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APIS Translation (English)

"(i, 1-14) Year 19 of Antoninus Caesar our lord, Hathyr 5. The petitioner was Achanis alias Apollonius, who announced that he had been appointed by the people from Libya (to represent them), etc. He said: "We request that purchases of properties held in common with others and confiscated to the fiscus not be solicited, and that the portion which was not confiscated not be assigned to the category of unsold holdings." Liberalis said: "If it becomes evident that the person whose property has been confiscated was sole possessor of the half share, it shall be sold as it stands, provided it is easily divided off (from the whole); otherwise, let the partners buy the share that goes to the fiscus.";(ii, 1 - iv, 14) Copies of reports of proceedings.;Year 9 of Antoninus our lord, Mecheir 24, in the gymnasium at Xois, under authority of Valerius Proculus, the most excellent prefect. Amounis, son of Asychis, versus Soeris, acting through her guardian, her son Panisneus. Herakleides, advocate: "There were three brothers - my client Amounis, Harnektotes, and Phaibon. Phaibon died, and Harnektotes inherited from him to the extent of a double share, for he happened to be the elder brother. Harnektotes also does not survive; he has left two daughters - the defendant and another. Since they have improperly sold a noubis to a stranger, although the property left to them is held in common and undivided, and this is forbidden, we request that we return the price that he (sic) paid and retain the common property." Lykarion, advocate, added: "You are sitting in judgement on a case of universal import which has previously been judged by both magistrates and prefects. Not only that, but also the most excellent prefect Valerius Proculus referred such an inquiry to the archigeorgos Vestinianus, who reviewed the decisions made by those who had judged the matter under investigation, and declared that property held in common is not sold to any others than the neighbors. We request, therefore, on reading the judgements, that we ourselves (be permitted to) buy the common property." Isidoros, advocate: "The plaintiff has acted improperly in bringing the present suit. For Heliodoros, the former prefect, after examining such a complaint, declared that whoever wishes to do so has the power to sell property held in common to whomever he wishes." Apollonos, advocate, added: "The woman who made the purchase is not an outsider, for she is a sister." Herakleides, advocate: "The defendant was disinherited by her father, and as an outsider ought not to purchase the common property." Arios, advocate: "She was not disinherited as they say, for a brother sold to a sister." Herakleides, advocate: "The reports of proceedings before Heliodoros and the others who sat as judges on this matter, were resumed in the report of proceedings before Vestinianus, the archigeorgos, and Vestinianus declared as in a matter of basic importance that it is obligatory to sell to partners rather than to strangers, so that today our opponents are opposing the pronouncement of Proculus, the most excellent prefect." Aelios Dionysios: "Let the report of proceedings before Vestinianus be read." It was read, its date in Thoth of the present year. Aelius Dionysios: "Let the report of proceedings before Heliodoros, the former prefect, be read." It was read, its date in Epeiph of the 4th year of Antoninus Caesar our lord. Lykarion, advocate: "On the 16th of the current month the most esteemed archidikastes, Claudius Hierax, heard a case on a similar theme, and if you approve, follow his pronouncement." Aelios Dionysios: " I shall read the report of proceedings before the archidikastes." And somewhat later, when the parties in the case had come forward, and there had been more talk to the same effect, and the report of proceedings before the archidikastes Claudius Hierax had been read, with its date in the present year and month, Aelios Dionysios, former agoranomos and commisioner in charge of the foodsupply of the city, after consideration, rendered his decision: "Even though the object in dispute is of little importance, I have followed not alone the judgements that have been read out, but having learned that the most esteemed archidikastes Claudius Hierax made a judgement in a similar case on the 16th of the present month Mecheir, I also thought it fitting to follow his pronouncement. Nothing prevents Soeris from accepting the price she paid for the share that she purchased, and whatever expenses she incurred in connection with the purchase, so that she may suffer no loss, and restoring the noubis to Amounis, since he is not only a partner but also a brother.";(iv, 15 - v, 20) Year 9 of Antoninus our lord, Mecheir 16. Hierax, who is also guardian (of Theanous), and Theanous, versus Abithis, acting through her husband Nechtheros as guardian. Nilos and Sarapion, advocates, said: "Hierax, Theanous, and Agathos Daimon, cousins, held in succession to their forebears nine arouras or more, which they divided and controlled separately, each the portion that belonged to him. But since Agathos Daimon sold his share to the defendant without notifying our clients, they request that in accordance with the judgements made in like situations, and above all recently under authority of the most excellent prefect by Ulpius Serenus, gymnasiarch, the arouras be restored to them on repayment of the price that she paid, considering that not even two months have passed since they were purchased." Dorion and Dionysios, advocates, replied: "Since a division was made, each of them desires, as was judged right also by Heliodoros, the former prefect, to sell our client the share that fell to him as his private share, even though he has partners." Nilos: "Heliodoros pronounced such a judgement because the disputants were not relatives, but merely partners. But Mamertinus, the former prefect, when the judge Apollonios consulted him concerning a similar affair at a conventus, replied that he should follow the majority of the judgements, and a majority were found to have restored the property to the partners. And this recently is especially the judgement of Serenus, after his reading of a very large number of other reports of proceedings. And [a report of proceedings before ?] Sulpicius Serenus, former recorder and gymnasiarch, dated to Phamenoth 9 in the past year . . ."