This is a small part - apparently covering five days - of the register kept by the office of the agoranomoi in Pathyris; the role of the agoranomoi is explained by S. Rahyab, "The Rise and Development of the Office of Agoranomos in Greco-Roman Egypt" ( PDF ). Each entry in the register includes a physical description of the vendor, and usually of the purchaser as well; for some comments on the physical descriptions, see L. Tambs, "Socio-economic Relations in Ptolemaic Pathyris", pp.30-33 ( Google Books ).
This papyrus was not included in the original collection. The translation is adapted from K. Vandorpe, "A Greek Register from Pathyris' Notarial Office: Loans and Sales from the Pathyrite and. Latopolite Nomes" (ZPE, 2004).
[1] Day .. Harkonnesis son of Psennesis has (?) returned to Teos son of Thoteus, Persian of the Epigone, (?) 200 artabas of wheat which Teos lent to Harkonnesis in good faith, and being present he has agreed to have it in full.
[2] Day 29. Harsiesis son of Hermon, Persian of the Epigone, aged about 40 years, tall, of honey-coloured complexion, with straight hair, a long face, a straight nose, a scar on his left . . ., has sold the fourth part belonging to him of grain land and of the vineyard in it which is abandoned, located in the lower toparchy of the Latopolite nome. The boundaries of the entire land are: south: land of Taapis; north: land of Harpaesis son of Portis; east: land of Khnum ; west: land of . . .; or whatsoever the boundaries are on all sides.
Bought by A...s son of Orses, Persian of the Epigone, aged about 40 years, tall, of honey-coloured complexion, with slightly curly hair, a long face, a straight nose, for . . .
The warrantor is the vendor Harsiesis.
[3] Day .. Psenamounis, son of Kertyt[is?], Persian of the Epigone, aged about .. years, of medium stature, of honey-coloured complexion, with slightly curly hair, a long face, a straight nose, has sold the fourth part belonging to him and his brothers of a vacant plot which is located in Asphynis in the Latopolite nome, of which the boundaries are: south: house of . . . son of Cholymis; north: . . . of . . . and brothers; east: house of Taanar...; west: royal road; or whatsoever the boundaries are on all sides.
Bought by Pachrates son of Cholymis, Persian of the Epigone, aged about 3. years, . . ., of honey-coloured complexion, with straight hair, a flat face, a straight nose, for . . .
The warrantor is the vendor Psenamounis.
[4] Day .. Tases daughter of Psenimouthes, Persian, aged about 40 years, of medium stature, of honey coloured complexion, with a long face, a straight nose, a scar on her left forearm, having as guardian {kyrios} her own kinsman Psenamounis son of . . ., Persian of the Epigone, has sold the eighth part belonging to her of a vacant plot which is located in Asphynis in the Latopolite nome, of which the boundaries are: south: road; north: house of Cholymis; east: road; west: wall . . .; or whatsoever the boundaries are on all sides.
Bought by Harpaesis son of Portis, Persian of the Epigone, aged about 35 years, of medium stature, of honey-coloured complexion, . . ., with a long face, a straight nose, for .,000 copper drachmas.
The previous buyer and warrantor is the vendor Tases . . . .
[5] Day .. Paous son of Kol..., with a straight nose, a scar on the left elbow, has sold . . . in the . . toparchy of the Latopolite nome, has sold ¼ arouras; the boundaries are: south: land of Taous daughter of . . .; north: . . .; east: land of Taous daughter of Pachrates; west: canal; or whatsoever the boundaries are on all sides.
Bought by Psenchnoubis son of . . ., isionomos, for 1,000 drachmas.
The warrantor is the vendor Paous, whom Psenchnoubis the purchaser accepted.
[6] Day 3. Nechthsanoupis son of Patseous, Persian, has lent to Paous son of . . ., Persian of the Epigone, aged about .. , tall, of . . . complexion, with straight hair, a long face, a straight nose, 50 artabas of wheat with interest included.
The borrower shall return this loan to Nechthsanoupis in the month of Pachon of the 7th year, in wheat that is new, pure and delivered to him at his house at Paous' own expense, according to the measure by which he received it. If he fails to return it within the stated time, he shall immediately return the current market price increased by 50% (?).
Nechthsanoupis shall have the right of execution upon the borrower and upon all his property, as if in accordance with a legal decision.
[7] Day 3. Horos son of Thotortaios, Persian of the Epigone, aged about 40 years, of medium stature, with honey-coloured complexion, straight hair, with a bald forehead, flat-faced, a straight nose, has sold the part belonging to him of standard grain land, in the plain surrounding Pathyris, consisting of 4 lots; the first lot called 'of Pebos', of which the boundaries are: south: land of Psennesis; north: of the keepers of the sacred ibises; east: enclosing dyke; west: land of Horos son of Harsiesis; another plot called 'of Senamounis and Zminis', of which the boundaries are: south: dry land of Patous son of Phibis; north: land of Nechoutes; east: enclosing dyke; west: desert; or whatsoever the boundaries are on all sides.
Bought by Nechoutes and Peteharsemtheus sons of Pelaias, Persians of the infantry, for 1 talent 2,000 drachmas.
The previous buyer and warrantor is the vendor Horos, whom Nechouthes and Peteharsemtheus the purchasers accepted.
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