Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 1464 Explained

POxy 1464 (or P. Oxy. XII 1464) is a document that was found at the city of Oxyrhynchus in Egypt. This document was given to a Roman citizen to certify performance of a pagan sacrifice, hence demonstrating loyalty to the authorities of the Roman Empire. Such a document is called a libellus (plural libelli), and this was one of four libelli found at Oxyrhynchus.

The manuscript declares the date — the first year of the emperor Decius, whose full name was Gaius Messius Quintus Traianus Decius. We know the first year of his reign was 250 AD. The day and month are also given as the third of Epeiph or Epip in the Coptic calendar. So this libellus was issued on 27 June 250 AD.

Text

1Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: [τοῖς] ἐπὶ τῶν θυσιῶν αἱρεθεῖσι τῆςFor those who partook of the sacrifices from the
2Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: [Ὀ]ξυρυγχε̣ιτῶν πόλεωςcity of Oxyrhynchus
3Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ∥ὰ Αὐρηλίου Γαιῶνος ἈμμωνίουThese are Aurelius Gaionus Ammonius
4Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: [μη]τρὸς Ταεῦτος. ἀεὶ μὲν θύειν καὶ[and the] mother of Taeutus. Indeed always making sacrifice and
5Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: [σπέ]νδειν καὶ σέ̣β̣ειν θεοῖς εἰθισμένοςlibation and worship to the gods being accustomed
6Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: [κατ]ὰ τὰ κελευσθέντα ὑπὸ τῆς θείας κρίσεωςaccording to those justly urged by the aunt
7Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: [καὶ] νῦν ἐνώπιον ὑμῶν θύων καὶ σπέν-and now in front of you all making sacrifice and libation
8Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: [δω]ν καὶ γευ[σ]άμενος τῶν ἱερείων ἅμαand having tasted the holy meat portions at the same time
9Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: [Τ̣α̣]ῶτ̣ι̣ γυναικὶ [κ]αὶ Ἀμμωνίῳ καὶ Ἀμμω-for a woman and for Ammonius and Ammoeanus
10Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ∍α̣ν̣ῷ̣ υἱοῖς καὶ Θ̣έκ̣λ̣ᾳ θυγατρὶ δι' ἐμοῦ κ̣[α]ὶ son and Thekla daughter by me and
11Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: [ἀξι]ῶ ὑποσημειώσασθαί μοι. (ἔτους) 1I think are worthy to be recorded by me. During the first year of
12Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: [Αὐ]τοκράτορος Κ[α]ί̣[σαρο]ς Γαίου ΜεσσίουAutokrator Caesar Gaius Messius
13Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: [Κυί]ντου Τ[ρ]αιανοῦ Δεκίου ΕὐσεβοῦςQuintus Traianus Decius Eusebius
14Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: [Εὐ]τυχοῦς Σεβαστοῦ Ἐπεὶφ 3. Αὐρή[λιος]Eutychus Sebastian, Epeiph 3. Aurelius
15Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: [Γαι]ὼν ἐπιδέδωκα. Αὐρήλ(ιος) ΣαραπίωνGaionus I have vouched for. Aurelius Sarapion,
16Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: [ὁ κ(αὶ)] Χαιρήμων ἔγρ[αψα] ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ μ̣ὴ̣ [εἰδό]-he and Chairemon, I wrote above him, my letters
17Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: [τος] γράμματα.being known.
v
10 lines
??Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Βησᾶς, Ψεναμοῦνις[1] Besas, Psenamounis

See also

Notes and References

  1. P.Oxy., 12.1464, Perseus Project