Five Penthemeros Certificates from the Cairo Museum

Abstract

Edition of five Greek papyri in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. The papyri were found in Euhemereia (Kasr el-Banat) in the Fayum by Gren-fell and Hunt in 1898-1899. The texts were described at P.Fay. 221, 286, 287, 289, and 290 (= P.Cair.Cat. 10819, 10835, 10836, 10838, and 10839). Four date to the second century CE but P.Fay. 286 descr. (= P.Cair.Cat. 10835) dates to the reign of Claudius (41-54 CE); its precise date may be 51-52 CE, which would make it the second earliest penthemeros certificate known to date. The five texts are receipts given to residents of the Fayum after the performance of their assigned labor on canals and dikes in the Fayum for five consecutive days, hence the name penthemeros. The labor is done on behalf of three Fayumic villages: Euhemereia (2 certificates), Athenas Kome (2), and Psenyris (1). Both Athenas Kome and Psenyris are nowhere else attested in penthemeros certificates, while the previously published certificates on behalf of Euhemereia number just four.