E04374: Daily record of sales of dates, including eight entries on purchases by one Eusebios affiliated to an institution named after the 'Holy Mary' (*Mary, Mother of Christ, S00033), and two by Menas affiliated to an institution named after the Three Children (*Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, Old Testament martyrs, S01198). Written in Greek on papyrus. Found at Nessana/Auja Hafir in the Negev desert (Roman province of Palaestina III). Probably 6th-7th c.
Creators: name: Pnowakowski
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2017
Subjects: History

description: On a papyrus sheet: 29.5 cm x 35 cm, written across the fibres on the recto and along the fibres on the verso. Partly lost on the right- and left-hand side. The top and bottom margins are preserved.<br><br>The papyrus contains an on-going record of sales of dates, laid out over eight columns. The earliest recorded day is 17 October, the last recorded day is 30 May. There is no mention of the year, but the editor supposes that the document dates to the pre-Islamic period, probably the 6th or earlier 7th c.<br><br>To us the most interesting parts are the names of the purchasers. <br><br>In six entries we find references to a certain Eusebios affiliated with an institution named the 'Holy Mary'/ἁγία Μαρία:<br><br>column VI (13 March - 8 April)<br>line 132 (date is lost): [Εὐσεβίου ἁγίας Μ]̣αρίας κοῦ(κια) δ τ(οῦ) (νομίσματος) θ κ(αθαρῶν) +/'[Eusebios of holy] Mary: 4 baskets, (at the price of) 9 (baskets) per solidus, pitted.'<br><br>column VII (10 April - 5 May)<br>line 143 (15th day of the month of Pharmouthi = 10 April): Εὐσεβίου ἁγίας Μαρ̣ίας [[φ(οινικίων)]] κοῦ(κια) δ τ(οῦ) (νομίσματος) θ κ(αθαρῶν) +/'Eusebios of Holy Mary: 4 baskets, (at the price of) 9 (baskets) per solidus, pitted.' <br><br>line 148 (11 days later, 26th day of the month of Pharmouthi = 21 April): + Εὐσεβίου ἁγίας Μαρίας κοῦ(κια) δ τ(οῦ) (νομίσματος) ι κ(αθαρῶν) +/'+ Eusebios of Holy Mary: 4 baskets, (at the price of) 10 (baskets) per solidus, pitted. +'<br><br>line 158 (9 days later, 5th day of the month of Pachon = 30 April): Εὐσεβίου ἁγίας Μαρίας κοῦ(κια) δ τ(οῦ) (νομίσματος) ι &lt; κ(αθαρῶν) +/'Eusebios of holy Mary: 4 baskets, (at the price of) 10.5 (baskets) per solidus, pitted.'<br><br>line 164 (4 days later, 9th day of the month of Pachon = 4 May): Εὐσεβίου ἁγίας Μαρίας κοῦ(κια) δ [τ(οῦ) (νομίσματος) ια κ(αθαρῶν) +]/'Eusebios of holy] Mary: 4 baskets, [(at the price of) 11 (baskets) per solidus, pitted. +]'<br><br>line 168: (1 day later, 10th day of the month of Pachon = 5 May) Εὐσεβίου ἁγίας Μαρίας κοῦ(κια) δ τ(οῦ) (νομίσματος) ια κ(αθαρῶν) +/'Eusebios of holy Mary: 4 baskets, (at the price of) 11 (baskets) per solidus, pitted.'<br><br>column VIII (11 May - 30 May)<br>line 188 (9 days later, 19th day of the month of Pachon = 14 May): Ε̣ὐ̣σ̣ε̣β[ίου ἁγ]̣ί[α]̣ς ̣Μ[αρία]ς κοῦ(κια) δ τ(οῦ) (νομίσματος) ια κ(αθαρῶν) +/'Eusebios of [holy] Mary: 4 baskets, (at the price of) 11 (baskets) per solidus, pitted. +'<br><br>line 198 (6 days later, 25th day of the month of Pachon = 20 May): Εὐσεβίου ἁγίας Μαρίας κοῦ(κια) [ -ca.?- ]/'Eusebios of holy Mary: [.] baskets [- - -]'<br><br>In two entries we find references to a certain Menas affiliated with an institution named after the Three Children/Τρεῖς παῖδες, certainly the Three Children in the Fiery Furnace, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, Old Testament martyrs:<br><br>column VII (10 April - 5 May)<br>line 170 (10th day of the month of Pachon = 5 May): Μηνᾶ τριῶν ̣π[αί]δων κοῦ(κια) γ τ(οῦ) (νομίσματος) ια &lt; κ(αθαρῶν) +/'Menas of Three Children: 3 baskets, (at the price of) 11.5 (baskets) per solidus, pitted. +'<br><br>column VIII (11 May - 30 May)<br>line 185 (8 days later, 18th day of the month of Pachon = 13 May): Μηνᾶ τριῶν πέδ(ων) κοῦ(κιον) α τ(οῦ) (νομίσματος) ια &lt; κ(αθαρῶν) +/'Menas of Three Children: 1 basket, (at the price of) 11.5 (baskets) per solidus, pitted. +'<br><br>Text: P.Nessana 90. Translation: C.J. Kraemer, adapted.