Many letters from the Zenon Archive are already available in translation via papyri.info. Some more translations have been collected here. They include documents in letter format, such as petitions and declarations, as well as private letters.
The numbers in brackets are the dates (years B.C.).
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In this communication, the chain of bureaucracy stretches in five steps, through a letter of Tlepolemos which is not quoted in full, back to an ordinance of the king himself.
Maimachos to Zenon greetings. I have enclosed below the copy of the letter from Philiskos, in which the one from Theophilos is also written at the bottom. Let the allotments be assigned to them according to what they write. Farewell. Year 24, Choiach 26.
Philiskos to Maimachos greetings. I have written below the copy of the letter from Theophilos. Let the allotments be assigned then according to what he writes. Year 34, Choiach 26.
Theophilos to Philiskos greetings. Tlepolemos wrote to us that the king has issued an ordinance by which the position of all those who have sworn in other places is regularised. Let the allotments therefore be assigned to those written below. Year 34, Apellaios 19.
Of Philinos' men: Artemidoros of Ephesos, chiliarch ; Theophilos the Persian, taxiarch ; Lysias of Methymna, strategos. Of Chrysermos' men: Artemidoros of Selgē , chiliarch.
This letter may have been written in Alexandria, though Greeks living in the capital seem as a rule to have used the Macedonian calendar. It may be assumed that the Apollonios mentioned in the letter is the well-known dioiketes. ln that case, as we know that he was dioiketes both before and after year 34 , the writer probably means that he had resumed office after a temporary absence.
Philon to Zenon greeting. If you yourself are well, and the rest of your affairs are satisfactory, that would be as I wish. I too am well. Maiandria has written to me about a cloak which you ordered her to weave. At present she is ill, but as soon as she is better you shall have the garment. Know that Apollonios has taken over the direction of public affairs and that Dionysodoros is acting as chief accountant. I have written this for your information. Farewell. Year 34, Mecheir 9.
{Addressed} To Zenon.
{Docketed} Year 30 {sic}, Mecheir 27. From Philon, concerning a cloak.
See S. West, "Unremitting Activity: Herodotus' Mycerinus and Zenon's Correspondents" ( PDF ).
Apollonios to Zenon, greeting. The king has repeatedly given urgent orders regarding the gifts for the Stephanephoria festival. Therefore turn night into day and send down what is specified from Philadelphia; and make every effort to have them delivered in Alexandria before any longer, or within three days at the latest, so that they are not too late for the occasion; and especially, because the need is so urgent. And immediately after this, send down what was ordered for the birthday of the king, at the time which we said in the previous letter. Farewell. Year 34, Peritios 28, Phamenoth 3.
{Docketed} Year 34, Phamenoth 7. From Apollonios the dioiketes . . . [Stepha]nepho[ria] . . . birthday of the king.
{Addressed} To Zenon.
Sōsos to Zenon greeting. You wrote to me to send you sycamore wood to Kersat. As soon as the mules arrive, we'll load and send it off. They {? the shipwrights} told you that Palous had said there was no acacia wood. On the 15th {of Pachons} the muleteers brought some from Mea, while on the the 16th, when they didn't show up, he brought some in a cart. I had written to you to let you know that they're not short of acacia wood, they have enough, but there will be a need for sycamore, since what has been cut and brought won't be enough. The ibis-feeders, the ones from Mea, approached me yesterday willing to sell rather cheaply. Send Theopompos to buy, so that the shipwrights won't have an excuse for not working. For they're scoundrels and always looking for an excuse. Farewell. Year 35, Pachons 17.
{Docketed} Year 35, Pachons 17. From Spondates, concerning wood.
{Addressed} To Zenon.
Zenodoros to Zenon, greetings. If you are well, that would be good. We ourselves are also in good health. Know that my brother Dionysios won the Ptolemaia competition on the Holy Island. I am writing to you for your information. We have received the cloak you sent, and would you please send me the other one as soon as possible. It must be thicker than the first and made of soft wool. My brother Dionysios needs it for the Arsinoē festival. Farewell. Year 35, Loïos 8.
{Addressed:} To Zenon, the agent of Apollonios at Philadelphia.
It is unusual to find a letter written by Zenon himself in the archive. This one has survived because after writing the original version (A), Zenon had second thoughts about the wording and wrote out another version (B). Therefore the letter had to be rewritten to produce a copy that could be sent to Kleitarchos, and the draft was kept by Zenon.
A Zenon to Kleitarchos, greetings. When Spinthēr, Herakleides' man, came to us, he informed us that, after receiving the accounts, you found that Herakleides had overestimated the grain shipments for the 34th year. I am surprised that you are so forgetful, since we already told you what Herakleides had asked us to record, based on the account he sent. And the overestimate we have made is: 241 artabas of wheat, 26 ⅚ artabas of poppy, 9628 7/12 artabas of barley, 6 ½ artabas of castor oil, 188 artabas of olyra. So you too should record accordingly, for Herakleides has agreed to supplement these quantities. Farewell. Year 35, Thoth 1.
{Addressed:} To Kleitarchos.
B Zeno greets Kleitarchos. When Spinthēr, Herakleides' man, came to us, he informed us that, after receiving the accounts, you found that Herakleides had overestimated 9628 7/12 artabas of barley in the grain supply for the 34th year. I am surprised, however, that you did not investigate this matter, because he collected a portion of this entire quantity from the cleruchs in all the villages, and the other part [he will pay] from his salary for the 36th year; for we have also received proof from him that he [has already] received [the salary]. So record the 9628 7/12 artabas, and it is [his?] responsibility that this entire quantity is provided. Farewell. Year 35, Thoth 1.
{Addressed:} To Kleitarchos.
In this somewhat anxious letter, the nomarch Maimachos asks for help from Zenon in a dispute with the hypodioiketes Diotimos. We can see that Zenon was willing to help, because he has started to write a draft letter in the space at the side of the original letter. But it seems that this was in vain, because soon afterwards Maimachos was replaced by another nomarch.
