Stable URL: http://ancientassociations.ku.dk/assoc/1237Download as PDF
Last Updated on 03 Jan 2019

Author: Mario C.D. Paganini

CAPInv. 1237: hoi georgoi

I. LOCATION

i. Geographical area Egypt
ii. Nome Arsinoites (00)

II. NAME

i. Full name (original language) οἱ γεωργοί (P.Erasm. I 6, l. 9)
ii. Full name (transliterated) hoi georgoi

III. DATE

i. Date(s) m. ii BC

IV. NAME AND TERMINOLOGY

ii. Name elements
Professional:georgoi
Status-related:georgoi

V. SOURCES

i. Source(s) P.Erasm. I 6 (mid ii BC)
Online Resources P.Erasm. I 6
TM 5052
i.a. Source type(s) Papyrological source(s)
i.b. Document(s) typology & language/script Greek request from an unmentioned person.
i.c. Physical format(s) Papyrus.

VII. ORGANIZATION

iv. Officials The group had a γραμματεύς, grammateus, named Ptolemaios. The unnamed writer of the request asked a certain Dorion to write to the grammateus of the farmers in order to accept payment (of a loan presumably) in barley rather than in wheat (as it must have been originally agreed upon). Dorion forwarded the message to the grammateus of the farmers, telling him to make sure to acknowledge when the loan (ἡ χρήσις, he chresis, l. 14) is repaid. It is uncertain what position Dorion occupied: according to the editors, he may have been the head/president of the farmers or a public official such as a sitologos, komarches or komogrammateus, as he is in a position to give orders to a grammateus of the farmers.

VIII. PROPERTY AND POSSESSIONS

iii. Income If this texts represents the internal correspondence of an association of farmers, the association was occupied in lending out (money or seeds) and gained advantages from the interest arising from the loans.

IX. MEMBERSHIP

ii. Gender Men
Note The grammateus is a man, called Ptolemaios. It is uncertain whether Dorion was the head of the farmers.
iii. Age Adults
Note Given the character of the group gathering together the farmers, it seems likely that the group was formed by adults.
iv. Status All the members simingly shared the same occupation of farmers.
vi. Proper names and physical features Πτολεμαίωι τῶι γραμματεῖ τῶν γεωργῶν

XIII. EVALUATION

i. Private association Possible
Note If this text represents the internal correspondence of a group of farmers, then it is possible that they were gathered in association, with someone at their head (in this case, Dorion) who could receive requests from other members (or outsiders) concerning loans given to them from the association's coffers (or granaries) and who had a grammateus at his orders. The fact that Dorion does not bear any further title or identification, and the fact that the format of the request/petition is unusual, lacking the usual polite and standardised opening formulas, as well as the sarcastic tone of the text, seem to point towards an informal environment, which may agree with the internal dealings of a private association.