Copy of two letters to daughter and wife respectively, written by a former priest of the Temple of Hadrian at Arsinoe, informing them of his intention to emancipate a number of slaves.
Translation: Copy. Marsisouchos son of Marsisouchos, ex-high-priest of the most sacred temple of Hadrian in the Arsinoite nome, to my daughter N.N. daughter of Marsisouchos, greeting. Whereas it is my wish that, of the property which I … in agreement with my mother … when securing the property coming to me including slaves, the slaves should be free under sanction fo Zeus, Earth and Sun on account of the fellowship and solicitude existing between us, namely … and Sarapias and her child Thermouthis and Soteria and her children Isidora and Dioskoros and …tius and Sarapammon, you will do well not to interfere, for if you do not observe these my wishes both what was settled upon you and what you have acquired, the contracts and title-deeds of which …, shall be the property of the great god Sarapis at Alexandria. The 7th year, Tubi 24. I write on my way to the court now being auspiciously held. Another (copy). Marsisouchos son of Marsisouchos son of Apollonios, ex-hihg-priest of the most sacred temple of Hadrian in the Arsinoite nome, to Berenike daughter of Didumos, my wife, greeting. Whereas it is my wish that, of my property standing in your name, viz. a vineyard at the village of … and arable land and palms at other villages of the division of Polemon and at Heraklia in the division of Themistos, and the slaves Euporos and Nikephoros and Holokottinos, the slaves should be free under sanction of Zeus, Earth and Sun, Euporos and Holokottinos being children of N.N. and registered as the offspring of your female slave Epiteuxis, you will do well to give heed to this letter of mine, otherwise you must know that if you disobey me all that I have placed in your name is the property of the great god Sarapis at Alexandria … and I have given to the aforesaid slaves …, having paid in full the taxes for their emancipation … I write on my way to the court …