Maimachos to Zenon, greetings. You wrote to me that I should give the pasture-land in the Isieion to Kallippos and Amortaios. I have done this as you requested, and the whole . . . your men, I shall do everything necessary as if you were present and giving instructions. Therefore you would do well, so far as you agree with me, if you were to reconcile me with Diotimos and speak on my behalf, so that I may be treated well by him. I swear to you by the daimon of the king and of Arsinoē, that I have never said anything untoward against the man or his agents, neither now nor in the past; but I always take trouble about him and I am friendly towards all his men, who regard him with respect. I have written a letter for him; please hand it over to him. And as for you, do not abandon us. If . . . fortune of the king and Apollonios . . . it seems better to you to remain in the city, from what we hear, then have consideration for Demetrios, that he may be of assistance to you in the city along with you; for his conduct will be irreproachable to you. If you have any need of my other sons, I will send them too; for they will perform duties for you blamelessly. And if it seems right to you, write to Aristandros about me, that he should not ignore us but should treat us well. Farewell. Year 35, Phaophi 14.
{Addressed:} To Zenon.
{Perpendicular to original writing:} To Aristandros. If you are well, that would be good; we too are in good health. You will act well to Maimachos the nomarch if you have consideration for him and assist in saving him; for when this happens, he will be more helpful in fulfilling his duties more eager and more helpful to you.
Pyron is the author of several letters to Zenon; see PSI 6.571. This undated letter probably belongs to the same period.
. . . to Pyron, greetings.[Since] you have not yet bought the poppy-seed, although you have given the earnest-money, you will risk losing your money, if you do not complete the purchase within three days. For the fellow is making a solemn declaration. Farewell.
{Addressed:} To Pyron.
Sosos was a commercial agent of Apollonios and Zenon; see also PCairZen_59270.
Sōsos to Zenon greeting. Sailing down to Mendes, I delivered your letter and Iatrokles' to Dionysios and Promethion. As luck would have it, Apollonios the tax collector was there, so that Dionysios had that excuse for delay, and as I stayed there ten days Promethion, excellent gentleman that he is, seeing me wasting several days there, gave me a letter to Diodotos in Alexandria to pay me 2,000 copper drachmas, and he said he had given Limnaios 1,200. So we are on the point of getting all the money. Farewell. Year 35, Choiak 1.
Pataikion to Zenon, greetings. You wrote to me that I should give the donkey to Isidoros, if present, or to his men, and take the other donkey from him in exchange for the one I am giving him. But Apollodotos, Isidoros's man, said that the donkey was not there, but that it was in Herakleopolis. Therefore, it did not seem expedient to me to hand over the donkey before I had received the other one in exchange. I sent the donkey driver to Herakleopolis, after giving him 4 drachmas for the journey; for he would not go unless he received the travel money. And he also has a letter from Apollodotos asking them to give me the donkey. Farewell. Year 35, Choiach 1.
{Addressed:} To Zenon.
{Docketed:} Year 35, Choiach 1.
Spondates to Zenon, greeting. The sycamore wood has been cut and I have given it to the ship-captain (?). I have despatched Totes escorting the goose-herd who took from me 5 coots which he said were from the lake (?). There are 3 which he did not show me. He is bringing two. So demand the three from him . . . has been sent (?) to Kerke, and the six jars of wine. And I have announced that anyone wishing to pull flax should present himself to me and receive remuneration. But they are asking whether they are to receive money or flax. I have not yet given a decision because you did not write that money could be paid. Farewell. Year 35, Choiak 2. .
{Addressed:} To Zenon.
In both this and the following letter, Euempolos has written the wrong regnal year in the date. The correct year is shown in the docket.
Euempolos to Zenon, greetings. You wrote telling me that you like the garlic grown at the edge of the desert and that if my garlic was of this kind to send it off . Mine however which was in late will do for planting . For when you gave instructions to Herakleides to give me the land he passed the order on to Harmodios; Harmodios went off travelling with you and passed the order on to Chairigenes. Therefore by dragging the matter out and not handing over the land he made the planting late. You wrote to Theopompos asking him to send you half Tloic {from Tlos} and half Oasitic {from Oasis} garlic. The Oasitic did not get planted at the edge of the desert but only as much as was in the store - and there was not much of it - which I planted myself and which was not worth sending off. However I'll bind up according to type just this and the rest of the garlic, the juiciest of it, and the second kind and I'II put it aside for you to use whenever you want to come here . Farewell. Year 25 , Pachons 2 .
{Addressed:} To Zenon.
{Docketed} Year 36, Pachons 6. Euempolos concerning the garlic.
Euempolos to Zenon, greetings. After the farmers of the district had seeded the vineyards {with vegetables} for the 25th year {sic} I asked Herakleides to give me an assistant to make the rounds of inspection, so that I could register the cucumbers that had been planted and the gourds and the shallots and anything else, so that they can pay the one-half rent after the valuation, just as happened before. Herakleides gave me an assistant and asked him to do his job well. Although none of the other tenants objected, Apollonides said that he would not allow me to come into his vineyard. Knowing how crazy he is and that he would hinder me, I ordered the assistant to be present when I made my rounds.
Now Apollonides is really playing the fool. For if, as you once said, the money from farming out a 100 arourai vineyard to various tenants had been collected, he would not now be such a fool. For while I farmed out not even 5 arourai belonging to Python for 20 drachmas and 7 arourai belonging to Neoptolemos for at most 41 drachmas and did this by auction with Anosis' help (as you had ordered), Apollonides, without the assistance of anyone, not even Anosis, said that by going to anyone he wanted and making an agreement on his own with them he had negotiated 50 drachmas; he did not even keep back the new grapes for the Isieia, telling them all (?) to take as much as they wanted of what belongs to you.
But concerning the other matters, you yourself will investigate when you come. No one is preparing the wine vats nor are they building new ones and harvest time is near. For last year we began to gather the grapes on Pachons 28; but they are not even ready to catch mice. Thus unless you come in a hurry and start giving orders in regard to all these matters, by spending the time on other matters you will lose a great deal. Year 25, Pachons 2.
{Addressed} To Zenon.
{Docketed} Year 36, Pachons 6. Euempolos, concerning the harvest.
