judaism_and_rome 2026-07-22T04:11:15+02:00 1 127 Inscription https://heurist.huma-num.fr/heurist/?recID=127&db=judaism_and_rome 2022-08-16 23:18:38 2025-07-22 16:56:39 public Gordian III and the imperial petition of Skaptopara Large plate with the bilingual text divided in 3 columns 0238 0238 4398 Latin Greek 2157 3424 2159 2156 3905 2179 2158 <p>Official petitions addressed by local entities to the emperors began to be most commonly inscribed in the high imperial period, particularly in the first half of the 3^rd century when the phenomenon reached its peak (see Hauken, <em>Petition and Response</em>). This inscription found near the modern city of Blagoevgrad (Bulgaria), and belonging to the community of <a href="https://pleiades.stoa.org/places/481983">Skaptopara</a>, is the most complete testimony of an epigraphic genre which sheds unique light onto the impact of Roman power on a provincial population.<br /><br />These imperial petitions normally followed a set format composed of formal elements which were visibly divided in the stone from Skaptopara. On top, an invocation to good fortune (<em>Fortuna</em>) opened the document and preceded the formulas of greeting and authorisation. This part of the text was written in Latin, since this was the language dominating legal clauses in the Roman empire during the 3^rd century CE, as shown, for example, by the Market rights of Mandragoreis or the local resolution of Mylasa. The first section thus served to give official validity to the local copy of a document produced by the Roman administration. In this case, the text was dated to December 16^th during the consulship of Fulvius Pius and Pontius Proculus (238 CE), and had been taken from the roll of petitions and rescripts (<em>liber</em><em>libellorum rescriptorum</em>) which was published on the walls of the Baths of Trajan in Rome. This process of public exposition was an integral part of the mechanism by which responses were provided via a department of the imperial administration, known as <em>a libellis</em>. Firstly, the petitions needed to be handed in and the text of either the emperor or his representatives was added below through a <em>subscriptio</em> (see Millar, <em>The Emperor, </em>p. 537-549; Honoré, <em>Emperors and Lawyers</em>, p. 3-94). For the people of Skaptopara, the deliverer was Aurelius Pyrrus, as indicated in the registry note inscribed between lines 6 and 7. Not only was this soldier a fellow-villager (<em>convicanus</em>) who possessed land (<em>conposesor</em>), but he also belonged to one praetorian cohort which was normally stationed in Rome, making the sending of the petition on behalf of the Thracian community easier.<br /><br />The actual text of the petition starts in line 8 and is written in Greek, reflecting the use of the language for official communications in this area of the eastern Balkans. However, one should not automatically assume that the rural population allegedly addressing the plea possessed the high degree of linguistic refinement and expertise developed over the approximately 100 lines inscribed. The speech is perfectly structured around a preamble, a narration and a final request, which comply with complex oratorical strategies mastered by 3^rd century rhetors such as Menander of Laodicea (see Heath, <em>Menander: A Rhetor in Context</em>). These arrangements are found in several contemporary petitions surviving from different parts of the Empire and appear to show the common employment of professional logographers (cf. Crook, <em>Legal Advocacy</em>, p. 155-158). For instance, the opening statement attributed to the inhabitants of Skaptopara serves as a clear <em>captatio benevolentiae</em> with references to the very joyful and eternal times that Gordian III had managed to institute. In such a context, villages (κῶμαι/<em>kômai</em>) were supposed to prosper (βελτιοῦσθαι/<em>beltiousthai</em>), as this would bring salvation (σωτηρία/<em>sôtêria</em>) to humankind and benefits to the very sacred state treasury (ταμεῖον/<em>tameion</em>) of the emperor. Taking his cue from messages of imperial ideology, such as the concept of <em>Felicitas Temporum </em>(see Noreña,<em> Imperial Ideals</em>, p. 165-174; cf. Tacitus, <em>Agricola</em>, 3.1; Pliny, <em>Letters </em>X. 12, 58.7), the composer of the text even presents this supplication (ἱκεσία/<em>hikesia</em>) as lawful (ἔννομος/<em>ennomos</em>) and dependant on an emperor’s divinity (θειότης/<em>theiotês</em>) which could be compelled through prayers (εὐχόμενοι/<em>euchomenoi</em>).