The prominent role of the strategos Psais in this graffito suggests that official approval by a strategos may have been required before a quarry was opened; see D. Agut-Labordere in "Times of Transition: Judea in the Early Hellenistic Period" (2021), p. 182.
The translation is taken from E. Cruz-Uribe & A. Farid, "A New Look at an Ancient Graffito" (JSSEA, 2000).
Regnal year 19 of Pharaoh Ptolemy, the youthful god Hauron, on Pachon 11, being the appearance of Min, the great god. His name remains here forever in the presence of Min, the great god, Horus, who makes pleasant the heart, chief of the gods, the great god, Isis of the Great Landing Place, the great goddess, together with the gods who dwell with them, together with the Agathodaemon of the quarry, namely:
He opened this quarry here as the "Great Landing Place" which his heart found agreeable. He caused them to work in it in the presence of Min-Re, lord of Akhmim, the great god, together with the gods who dwell with him, while Min together with the gods who dwell with him. will received them . . . in a perfect reception on account of the landing place, it being established forever, 10 together with its low-lying land at its base for the palace and the temple of Akhmim, the temple of Triphis, together with his children and his siblings forever.
Written by Phimenis son of Phimenis.
Written by Pe-alal, son of Totoes, the overseer of the documents, who controls the expenditures of the temple of Akhmim.
Their names remain forever.
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