This letter, undoubtedly written in Alexandria, is a report of the arrival of various comestibles in the palace of the dioiketes. As such it closely resembles several other letters. As a general rule the animals seem to have been dispatched alive, though in the present case a high proportion are recorded as being dead on arrival.
Glaukos to Zenon, greeting. Demetrios has delivered to Sarapion and Kraton, the stewards of Apollonios, .. gazelles, 27 hares of which 19 were dead, 62 Egyptian goose eggs, rotten, 45 turtle-doves of which 18 were dead, 150 bunches of grapes in 4 crates. Farewell. Year 36, Artemisios 3.
{Addressed:} To Zenon.
{Docketed:} Year 36, Payni 8. From Glaukos.
Apparently the temple of Thoeris in Philadelphia received a small contribution towards its upkeep from a more important temple of the same goddess in another town. We may perhaps picture it as one of a number of newly founded and poorly endowed little temples , in which Zenon took a paternal interest as the representative of Apollonios , who was the real creator of Philadelphia.
Zenon to Axates greeting. We wrote to you once before about Kollythes the priest of Thoēris of Philadelphia, requesting that the amount due from the priest of Thoēris for the temple in Philadelphia should be paid to him regularly, and you replied that he is entitled to 12 drachmas for the year. But the fact is nobody ever pays anything. So please give an order yourself that the whole amount now owing shall he paid to him , for they depend on this subsidy for performing the sacrifices. Farewell. Year 36, Mesore.
Damis the agent of Themistes to Zenon, greetings. Two of the farmers from Ptolemais, Petōys and Thotortais, have seized a cow and they have taken it away to Philadelphia. Therefore I have sent Eubios the policeman to find them. You would do well to ensure that, if he is able to apprehend the men and the cow, no-one should resist him by force, but they should come before you; and if the men sent by us seem to have a just case, the cow and the two men should be handed over to them. Farewell. Year 36, Thoth 6.
{Addressed:} To Zenon.
{Docketed:} Year 36, Thoth 11. Damis concerning a cow and a man.
It seems that the retrieval of the stolen cow was not quite as straightforward as suggested in the previous letter; but the wording of this letter leaves it unclear exactly who was placed in custody.
Damis to Zenon, greetings. You would do well especially to hand over the cow to the farmer; or if not, send someone to bring it back to us - for they report to us that you have placed him(?) in custody. I have provided the pasture-land for the Arabs, as you wrote to ask me, although others already have it; and they themselves will report to you about this. Farewell. Year 36, Thoth 23.
{Addressed:} To Zenon.
Horos to Zenon, greetings. From the month of Choiak until Mesore is nine months. I must apportion the work, and there are many things to be done. Now I will use four papyrus rolls on these things, three for the construction account and one for the work of the vine-dressers. Therefore please arrange to give me more so that I can apportion the work quickly. Farewell.
Now in regard to my monthly salary: from the months of Pachons to Mesore is four months, making 40 drachmas. In payment I have received from Kallon 10 dr., leaving 30 dr. From this you should deduct the 15 dr. that I still owe you. This leaves 15 drachmas. It would be good if you could give this to me so that I will be conscientious in regard to my job.
{Docketed} Year 36, Thoth 30. Horos, regarding papyrus scrolls and his monthly salary.
The persons named in this letter are not known to us from papyri hitherto published. As Philokles was a toparch, Moschion must have been either a nomarch or an official of still higher rank. Philokles seems to have claimed the wheat as rent or taxes on some land in his district, but the circumstances of the case can only be guessed at. Seeing that the letter was found in Zenon's archives, we may suppose that he had been consulted about it.
Kriton to Moschion greeting. Demokrates the bearer of the letter has begged my aid, saying that he is being wronged by Philokles who is serving under you as toparch and that he {Philokles} has taken from him fifty artabas of wheat, though he owes nothing to the king nor has farmed any land under his control, but has merely bought a quantity of corn from the harvesters. Will you kindly see to it then that he recovers the said amount and is not wronged. He says that he is being wronged too by some of your other subordinates. Forbid them to treat him thus, I beg of you, for he is an agent of mine. Farewell. Year 36, Tubi 15.
Dorion to Zenon greeting. I have found out since when the cups and jewellery which Charmos has pledged have been deposited. The principal is 600 drachmas in silver, and the interest ... drachmas per month in silver, and the duration has been 2 years and 11 months. Similarly for the other items: the principal is 900 drachmas, of which the people of Petalis received 600 drachmas in silver, and Kallon received in Memphis 300 silver drachmas. This is together 900 drachmas, and the duration has been 1 year and 5 months. About the interest for the 900 drachmas you do not have to worry, but I shall arrange as you wish. Please arrange with Sostratos that the 32 drachmas of silver, which I have through the bank on behalf of Dionysios, are sent to me. He agreed that one talent should be paid in Memphis, which he instructed should be given to Pais and Phalous as salary, and another two talents, in total three talents. He wrote for me a letter to Thrason, that he should take account of the items for which no-one has given the price. Farewell. Year 36, Mecheir 2.
{Addressed} To Zenon.
{Docketed} Year 36, Mecheir 12. From Dorion concerning the cups, and the 32 silver drachmas of Sostratos.
Apollonios and Menippos, vine-dressers, to Zenon, greetings. Please pay attention to us and remind Metrodorus to pay us the wages for the night guarding, whatever wage seems to you to be appropriate. For be assured that we . . . in the work. We went also to Bacchias and we conducted an inspection. You should know, then, that the fruit is beginning to develop nicely. We discovered that Atpheus had fled after a fine (?) was imposed on him in regard to some vegetables. Farewell. Year 37, Mecheir 28.
Hermias is mentioned several times in papyri from the Zenon archive, in connection with herding goats; see for instance P.Mich. 1.67.
