The Erbstreit Papyri: A Bilingual Dossier from Pathyris of the Second Century BC (Pap. Erbstreit)

The Erbstreit papyri, nineteen papyri with twenty texts, now dispersed over five different collections, represent a bilingual dossier that was collected in Antiquity as a result of inheritance disputes. They were once part of a family archive kept in the Upper-Egyptian town of ancient Pathyris, modern Gebelein. The disputes started after the death of the woman Tamenos, daughter of Panas alias Hermokrates, when members from several branches of her family claimed the plots of land she had bequeathed to her children. A series of lawsuits ensued which were dealt with by a wide range of officials, starting with the local Provost Nechoutes up to the Viceroy Boethos, to be settled eventually before the Greek high court from Ptolemais in Middle Egypt when in session in Thebes. The dossier is composed of written evidence produced by the parties, court minutes, court decisions, copies of temple oaths and amicable settlements. One of the attractive features of the dossier are the Greek translations of Egyptian pieces of evidence presented in the Greek courts. The volume provides a substantial introduction outlining the respective stages in the juridical dealings as well as (re-)editions of and comments in detail on the Greek and demotic texts. Appendixes on bilingualism and on Graeco-Egyptian double names as well as indexes and photographic plates complete the volume.