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One text, 2 sources · Trismegistos-Text 9656

Oath of surety for a tax collector of Karanis TM 9656Karanis (Arsinoites)ca. 205

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 →

An oath of surety addressed to the strategos of the Herakleides division of the Arsinoite nome by two men of Karanis, guaranteeing Sempronius Clemens, who had been nominated as collector of the village's money taxes. They swear by the fortune of Septimius Severus and Caracalla to produce him when required or to pay what is demanded of him themselves.

In English machine translation

To Alkibiades also called Sarapion, strategos of the Arsinoite nome, Herakleides division, [from …] son of […]mion, from the village of Karanis, [and …]onius Celer. We swear by the fortune of the Emperors Caesars Lucius Septimius Severus Pius Pertinax and Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augusti, that of our own free will and choice we stand surety for Sempronius Clemens, who has been nominated as collector for the exaction of the public money taxes of the same village of Karanis, whom we shall also produce whenever he is sought; and if we do not produce him, we ourselves will discharge the demands sought from him, or may we be liable to the oath. [Written] in the presence of Papeirianus, assistant. [I, …] son of […]mion, have stood surety for Sempronius Clemens as aforesaid. [I, …]onius Celer, have stood surety for […] Sempronius Clemens.

The names of the two guarantors are only partly preserved. The collector post (apaitetes of the praktoria of money taxes) was a compulsory liturgy, hence the need for sureties.

Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below (catalogued as Oath of Surety). 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 →

bgu.13.2249

Papyri.info — DDbDP (Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri) — text · ca. 205 · Karanis (Arsinoites)

Ἀλκιβιάδῃ τῷ καὶ Σαραπίωνι στρατηγῷ Ἀρσινοίτου Ἡρακλείδου […]μερίδος […]μίωνος ἀπὸ κώμης Καρανίδος καί[…]ώνιος Κέλερ ὀμνύομεν τὴν τῶν Αὐτοκρατόρων Καισάρων Λουκίου Σεπτιμίου Σεουήρου Εὐσεβοῦς Περτίνακος καὶ Μάρκου Αὐρηλίου Ἀντωνείνου Σεβαστῶν τύχην ἑκουσίως καὶ αὐθαιρέτως ἐγγυᾶσθ…