Hermias to Zenon, greetings. Note that Menodoros . . . lost the instructions from you, in Taskry in the Memphite nome. As long as he was still expected, we had some authority here, because they were worried that he would bring something definite from you. But when he arrived, and they realised that he had come without anything, the crowd attacked us and laid hands on the shepherds, not allowing them to graze in the stubble fields, from which the boxes had been removed two months ago. For they said that it was more important that their cattle graze in the stubble fields than our goats. You would do well to pay attention to this matter. And as for the goatherd, consider how this can be presented to the oikonomos and the strategoi. The others have escaped from the village elders. But when the policemen told an elder that someone was one of the escapees, the elder went to the prison, looked at the youth, and said that he had never seen him before. You must not think that we fear for our lives, but we are worried lest the same thing { imprisonment? } happens to us without reason. You would do well to send it { the letter of authorisation } quickly; for I am afflicted by the wounds that I have sustained. Farewell. 27th of the month Pharmouthi.
{Addressed:} To Zenon.
{Docketed:} Year 37, Pachons 4. Hermias concerning the letters of Menodorus.
Memorandum to Athenagoras from Theodoros the Engineer of the Arsinoite nome. Since I was appointed in charge of the engineering works neither salary nor corn-allowance has been given me since the 36th Year, and my subordinates will not remain unless I give them something to satisfy them. In order therefore that I may not be deserted by them, and lest for this reason some of the works should be delayed, please write an order for me to be given the salary and corn-allowance, and I shall perform my duties in exemplary fashion both to the dioiketes and to you. Kleon whilst in Alexandria was given command-money {hēgemonika} of 300 drachmas and corn in proportion, and in the Arsinoite nome for subordinates 300 drachmas, 121 artabas of wheat and 25 artabas of barley. May you prosper.
Iason to Zenon greeting. Know that Petobastis the agent in Syrōn Kōmē is neither giving the animals fodder nor the labourers rations. There accordingly appeared before me Asklepiades and Apollonides and the rest of the shepherds, saying that they were owed pay for 6 months and that they could not carry on if they received nothing. I reassured them, and giving each of them a trifle sent them away until I could write to you about the situation. For I have no reserve from which I can supply them, since we are receiving neither the rent of the bath nor that of the draught-animals; for Glaukias declares there is not even enough for himself. And as for the cheese which you write that we should take over at 10 drachmas the talent, this is fetching no more than 6 drachmas the talent. Please also write to Theudoros the money-lender about the kilims and the half-kilims and the horse-cloths. For we pledged these in the month of Choiak for 80 drachmas at interest of ¾ obol on the tetradrachm. Several times he has taken them out into the market-place as if intending to sell them, on the grounds that he has not even received the interest. He has solemnly declared to me in the presence of witnesses that he intends to get it. I have asked him to hold his hand until the 20th of Pachons. Take care therefore lest (?) they be sold. Farewell. Year 38, Pachons 4.
{Addressed:} To Zenon.
Pemnas to Zenon greeting. Concerning the debts among the swineherds from the previous periods together with the rent for the 37th year, Herakleides acted in collusion with Thoteus and they themselves calculated the amounts without our consent and we are not able to follow closely what they have done up to now, and although they were asked for the account they did not have the courage to give it to us. And so concerning these things I appealed to Iason several times to the effect that being in collusion they were not acting in an upright manner. And Herakleides also holds all the contracts made with the swineherds. Therefore, I have written to you in order that you should know. Farewell. Year 38, Pachons 10.
Korrhagos to Proxenos, greetings. It was agreed that [on] the king's birthday on the 12th of Dystros, when we travelled with . . . to Kanopos, the salary due to us for the 37th year should be given to us. However, no one gave anything to my subordinates at that time. A few days later, I had the slave Thrason, who had been sent to Leukippos, the scribe, with a letter of introduction to receive wages and provisions, brought to me in chains because of accusations. Diogenes, a close associate of mine, who gives you the letter, will appear before you on this matter, and Zenon will also talk to you about it. For the 38th year, in the month of Xandikos, my son Attalos and Diogenes received the due salary, but since then no one has given us anything. You would do well to see that none of your scribes does us an injustice. The one who delivers this letter will tell you the rest. Farewell.
{Addressed:} To Proxenos.
Pais to Zenon greeting. You know that I arranged with you to repair the prow of the boat. But it's turned out to involve dismantling and reconstructing the whole boat. We've searched for wood everywhere. We've located with great diffulty one piece of acacia on which Demetrios, collector of the grain-tax, put down a deposit of 50 drachmas. Please write to him to let us have it. It's worth 80 drachmas. Otherwise write to Hermolaos about the acacia in Kerke during these ten days to give orders to cut it for us. They value it at 28 drachmas. If you write to Hermolaos, they will give 20 drachmas. Let's keep moving until we get enough wood and keep the shipwrights from hanging around doing nothing. So write to me about this. I received 60 copper drachmas from Spondates. Farewell. Year 38, Pauni 24.
{Docketed} Year 38, Epeiph .. From Pais to Zenon.
Pyrrhos had sent a previous letter to Zenon and Epharmostos on the same subject, which is P. Mich. 58.
Pyrrhos to Zenon and Epharmostos, greeting. If you are both well, that would be good; we also are well. I have written to you before about Etearchos, that he brought an action against me at the logisterion, claiming that I owe 240 artabas of wheat, and I am obliged to pay . . . . . . Then Nikanor replied to me, "It is not Etearchos, but Zenon who does you wrong."
I have therefore bound myself by a written declaration to bring letters from you to Theophilos and Nikanor and Hermaphilos before the end of Mesore, saying that I do not owe this corn. Please then write in haste about this matter, lest I become liable to the consequences of my oath and be left to languish in prison. For unless I am undisturbed I shall not be able to pay what is due to you either. The weaving of the himation proceeds and the third cubit has been reached. Write to Jason to advance to me for seed 12 artabas of chickpeas. Farewell. Year 38, Mesore 10.
We do not know what Leon's official title was, but in the present case he acts as if he were a praktor collecting arrears. The vineyard and orchard in which Iason is interested had apparently not paid the eparourion or ground-tax for five years, and Leon was about to exact the amount due to Government by seizing and selling the wine of the recent vintage, the season being now late autumn.
