Greek Petition
Papyrus Cat.2151 contains a petition (=a request for help to the authorities), datable to 110 BC. It is a significant document that highlights the fiscal and administrative dynamics in Thebes during the 2nd century BC. Furthermore, it allows us to observe the complex dynamics between local authorities and local corporate groups, which had rights and privileges that were sometimes not respected by the Greek component.
The Choachytes, funeral directors engaged in the nearby Necropolis of Thebes, have been harassed by the head of the economy of the Pathyrites (=District of the village of Gebelein), the Greek named Isidore. He demands higher payments for no reason, in contravention of ancient decrees that assigned tax privileges to the Choachytes. The group, through the voice of its leader, Osoroeris, contacts the highest authority of the Thebaid, the strategos (=the highest officer rank) and epistrategos (=a senior military and administrative office) Phommous, to restore the privileges.
This papyrus is the copy that Osoroeris had to preserve in his archive. The document that was physically sent to the authorities is papyrus Turin Cat.2152, which also bears Phommous' response and the subsequent sentence of the epistrategos Hermokles, the highest legal office.
The same question is also reported in papyrus Cat.2153, dated to 111 BC, the previous year, which didn't reach the authorities.
Graeco-Roman Period (332 BC-565 AD)
Ptolemaic Period (305-30 BC)
Ptolemy IX (Soter II) - 1st Reign
Thebes
Acquisition: Drovetti, Bernardino
Acquisition Date: 1824
To Phommous, Relative of the King, Strategos and Epistrategos of the Thebaid, by Osoroeris and the other Pastophoros of Amenophis living in the Memnoneia. As we suffer injustices immeasurably and we have been subjected to harassment by Isidore, head of the oikonomia of the Pathyrite nome, we seek protection from you, so that you can help us. In fact, Isidore is trying to collect payments from us that are not due to him, violating what had been already ordered by the sovereigns in ancient times: to not change anything. We ask you, if it seems appropriate to you, to order those who are in charge to write so that they don't charge us anything more and don't harass us. Once this is addressed, we will be able to attend to our affairs without hindrance, having obtained your protection.
Greetings.
Mattia Ruben Rizzolo
greek
Petition
choachyt, complaint, protection
Graeco-Roman Period (332 BC-565 AD)
Ptolemaic Period (305-30 BC)
Ptolemy IX (Soter II) - 1st Reign
No
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PEYRON 1827, P.
Taur. 5
WILCKEN 1937, UPZ 2 192
PESTMAN 1993, 60A
PESTMAN 1992, P. Tor. Choach. 5A
Copy of the petition.
Mattia Ruben Rizzolo
greek
Memorandum
choachyt
Graeco-Roman Period (332 BC-565 AD)
Ptolemaic Period (305-30 BC)
Ptolemy IX (Soter II) - 1st Reign
No
---
PEYRON 1827, P. Taur. 5
WILCKEN 1937, UPZ 2 192
PESTMAN 1993, 60A
PESTMAN 1992, P. Tor. Choach. 5A