E02233: Greek order for the payment of wine, from Oxyrhynchos (Middle Egypt), mentioning an institution dedicated to *Gabriel (the Archangel, S00192) and the feast of Epiphany, datable to the 6th century.
online resource
posted on 2017-01-06, 00:00authored bygschenke
P.Oxy. 6 993:
Order issued by a church for the payment of two jars of wine to a plasterer on the occasion of a feast. (Grenfell & Hunt).
'The holy church to Anouthios, dioiketes (and) oikonomos of Saint Gabriel. Pay the plasterer for the feast of Tybi of the 2nd indiction, two double jars of wine. Total: two.'
(Text: B.P. Grenfell and A.S. Hunt; trans.: G. Schenke)
A complete record of the text, with images, can be found at:
Documentary texts - Other private document
Late antique original manuscripts - Papyrus sheet
Language
Greek
Evidence not before
500
Evidence not after
599
Activity not before
500
Activity not after
599
Place of Evidence - Region
Egypt and Cyrenaica
Place of Evidence - City, village, etc
Oxyrhynchos
Place of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Oxyrhynchos
Hermopolis
ϣⲙⲟⲩⲛ
Ashmunein
Hermopolis
Cult activities - Places
Cult building - independent (church)
Source
The papyrus is kept at Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Museum E 3079. The document has been dated on palaeographical grounds.
Discussion
The feast of Tybi (27 December to 25 January) refers to Epiphany. Whether the plasterer was paid for refurbishing the church in time for the festivities, or received this payment simply as a Christmas 'bonus', remains unknown.
Bibliography
Edition:
Grenfell, B.P., and Hunt, A.S., The Oxyrhynchus Papyri vol. VI, Published by the Egypt Exploration Society in Graeco-Roman Memoirs (London, 1908), 325.
See further literature at:
http://papyri.info/ddbdp/p.oxy;6;993