Iason to Zenon greeting. I went over to Moithymis . . . to see Leon about the ground-tax which he is trying to exact on the vineyard and orchard, for five years past, at the rate of three drachmas for each aroura. I asked him then to wait and not sell the wine until I wrote to you. So he has given us three days in which he is prepared to receive a settlement of accounts. Metrodoros also wrote to Hermolaos to stop proceedings until you had been written to. Farewell. Year 38, Mesore 19.
Phanias had an official role in supervising the cavalrymen; see for instance PCairZen 59254.
Zenon to Phanias, greetings. If you are well, I would be pleased; we too are well. ...akhos, who gives you this letter, is one of the cavalrymen who have been made cleruchs in the vicinity of Philadelphia and he is the son of Nikandros, who was once deputy strategos at Oxyrhyncha, under Hippias. Since his father is in difficulty and is kept in detention, he believes that it is his duty - according to what is right and pious - not to abandon him to his fate but to sail north to Alexandria, in order to beseech Apollonios and implore him to relent. Since he does not think it right to go away from his post without your approval, he has asked us to write to you. I beg you therefore to give him permission. Farewell. Year 38, Thoth 24.
{Addressed:} To Phanias.
Horos to Pemenes, greeting. Erienouphis the swineherd has gone off to the altar of the king, saying "I will not feed the pigs if you do not pay me the four months' wages," saying "I am a sailor, no-one can lay hold of me or force me to feed your pigs." You will do well then to meet with Zenon and speak to him about the wages, that they should be sent to us so that the man does not go away, but feeds the pigs. Know then that I am reporting this to you, so that you do not blame me later. As a result, your pigs are starving. Therefore more of them have been killed and died from hunger, than have been killed by the disease that attacks the pigs. Therefore say to Zenon that he should send another person to us, so that we may lead the pigs out to the arakos; for one man is not enough to feed 60 pigs there, but two will be sufficient. And thus another man will be needed for the rest of the pigs, because the rest cannot yet eat the arakos. Farewell. Phaophi 23.
{Addressed} To Pemenes.
The petition appended to this letter is addressed to the king, but Theron expressly asks that it should be forwarded to Apollonios. It seems likely that it was never actually sent to the king in Alexandria, but was sent to Apollonios via Zenon, as seen in this letter.
Aristandros to Zenon, greetings. Theron, who gives you this letter, is an acquaintance of ours. He cultivates a vineyard and regularly pays taxes on the products to the royal treasury, but he has suffered injustice from the tax-collectors, details of which you will learn from the petition that I have appended for you below. You would do well, since the petition should be transmitted to Apollonius, to ask him to take steps as soon as possible to have it recorded correctly. Farewell.
To king Ptolemy, greetings from Theron. I am one of the farmers. I have paid the remainder of the tax to complete what is due for year 38, but the men from the bank, after receiving a payment from the tax-collectors, which was given to them by the merchant who bought the wine, have placed it in the 37th year, and they are assigning to me payment of the tax, although I do not owe anything but I have paid everything correctly. Therefore, since the men from the tax-office have made a mistake in recording the payment under the 37th year, I ask you, king, to send my petition to Apollonios the dioiketes, so that if I am shown to owe nothing for the 37th year, but to have paid everything that was due regularly, and to have paid the money correctly for the 38th year, just as I have written, then he may remit me the payment for the 38th year; so that, after having recourse to you, the saviour of all men, I may suffer no wrong, but be granted what is just. May you prosper.
{Addressed:} To Zenon.
Some of the background to this letter is explained by S. von Reden, in "Money and Its Uses in the Ancient Greek World", pp.70-71 ( Google Books ).
Iason to Zenon greetings. I have written to you frequently about the pasturage-taxes and the guard-tax for the pigs, and you have made no arrangements, nor have you asked for time for us to reach agreements. But we are being pressured here by oikonomoi and praktors. So I have decided to sail down to you with the accounts in order that Theophilos doesn't turn up and I am put under pressure because I gave him a written guarantee. I have agreed to pay, from the time when I made up the account, up to 400 drachmas. But the debts are impossible. I have handed over the garlic-growers at Hephaistias for the pasturage-tax and their crops to Aristandros the oikonomos. But Etearchos said that the ones in the ground were his and that he himself had provided them, but "When I recover", he said, "the rent and the outlay, if anything is left over, take that." And so we let them be.
I inspected the sesame crop on the 9th of Phamenoth, and the crop on the east was sparse. When I complained to Eudemos, he said that you had written to him that he should do what was instructed by Herodotos, but Herodotos had not asked him to assist in the sowing and had not allowed him to be present when it happened, and (he treated) Menitas similarly. Eudemos said that 4½ choinikes of seed had been cast into each aroura. Satyros will tell you the rest, because he inspected it all.
Timokles, one of the veterans, reported to us that the rest of the veterans in Dinneos Koite owe you what you expended for the canal, up to 56 drachmas, 1 obol, in return for which, if we draw up the account with them and it comes to an agreement, the share that falls to himself will be remitted from the 56 drachmas, 1 obol, namely 6 drachmas, 4 obols. They have now accounted, and have signed an agreement to pay the amount towards the money-taxes of the 36th year. If, on the other hand, we make the payment, we shall deduct the money from the rent due for the 39th year. Farewell. Year 39, Phamenoth 10.
{Addressed:} To Zenon.
Molossos was a travelling agent, used by Zenon to sell the produce of the estate at Philadelphia.
Molossos to Zenon, greetings. When I had written to you the first letter which Horos our agent has handed to you, Theogenes arrived at Mendes on the 23rd . . . with the three . . . sealed parcels of flax stalks which you gave him as samples. They sell at . . . we have asked the merchants whether they could sell 10,000 parcels. They say yes. Therefore send quickly as many parcels as seems advantageous and the agent who will sell them. Give orders that they be sold at the highest price; and write to Promethion the banker, asking him to stay and assist with these transactions.
We have written to you about the papyri rolls . . . and when I met Kriton in the Delta I asked him to inform you. Therefore after finding out from him, write and tell me what to do, so that it may be done. Also write to me about yourself, to let me know whether you are well. Farewell. Year 3., . . .