<br /><br />This verbose encomium is followed by a simpler description of the issues motivating the petition. In the first place, the villagers lived and had properties in lands gifted with hot springs (ὕδατα θερμά/<em>hydata therma</em>; the area is still renowned as a spa centre), which lay between two military camps of Thrace. This province, unlike northern Moesia, was not subject to the high military presence present along the Empire frontiers. However, auxiliary detachments could also be stationed in “unarmed” provinces, especially considering the threats menacing the Danube which the Goths also crossed in 238 CE (<em>HA</em>, <em>Max.Bal</em>. XVI.3, cf. Martin, <em>Dexipp</em>, p. 161-162). Prior to such military pressure, the inhabitants of Skaptokara claimed to have contributed to all the imperial taxes (φόροι/<em>phoroi</em>) without problems, but now they were suffering from abuses (βιάζεσθαι/<em>biazesthai</em>) causing decline (ἐλαττοῦσθαι/<em>elattousthai</em>). Excesses by soldiers upon the local population were not novel in the Roman Empire, as illustrated by the letter of Hadrian to Asia or the governor Iulius Saturninus in Syria.And yet, the phenomenon appears to have aggravated in this period of the mid-third century. Preceding the tumultuous accession of the young Gordian III, an unrefined military man such as Maximinus Thrax ruled, and the army took advantage of the general’s complicity to terrorise the population according to Herodian (VII.3.6). In the case of Skaptopara, a second feature of this rural territory proved particularly detrimental. A fair (πανήγυρις/<em>panêgyris</em>) was held not far from the village (l. 33-34). As we are informed from the speech that Aurelius Pyrrus delivered before the provincial governor – not included in our edition – the market was held several times every year, and most especially at the beginning of October when it enjoyed a special tax-free status for 15 days. In principle, such trading privileges were beneficial and sought after, as attested in the petition of the Mandragoreis and the privileges of Baetocaece. However, they could also attract soldiers who would then requisition quartering. Such negative consequences are not always evident in our sources and could support the position of rabbis who generally opposed fairs in which idolatry was practiced. The people of Skaptopara did not oppose providing hospitality (ξενία/<em>xenia</em>) to provincial governors (ἡγεμόνες/<em>hêgemones</em>) and their procurators (ἐπίτροποι/<em>epitropoi</em>), but they could not endure others who did not provide payment (ἄνευ ἀργ̣υρίου/<em>aneu argyriou</em>). In this sense, the text shows awareness of the legislation regulating the billeting and transport of military personnel (see Edict of Galatia on Transport). Indeed, the petition refers to sacred letters (θεῖαι ἐντολαί/<em>theiai entolai</em>) which should have prevented these abuses after numerous appeals to the provincial authorities. Through such imperial instructions, we know for example that the senators in the Severan period were exempted from hosting soldiers and copies were subsequently put up in their estates (see Jones, “The <em>Sacrae Litterae</em>”). The villagers of Skaptopara were therefore denouncing the lack of effectiveness in previous measures, but still relied on the channels of the Roman administration to find a solution, even if that implied reaching the emperor in the imperial capital. The final section of the petition is based on the same premise.