The demotic documents A-C were published with a German translation and commentary by K. Sethe & J. Partsch, "Demotische Urkunden zum ägyptischen Bürgschaftsrechte vorzüglich der Ptolemäerzeit" ( archive.org ). D is a similar document written in Greek.
The English translation of A is taken from A. Monson, "Agriculture and Taxation in Early Ptolemaic Egypt", p. 23 ( academia.edu ).
[A] [Regnal year 1 . . . of king] Ptolemy son of Ptolemy and Arsinoe [the father-loving gods]. The farmer [and servant of Sobek Harsiosiris son of . . . ] has said to Zephyros the oikonomos and Imouthes the royal scribe: "Accept my purchase(?) of the 4 arouras of grass land from the royal land, which is registered to me for the vegetation period of regnal year 2 in the plain of the Sobek-village of Dikaiou Nesos at the rate of 4 artabas per aroura, equals 16 artabas of wheat, their half is 8 artabas of wheat, equals 16 artabas of wheat again. 10 I owe it to you to measure out the aforementioned 12 {sic!} artabas for the rent of the aforementioned fields on the royal grain-measuring day. The wheat among them that I do not measure, I will provide it with 1½ artabas for each 1 artaba within five days, by necessity, without delay."
The farmer and servant of Sobek, Petechonsis son of Horos, whose mother is Senesis, his surety, while standing by, says: "I have acted as surety for Harsiosiris for the aforementioned 16 artabas of wheat. If he does not measure them out. I will measure them out myself. You have a claim on your wish from us, namely, the two persons, until we act according to everything above by necessity and without delay."
Written by Inaros son of . . .
20 Signed by Sochotis son of Petesouchos. Signed by Poeris son of . . . * * *
[B] Year 2, month 2 of the shemu season {Payni} of King Ptolemy, [ son of Ptolemy ] and of Arsinoe, [the father-loving gods.] The farmer and servant [of Sobek . . ., son of Pa-isech,] his mother is Sisois (?), said to Zephyros, the oikonomos, and Imouthes,the son of Horos, the royal scribe: "Accept my purchase (?) of the 6 arouras of grassland from the royal fields, [which are registered to me, in the plain] of the Sobek-village of Dikaiou Nesos, [at 4½ artabas of wheat for each aroura, making a total of 27 artabas of wheat,] its half is 13½ artabas of wheat, making in total 27 artabas of wheat again. [I owe it to you to measure out to you] the aforementioned 27 artabas of wheat for the king immediately after the harvest [of the aforementioned fields, until the year 3, month 2] 10 of the shemu season. If I do not measure any of these artabas of wheat , I will give them at the rate of [1½ artabas for each 1 artaba], within 5 days."
The farmer and servant of Sobek Ephonychos, [son of . . .,] his surety, stands beside him, saying: "I have acted as surety [for . . .,] the son of Pa-isech, who is mentioned above, that he will act according to all the words that are written above. [You have] a claim to what you wish from us, these two persons, until we act according to [all the words] that are written above. It is you or your representative who will take with? compulsion [all the things concerning which he will speak to] us in the name of all the words that are written above, and we will do them [at his request with necessity, without delay.]
It was Inaros, son of Pa-es (?), who wrote this.
* * *
[C] [Year 3, month 3 of the akhet season {Athyr}, of King Ptolemy, son of Ptolemy and Arsinoe, the father-loving gods . . . the farmer . . . Thotsytmis, son of Paues (?), says] to Artem[idoros], the oikonomos, and Imouthes, the son of Horos, the royal scribe: "There are 3 arouras of grass and vetch (?) land, half of them is 1½ arouras, making a total of 3 arouras of fields again, concerning which my intent is to purchase (?) them, which formerly belonged to a cavalryman, among the fields of the king - which are taken (?) and written in my hand - in the plain of the Sobek-village of Piri-Anubis (?), for the produce of year 3. It is my duty to you to pay in silver the rent of the aforementioned 3 arouras grass land to the royal bank, namely 10 pieces of silver each for 1 aroura of land, making a total of 30 pieces of silver, immediately after the harvest of the aforementioned grasslands. I will not be able to set another time for paying them to you after the payment time that is stated above, 10 on which I am bound to give them to you with necessity, without delay. If I do not pay any of the pieces of silver at the aforementioned payment time, I will pay them at the rate of 1½ pieces for each 1 on the day after the aforementioned payment time, with necessity, without delay.
The isionomos of Isis Paneithes, son of Petosiris, is the one who says: "I have have acted as surety for Thotsytmis, the son of Paues (?), providing surety that he will pay the 30 pieces of silver, the rent in silver of the aforementioned grasslands. Each and every thing that we own and that we will acquire is the pledge for the rights given by the words, which are written above , until we act for you according to the words above with necessity, without delay. You have [a claim against] us 2 men, whichever you choose."
Written by Haryotes, son of Haryotes.
20 Signed by H...
* * *
{ Date in Greek: } Year 3, Athyr 6
[D] Deusiolos son of Parmeniskos, Mysian of the epigone : I confirm that I have purchased, from the royal allotment of Philemon, two arouras of arakos, for the price of 20 drachmas, which I will pay when the time for paying tax on fresh produce occurs.
Poseidonios son of Hippolysos, Cyrenean of the epigone : I am acting as surety for Deusiolos, that he will make full payment of the twenty drachmas, in accordance with this contract. . . .
Attalus' home page | 12.11.24 | Any comments?