Letter from the Assistant to an Aigialophlax (A Copy)
Date
144
Summary
Date: After November 3, 144 CE.
Place of origin: Theadelphia.
Summary: Ptolemaios, the leaseholder of the plot of land bearing various kinds of brushwood, had up to 7th Hathyr, not received sufficient water for his drymos. Consequently he wrote a letter on this matter to Aelius Heraclitus (the name Aelius would seem to indicate that he or his father was imperial freedman), the assistant of procurator usiacus, to inform him of the situation and to obtain his co-operation to prevail upon the aigialophlax, who is, among other things, charged with the distribution and supply of water, that he will still receive the usual amount of water and secure compensation in case of damage.
Notes: It is a copy of the petition submitted. The copy must have been written after a few days from the first when water still had not been supplied.
Condition of recto: A light-brown papyrus cut off regularly on all sides. At the top there is a margin of 1.5 cm., at the left-hand side one of 1 cm., at the bottom one of 1.5 cm. and at the right-hand side one of 1 cm. Between the columns there is an open space of approx. 2 cm.
Hands recto: The text, which is worm-beaten, runs parallel to the fibers. The hand, which is well-trained, writes, large, upright letters. At the right-hand side the lines slope slightly upwards towards the right.
Description, notes, transcription, and translation written by P. J. Sijpesteijn.