Census Edict for Roman Egypt



DESCRIPTION
Language: Greek
Medium: papyrus
Size: 21.3cm high
15.2cm wide
Length: 21 lines of writing
Genre: Official Census Edict
Date: 104 CE
Place of Discovery: Egypt
Date of Discovery: c. 1905
Current Location: British Museum, London
Inventory Number: P.London 904
Photo: Deissman, Light, after 270



TEXT
GREEK TEXT
(from Hunt & Edgar 1934:108)
(This is readable as Greek
if "Symbol" font is installed)
TRANSLATION
by K. C. Hanson

(Adapted from Hunt & Edgar)

GaioV OuibioV MaximoV eparcoV Aiguptou legei thV kat oikian apografhV enestwshV anagkaion estin pasin toiV kaq hntina dhpote aitian apodhmousin apo twn nomwn prosaggellesqai epanelqein eiV ta eautwn efestia ina kai thn sunhqh oikonomian thV apografhV plhrwswsin kai th proshkoush autoiV gewrgiai proskarterhswsin eidwV mentoi oti eniwn twn apo thV cwraV h poliV hmwn ecei creian boulomai pantaV touV eulogon dokountaV ecein tou enqade epimenin aitian apografesqai para Boul . . . Fhstw eparcwi eilhV on epi toutw etaxa ou kai taV upografaV oi apodeixanteV anagkaian autwn thn parousian lhmyontai kata touto to paraggelma entoV thV triakadoV tou enestwtoV mhnoV E . . .
A few words have been reconstructed by the editors.
The census by household having begun, it is essential that all those who are away from their nomes be summoned to return to their own hearths so that they may perform the customary business of registration and apply themselves to the cultivation which concerns them. Knowing, however, that some of the people from the countryside are required by our city, I desire all those who think they have a satisfactory reason for remaining here to register themselves before . . . Festus, the Cavalry Commander, whom I have appointed for this purpose, from whom those who have shown their presence to be necessary shall receive signed permits in accordance with this edict up to the 30th of the present month E . . .
The "Prefect of Egypt" (Latin: Prefectus) was the Roman governor over all Egypt.

A "nome" was an Egyptian administrative district.

A "Cavalry Commander" (Latin: Prefectus Alae) was a commander of a Roman auxiliary cavalry unit.




DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

    1. What was the role and status of the "Prefectus of Egypt" within the Roman Empire? How does this compare to the "Prefectus Alae"? Where does each of these fit on the Roman cursus honorem?

    2. What does this edict indicate about the relationship between the city and the countryside and the state's right to control who stays in the city?
    3. What functions did a census serve in the ancient world? How do these functions relate to the primary tasks/concerns of aristocratic empires? (Read 2 Samuel 24:1-25; Luke 2:1-7; Acts 5:37)
    4. What role does the Roman census play in the narrative about Jesus' birth in Luke's gospel? What historical problems have been raised about the dating of that census?




SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY


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Last Modified: 7 December 2009