For parts A and B of this papyrus, see BD_57. In part C Zenon made a rough draft for a letter or memorandum, in compliance with Neon's request. The person for whom the memorandum was intended can scarcely be anyone but Apollonios the dioiketes. It is another illustration of how he could interfere between the Government and the citizens of a subject state, either by a direct order or at any rate by a request which the local authorities would not venture to disregard. In spite of what Neon says in his letter, it is doubtful if official etiquette would have permitted Zenon to write directly to the council and people. The natural intermediary in such a case was his patron Apollonios.
From Zenon. On behalf of Therarchos who married my father's sister, who lives in Kalynda, you wrote that he was not to have soldiers quartered on him and that he was to be exempted from providing hay and green fodder. But now that Therarchos is dead his family has to lodge soldiers and is compelled to provide hay and green fodder. Will you kindly therefore write to Diodotos the oikonomos and to the council and people to see that Neon enjoys the same privileges as his father.
The letter has no address on the back, but was probably intended for Zenon. Iason, Theopompos and Sostratos are familiar names in his circle. The restoration of line 4, and consequently the meaning, is uncertain.
Greetings. Will you kindly write to Iason to let the stathmos of Theopompos be given to me to serve as a dwelling-place. For the one in which I am living used to belong to Phileas who was formerly scribe for the Arsinoite nome, and as he has recovered his property from the dioiketes they are ordering me to leave it. If it is not possible to obtain that of Theopompos, get a letter from Sostratos to his people requesting them to let his house be put at my disposal. Farewell. Year 1, Mecheir 11.
. . . and in the 2nd Year . . . [in the night?] of the 7th-8th, he came with certain others in a drunken state and knocked on the door, bidding me "open up so that we can drink". And when I replied to him, saying "I have no wine and I do not open at night", he kept on telling me to open, and with a companion set out to force an entrance, levering open the door with knives and sticks. I ran up on to the roof and called out, whereupon he made off. I therefore request you to write to whomsoever it concerns to bring him before you so that if what I write is true I may receive justice. May you prosper.
This letter seems to consist of a list of articles which the writer has received from different persons in order to transport them. Since Nikaios is called xeniagos in the docket, these articles could well be xenia, gifts for the king or for some important official.
Nikaios to Eukles, greetings. I have received from Theodoros for what I have given to Phueris the Arab for baskets 2 copper drachmas. Nikaios the farmer has not given the roasted barley. The parasiron of tow in which I brought down the 30 artabas of groats . . . . . . 10 baskets of two artabas, and for the nuts 3 other baskets, and for the parsnip 1, together 28 baskets of two artabas. Therefore we have used the whole hide [but I will bring it to you]. I have left for Theodoros the 3 small baskets which you have entrusted to me and the two jars for donkey-transport. Farewell. Phamenoth 16.
{Docketed:} From Nikaios the xeniagos.
Eukles was Zenon's successor as manager of the estate at Philadelphia. He took over from Zenon in 248/7 B.C.
Eukles to Apollonios, greetings. I am sending you the letters written to the archisitologos Orsikleidas about the corn allowance {sitometria}, which he must attend to in accordance with the letter sent to him by Hermaphilos. And also the two letters to Chrysippos: the letter about the talent, so that he may delete this item according to the order written to Python (and correct it) - and, instead of the receipt to me, issue a receipt to those who took it; - and also the letter about the sitometria, so that Chrysippos may remind Orsikleidas about it. After you have given the letters to Orsikleidas and Chrysippos, you must diligently attempt to settle the matters about which we have written: namely, as regards Orsikleidas, obtain a letter to Nikon from him, and one from Nikon to Herakleides, and send these letters to us immediately; and further remind Chrysippos to instruct Python to tell Skymnos to take measures to ensure that the work is not stopped. And with this in mind, take Lykophron with you.
And we have also ordered Proitos to arrest one of the debtors and seize his property. So take Ktesikles - and one of Lykophron's machimoi - and set out with him. As for the one whom he indicates to you, you must hand him over to the machimoi, and you must give his property to Lykophron for safekeeping. Then write to us to report how you have organised this. Farewell. Year 4, Phamenoth 10.
{Addressed:} To Apollonios.
{Docketed:} From Eukles.
{Postscript:} And regarding the 19 drachmas and 4 obols, which you wrote to me that I should receive from the proceeds of the bath leased from Pathiophis, write to me to explain why I should receive them; for you have already entered the pledge in your accounts.
The petition is carefully written out, without corrections, and does not seem to be merely a draft. Nevertheless, as it was found among Zenon's papers and as it bears no date or annotation, it is doubtful whether it was really laid before Agenor in its present form; perhaps it is only a copy of the original. The writer uses the ordinary formulae of petitions addressed to the king, though really intended for the local strategos, but the diction is somewhat curt. He does not describe himself by his full name and title, nor does he give any details about his opponent Herakleides. The 400 drachmas which Zenon owed to the Government were probably a tax of some sort.
To king Ptolemy greeting from Zenon. I am being wronged by Herakleides. For in year 3 I gave him through Demeas 400 drachmas in gold, requesting him to pay into the Treasury on my account 400 drachmas in copper, on condition that on receiving from me the said amount in copper he should give me back the gold; and though I have been offering him the copper and demanding the gold from him, he has not given it back but has put me off up till now. I beg you therefore, if it seems good to you, to order Agenor the strategos to summon him and, if my story he found true, to force him to accept the 400 drachmas of copper and give me back the four hundred drachmas of gold, and so by your grace may I obtain justice. Farewell.
Demetrios to Zenon, greeting. Demeas has been disappointed of the bank, and we are taking our account from Peisistratos the relative of Chellon, who is acting as controller of the bank on orders from the oikonomos. As soon as we have details of the deposits and the sale, I will send them to you with all speed up to the epagomenal days. Everything else is going on normally. Farewell. Year 4, Thoth 6.
{Addressed:} To Zenon.
Zenon appears here as a person of influence, but not necessarily of any official standing; indeed I suspect it was merely as a sheep-owner that he was interested in the question.
