Greek Petition
The papyrus Cat.2152 contains a petition (= or a request for help) dated to 110 BC. It is a significant document in the history of the fiscal and administrative dynamics of Thebes in the 2nd century BC. The petition not only highlights the economic difficulties faced by the choachytes caused by tax burdens, but also the strong connection between local administrators and higher authorities.
The choachytes, funeral directors working at the nearby Necropolis of Thebes, have been suffering from tax harassment by the oikonomos Isidoro, the authority responsible for tax collection. He demands inflated payments, violating ancient decrees that instead provided tax privileges for the choachytes. The head of the choachytes, Osoroeris, directly appeals to the most important magistrate of Thebaid, the strategos (= the highest officer rank) and epistrategos (= a senior military and administrative office) Phommous, in order to restore these privileges. Shortly after the drafting of the petition (Text Recto 1), a scribe of the office of Phommous writes the response of the strategos at the bottom (Text Recto 2): the choachytes are right, and the matter should be addressed by the epistates Hermokles, the highest legal authority in the region. Thus, a few months later, Hermokles delivers the final ruling (Text Recto 3): Isidoro must not transgress the ancient decrees.
Papyrus Turin Cat.2152 is the official document sent to the authorities. Papyrus Turin Cat.2151 is instead the copy of the petition (Text Recto 1), left with Osoroeris for his documentary archive. Cat.2152 concludes a fiscal dispute that began the previous year, in 111 BC, as evidenced by papyrus Turin Cat.2153.
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
I decided: don't transgress.
Year 7, 11 Payni (110 BC Jun 27)
Mattia Ruben Rizzolo
greek
Administrative text
choachyt
Graeco-Roman Period (332 BC-565 AD)
Ptolemaic Period (305-30 BC)
Ptolemy IX (Soter II) - 1st Reign
No
---
PEYRON 1827, P. Taur. 6
WILCKEN 1937, UPZ 2 193
PESTMAN 1993, 60B
PESTMAN 1992, P. Tor. Choach. 5B
To Hermokles. Don't allow tax collectors to change anything or to demand more, but to demand from them the usual contributions.
Year 6, Tybi 20 (110 BC Feb 6)
Mattia Ruben Rizzolo
greek
Communication
choachyt, crime
Graeco-Roman Period (332 BC-565 AD)
Ptolemaic Period (305-30 BC)
Ptolemy IX (Soter II) - 1st Reign
No
---
PEYRON 1827, P. Taur. 6
WILCKEN 1937, UPZ 2 193
PESTMAN 1993, 60B
PESTMAN 1992, P. Tor. Choach. 5B
To Phommous, Relative of the King, Strategos and Epistrategos of the Thebaid, by Osoroeris and the other Pastophoros of Amenophis, who live 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 sure 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
---
PEYRON 1827, P.
Taur. 6
WILCKEN 1937, UPZ 2 193
PESTMAN 1993, 60B
PESTMAN 1992, P. Tor. Choach. 5B
To epistates of Pathyrites nome.
to be delivered to Hermokles.
Mattia Ruben Rizzolo
greek
Petition
address
Graeco-Roman Period (332 BC-565 AD)
Ptolemaic Period (305-30 BC)
Ptolemy IX (Soter II) - 1st Reign
No
---
PEYRON 1827, P. Taur. 6
WILCKEN 1937, UPZ 2 193
PESTMAN 1993, 60B
PESTMAN 1992, P. Tor. Choach. 5B