brickmakers, four from Memphis and one from Troia, made to Zenon, agent of the finance minister Apollonios. They swear by the royal gods to stay at Philadelphia in the Fayum and complete the bricks they contracted for, on penalty of repaying what they received; dated 30 April 256 BC.

In English machine translation

[recto] In the reign of Ptolemy son of Ptolemy Soter, year 29, when Antiochos son of Kebbas was priest of Alexander and the Sibling Gods, and Demonike daughter of Philon was basket-bearer of Arsinoe Philadelphos, on the 7th of the month Dystros, and of the Egyptians on the seventh of Phamenoth. There swear Seos son of […], Amenemes son of Harachthes, Samous son of Horos, P[…], the 4 Memphite brickmakers, and Phar[…], Troite brickmaker, by King Ptolemy and Arsinoe Philadelphos, the Sibling Gods, and the Savior Gods their parents, to Zenon son of Agreophon, of Kaunos, the agent of Apollonios: we will remain in Philadelphia in the Arsinoite nome, making ourselves available, and we will produce as many bricks as we contract for […] we will not depart leaving the work, nor […] for our own needs will we go away anywhere […]. If we do not act according to what is written, we will pay back whatever we have received from Zenon […] […] […] […] [verso] […] […]osos Amenemes.

This is a royal oath forming part of the inner text of a double document; the scribe deleted the word 'Hellenomemphite' before the oath formula. Troite means from Troia, a quarry district near Memphis.

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

APIS-papyrus Full record →

Royal Oath

Papyri.info — APIS (Advanced Papyrological Information System) — papyri · JE48581 · 30th April, 256 B.C. · Kharabet el Gerza (ancient Philadelphia)

Part of the inner text of a duplicate deed, in which five Egyptian brickmakers swear to Zenon that they will remain in Philadelphia until they have fulfilled their contract. In addition to the religious sanction there is a penalty clause, the details of

DDbDP-text Full record →

p.cair.zen.1.59133

Papyri.info — DDbDP (Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri) — text · 30. Apr. 256 v.Chr. · Philadelphia (Arsinoites)

[r] βασιλεύοντος Πτολεμαίου τοῦ Πτολεμαίου Σωτῆρος ἔτους κθ, ἐφʼ ἱερέως Ἀντιόχου τοῦ Κέββα Ἀλεξάνδρου καὶ θεῶν Ἀδελφῶν, κανηφόρου Ἀρσινόης Φιλαδέλφου Δημονίκης τῆς Φίλωνος, μηνὸς Δύστρου ζ Αἰγυπτίων δὲ Φαμενὼθ ἑβδόμηι. ὀμνύουσιν Σεῶς […] Ἀμενεμῆσος Ἁράχθιος, Σαμῶυς Ὥρου, Π[…] οἱ …