. . . to Zenon greeting. You wrote . . . [That they should tell you lies?] is not surprising, but it is surprising that they should have prevailed on you to write bidding me act fairly as Demetrios is according them justice. Yet I had given them not only the place which they leased, but an additional piece at the request of Ammonios, not allowing myself to accept a price from others. But so senseless are these people that they want me next to hand over to them the land which I have let to others by contract. The land I speak of is scattered through all the plains, for in each basin there are six or seven arourai of it, sometimes ten. Land of this sort I have not given up to anyone, but after you wrote I gave them the untilled land which lies in a single plain, comprising 200 arourai. I will inform you more fully when I am on the spot. Farewell. Year 5, Thoth 14.
{P.S.} If any goads or spears are to be had cheap, buy me two for guarding the wild cattle and give them to Straton and Peromin (?).
It appears that king Ptolemy III visited Philadelphia early in his reign; Philinos was arranging a reception for him.
Philinos to Zenon, greetings. You would oblige me by giving to Poseidonios the jar of sweet wine as you agreed, and likewise send me the boiled grape-juice and the honey. Send the pig too quickly so that we are not too late for the arrival of the King. Farewell.
{Addressed} To Zenon.
A donation had been given to Demeas for the gymnasium, at the time when he was its president, but since he did not spend this donation a request was now made to Zenon that the money be passed on to the two new presidents, Agelaos and Philios. It seems that the president was the official person in charge of controlling the activities of the gymnasium; he was its representative, and he was entrusted with control of financial matters.
Nestos to Zenon greetings. The cavalrymen in Philadelphia met me, asking about the money given by us to Demeas towards the gymnasium, while he was president, that is to say 20 drachmas from myself, 18 drachmas from Kleitorios, and 8 drachmas from Aristarchos the nomarch, which make a total of 46 drachmas. Since Demeas, president at that time, did not spend it but he owes it, let the money be handed over to the incumbent presidents, Agelaos and Philios. Farewell. Year 6, month of Phaophi, day 4.
Memo from Herakleotes to Zenon and Nestos, my appointed guardians. I have given you previously a memo about the instrument which was left to me in his will by Demeas, my teacher, and, when it vanished from his quarters, asking that you should either find it and give it to me, or give me another not inferior one on which I can practise and compete, so that I am not left behind by many of my fellows through being out of practice.
I sent you another memo about the instrument asking that, since Hieron agreed he was keeping the lost instrument at his place as security for a loan of one hundred and five drachmas, you should get it back and give it to me or else buy me another one not inferior so that I can practise and compete and not be left behind by many of my fellows because I am out of practice. You have not bothered about any of these matters.
And I sent you a third memo asking that since Demeas, my teacher, left in his will that I should be supported with all that a free man should and must have who is being trained in lyre-playing up to the stage of entering a competition; and since you are providing me every month with three drachmas four and a half obols for meat, three drachmas and three choes for oil, two drachmas and a half-obol for fish and seven and a half measures of wine; and since I said these were not enough for my training, I asked you for Demeas' sake and for the sake of not making a fuss to give me a monthly allowance of: for meat, seven drachmas three obols; for oil, six drachmas, six choes; for fish, seven drachmas three obols; and fifteen choes of wine. You have done none of what I asked in my memos.
So I ask you once again that either my instrument should be given back to me, the one that Hieron says he has and that was left to me in the will, or that another, not inferior, should be bought and given to me so that I may practise and enter the competition and should not be left behind by many of my fellows for the reason that I do not have an instrument. And I ask that you provide me with the necessaries specified in my letter to you according to the requirements of the will that I should be provided with all that a free man should and must have who is to be trained in lyre-playing up to the stage of entering a competition.
If it is not your choice to make this provision, I ask you to give me the monthly monetary equivalent for two years so that, looking after myself and finding a manager, I may enter the competition proclaimed by the King and not rot here - but be able to help myself. Farewell. Year 6, in the month . . .
Demetrios to Zenon, greetings. You write to me to give 100 drachmas to Antipatros from the proceeds of the remaining wine. What remains is 8 keramia, three of which have gone bad - and they have let Antipatros and Nikandros taste it - so that it is not even worth one drachma per chous. And if I had not seen the label, I would have blamed those who brought it. Please, therefore, send several jars of fragrant wine. For there is a considerable crowd here, because they are selling the "farms"; they are looking for fragrant wine, and at the same time you will be rid of the remainder. I have already sent you his account. The grand total, of which a detailed account exists, for your information, is now, up to the 11th of Mecheir, 190 drachmas. And we shall write to you after settling the account. Farewell. Year 6, 15 Mecheir.
{Addressed:} To Zenon.
The text fills one column of a papyrus which originally contained a number of drafts, not copies, of letters on various subjects. The first letter is addressed to Sostratos, a partner or agent of Zenon.
What was Zenon's connection with the farming of this tax? I can see no indication that he was acting as a Government official. One possible explanation is that though Dionysodoros was the nominal surety, Zenon stood behind him and was ultimately responsible for the money. But I am more inclined to think that Zenon was in reality a partner in the farming of the apomoira. As for the general meaning of the text I take it that the guarantee had not yet been definitely exacted from Dionysodoros and that if the order of the dioiketes arrived in time no farther steps would be taken about it, but that if it was exacted before the order arrived it would be difficult to obtain restitution from the Treasury.
Year 6, Choiak 1. To Sostratos. When Demetrios, who is engaged in farming the apomoira, was starting down the river to see Zenodoros about the farm and to ask that an order be sent to Hermaphilos and the accountants to make inquiry and, if it should appear that in year 5 not only the sums due for that year but also the arrears of year 4 are being paid up, to let the . . . be returned to the sureties, I wrote to you also to attend to this question and ask Kraton the praktor to deal indulgently with Dionysodoros about the 3000 drachmas for which he guaranteed the firm of Hippokrates and Demetrios. But I hear that Zenodoros has sailed up to Sebennytos and I suspect that Demetrios has not found him in the capital. If then you have spoken to Kraton and he has agreed, it will be all right; but if not, do so even now without delay, for fear that while the deficit is being paid up the guarantee be exacted from Dionysodoros and we lose 3000 drachmas, for you know well that it is not easy to recover money from the Treasury.
The second letter is to Kraton the praktor.
