BGU 1156

Loan (synchoresis)

Before January 26, 15 BC

(a) Addressee

|2 To Achaios who is in charge of the tribunal in the palace,

(b1) Party 1

|3 from Gaius Iulius Philios,

(b2) Party 2

and from Nilos the son of ... |4 and from his wife, Zois the daughter of ... |5 and from Eirenaios alias Dorotheos the son of both of them, |6 Zois acting with her husband himself as guardian.

(c) Declaration about the receipt of the loan

Concerning the |7 points at issue, Nilos and Zois and also |8 Eirenaios agree that they have received from Gaius Iulius Philios an interest-free loan, partly in person (not through a bank), partly through the money-changing bank of Kastor, |10 of 180 Ptolemaic silver drachmas, |11 which they also agree to pay back in six months starting from the first day of |12 Mecheir of the present 15th year of Caesar (Augustus), by paying in an orderly fashion |13 each day toward the aforementioned principal |14 the one drachma which is due (each day), without skipping a single day, |15 until Gaius Philios has been paid in full with the |16 180 silver drachmas, and they agree to do this |17 without (the need for) a trial or any disputation,

(d) Penalty clause

but if they skip any of the daily installments, they agree that they are liable to seizure immediately, without waiting for |19 the time apportioned to them, and that they can be held under arrest until they pay |20 the entire principal or whatever will be owed (at that time) plus 50% |21 and for the time that has passed (the due date) they agree to pay the interest of two drachmas (per 100 drachmas per month) in accordance with state regulation, |22 while the right to execute (the claim) belongs to Gaius Iulius Philios from the three (debtors), who are mutually responsible |23 for payment, and from whomever of them he chooses and from all of their belongings |24 as if by virtue of a legal decision, and until they pay off (the debt), they agree that they are not permitted to |25 adduce safeguards nor to take refuge to ... |26 nor to a place of asylum nor to a decree of amnesty nor to a decree on professional exemptions (in Ptolemaic Egypt craftsmen were temporarily exempted from paying off debts as long as the state required their services) |27 nor to any other kind of protection at all, – or whatever other kind they use, |28 let that be without effect;

(e) Invalidation of prior loan

and Gaius Philios agrees that the other agreement which two |29 of the aforementioned, Nilos and Zois, together with Sarapion the son of Sosos, have made with him |30 through the same tribunal |31 in Hathyr of the same 15th year for a loan |32 of 120 drachmas is without effect ... |33 ... |34 he (Gaius) agrees not to proceed against the principal of 120 silver drachmas |35 ... |36 180 silver drachmas.

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© Peter van Minnen 2007