To Kraton. Demetrios and Hippokrates, who have been engaged in farming the apomoira of Philadelphos for the Arsinoite nome, and for whom Dionysodoros is surety for year 4 , having made up in year 5 the arrears of year 4 as well, have sailed down to see Zenodoros . . .
Year 6, Tybi 17. Declaration made to Andromachos, the chief of police of Philadelphia, by Samoēlis and Alexandros, vine-dressers, the tenants of the vineyard belonging to Zenon and Sostratos.
On the night of the 15th, thirty thousand reed canes disappeared from the vineyard of Zenon and Sostratos. On the 16th we reported the matter to you, to who was also sent out from among those under the control of Agenor the strategos, and to Theopompos the policeman; there were others present too in Keleēsis' vineyard. We value them at 14 copper drachmas per ten thousand, making 42 copper drachmas altogether.
Year 6, Tybi 17. Declaration made to Andromachos the chief of police of Philadelphia, by Samoēlis and Alexandros, vine-dressers, the tenants of the vineyard belonging to Zenon and Sostratos.
On Tybi 16th, at night, thieves got into the 60-arourai vineyard at Philadelphia belonging to Zenon and Sostratos and made off with [reed canes] worth 14 drachmas per ten thousand. On the 16th [we reported the matter to you, to who was sent out as well from among those under the control of] Agenor [the strategos] and to Theopompos the policeman; there were others present too in Keleēsis' vineyard. We value them at 14 copper drachmas per ten thousand, making 42 copper drachmas altogether.
Written in a good official hand, the 'farewell' and the date being added by the author himself. The papyrus is in a wretched state of preservation, but we are able to make out the main gist of the text. It is an order to Zenon to deliver to a certain official 10 11/12 metretai of wine as the equivalent of his salary for a certain period. That would be worth about 60 drachmas, quite a large sum. It seems probable that the official in question was either the komogrammateus of Philadelphia or the topogrammateus of the district and that the order came from his superior the oikonomos, who at that time was Hermaphilos.
[Hermaphilos?] to Zenon greeting. [Deliver] from the proceeds of the ⅙th due to the goddess Philadelphos from the vineyards round Philadelphia to . . . the topogrammateus (?), in lieu of the salary due to him for . . ., ten and 11/12 metretai of wine and [make out a receipt?]. Farewell. Year 6, Tybi.
{Subscribed} Deliver 10 11/12 metretai of wine.
{Addressed} To Zenon.
P.S.I. 524 is another letter on the same subject , written a week later. It appears from this that the messenger had not delivered the letter of Sosibios to Zenodoros. Sostratos therefore asks Zenon and Xenophon , as soon as they get the letter, to send it back to him in order that it may be given to Zenodoros , who was apparently staying in his neighbourhood , and also to write to the bee-keepers to send a delegate with a statement of their grievances against Ammonios.
Sostratos to Zenon and Xenophon greeting. I have subjoined a copy of the letter that Sosibios wrote to Zenodoros about the bee-hives . . . the memorandum from us . . . If even now Ammonios does not admit your claim and . . . the bee-hives, send the bee-keepers and Rodon to us, bringing all the justificatory documents, so that the case may be judged for us here, as we have requested. We have also written to Zenodoros about these matters and about the house of Patis. Farewell. Year 7, Pauni 8.
Sosibios to Zenodoros greeting. I have sent to you a copy of the memorandum that was given to us by Kleon son of Iason and Sostratos his brother, concerning the matters in which they say they were wronged by Ammonios the oikonomos. Therefore act promptly so that they receive justice as they request.
A memorandum to Sosibios from Kleon and Sostratos. We own one thousand beehives, which have belonged to us from the time of the king's father and which had been leased to Horos and sons by a contract passed in the office of Simaristos. Some of them were in the Herakleopolite nome, and for these Tou . . . . . . . has duly settled up to year 6. Others were in the Memphite nome under the management of Pames and Amenneus , and now we hear they have transferred them to the Herakleopolite nome without asking our leave , and Ammonios the oikonomos has sent them to prison and is ruining the hives by obstructing their work. Therefore , seeing that he was by force depriving the bee-keepers of a hundred hives , Sostratos who happened to be staying there , having gone up the river to see to the extraction of vegetable juice , spoke to Dionysios the agent of Zenodoros and explained the matter, and Ammonios getting alarmed released the bee-keepers. The same individual , at the time when we were abroad with the king and had 150,000 sheaves ( ? ) of hay lying at Bousiris in the Herakleopolite nome , sent Rodon the hay-guard to prison , bound him in fetters and kept him in custody for eight months , and in the meantime 120,000 sheaves disappeared , stolen by the natives. About this affair a preliminary inquiry has been made , and he more than once promised to exact the price and pay it back to us. Another result is that we have had a claim for freight presented against us for Kriton's boat , which was hired for carrying hay down to Alexandria for 1200 drachmas. For when the boat arrived at the port , his people interfered and it went away empty. We beg you therefore , since it is not convenient either for us to leave home or for him to come here , to write to him to send the bee-keepers and a delegate to represent him at the trial , in order that we may not be overborne by him in his own district ; and from the facts of our case you will learn how he treats the other people belonging to the nome.
Ariston appears to have attended an auction in order to bid on Zenon's behalf. But finding that the baths were being let without the expected deductions ( for upkeep etc. ? ) he does not know how much to offer and asks Zenon to come himself and make his calculations on the new basis. Ammonios may be the oikonomos of no. 63.
Ariston to Zenon greeting. On the 8th of Mecheir Ammonios began to put the farms up to auction , and you must know that the baths are now being let without deduction of any sort. I thought it best therefore to make no bid until you came. Come and join me then , if it be convenient for you , in order that we may bid according to what you decide. Farewell. Year 8, Mecheir 9.
Achoapis is mentioned elsewhere as a nomarch; he would have supervised the local collection of taxes.
Zenon to Achoapis, greetings. Know that we have gone away to Krokodilopolis in order to pay, as we agreed with you, and we are on the point of doing this. Therefore you would do well not to harass our men. Farewell. Year 13, Mesore 9.
{Addressed:} To Achoapis.
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