<br /><br />From line 73 to 107, the text summarises the arguments and specifies a concrete request after the description of the case. In rhetorical terms, this conclusion is called a <em>preces,</em> and a more dramatic tone predominates. The petitioners refer collectively to unsustainable burdens (τὰ βάρη/<em>ta barê</em>) which threatened survival in their ancestral settlements (προγονικοὶ θεμέλιοι/<em>progonikoi themelioi</em>). Hence, they beg (δεόμεθά/<em>deometha</em>) the emperor who is called in the vocative “invincible Augustus” (ἀνίκητε Σεβαστέ/<em>anikête Sebaste</em>). Again, it is not his military power that is sought after, but rather an imperial rescript (θεία ἀντιγραφή/<em>theia antigraphê</em>), a piece of legislation emanating from Gordian III’s providence (πρόνοια/<em>pronoia</em>) so that they could remain in their homes and pay the corresponding taxes. To this end, the closing sequence underlines that the inhabitants of Skaptopara were ready to set up a stele and display it in public. The epigraphic document, moreover, would not only have legal validity, but also express gratitude towards the Fortune (Τύχη/<em>tychê</em>) of the emperor. As such, the survival of this inscription confirms the commitment of the ancestral settlers of this corner of Thrace, who believed in the solutions provided by not purely rhetorical pleas. The effectiveness of Gordian’s response cannot be measured, although previous legislative efforts to prevent this problem inherent to Roman domination clearly failed. Nonetheless, the most interesting outcome of this text is the illustration of a system by which the local population after the <em>Constitutio Antoniniana</em> could reach its rulers if the provincial administration did not work properly (see Connolly, <em>Lives behind the Laws</em>). The petition of Skaptopara is consequently indicative of a Roman power still directing the acts of its subjects even in a year such as 238 CE, which witnessed unsettling civil wars and obvious indications of Rome’s decline with the Goths crossing the Danube for the first time.</p> publication language archive imperial fortune imperial providence province provincial administration Gordian III imperial petition Skaptopara Thrace Roman law soldiers Roman soldiers abuse baths market fair Roman governor procurator prosperity Roman decline treasury imperial taxes ancestral home Lost. A squeeze (impressed paper) is archived in the Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum in Berlin Not available Not available 3rd CE 5832 Originally found in a bathhouse of the village of Cumaja, close to the modern city of Blagoevgrad (Bulgaria) 336 194 134 155 174 922 182 176 265 Roman Greek SEG 44.610 [IG.Bulg IV.2236; CIL III.12336; IGRR I.674] No <p>This edition is based on Hauken, Tor, <em>Petition and Response: An Epigraphic Study of Petitions to Roman Emperors, 181-249</em>. Monographs from the Norwegian Institute at Athens, Vol. 2. Bergen: Jonsered, Sweden: Norwegian Institute at Athens; Distributor, P. Åstrøms Förlag, 1998, p. 85-91. Some diacritical marks have been updated to comply with the Leiden conventions.</p> <table style="width: 866px; height: 3150px;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">                      Bona Fortuna</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left"><F>ulvio Pio et <P>o<n>tio Proculo cons(ulibus) XVII kal(endis) Ian(uariis) descriptum <e>t</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">reco<g>nitum factum <e>x <l>ibro <li>bellorum rescript<o>rum a do-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">mino n(ostro) Imp(eratore) Ca<e>s(are) M(arco) Antonio Gordiano Pio Felice Aug(usto) <e>t propo-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left">5</div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left"><s>it<o>rum <R>oma<e> in portico <th>ermarum Tr<a>ianar<u>m in ve<r>ba <q>(uae) i(nfra) s(cripta) s(unt).</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left">II</div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">dat(um) p<e>r Aur(elium) Purrum mil(item) coh(ortis) X <pr>(aetoriae) <p>(iae) <f>(idelis) <G>ordiana<e> <c>(enturiae) Proculi</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">con<vi>canu<m> et conp{p}ossess<o>rem.</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left">III</div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">Αὐτοκράτορι Καίσαρι Μ(άρκῳ) Ἀντωνίῳ</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">Γορδιανῷ Εὐσεβεῖ Εὐτυχεῖ Σεβ(αστῷ) δέησις</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left">10</div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">παρὰ κωμητῶν Σκαπτοπαρηνων τῶν καὶ</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">Γρησειτων· ἐν τοῖς εὐτυχεστάτοις καὶ</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">αἰωνίοις σου καιροῖς κατοικεῖσθαι καὶ</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">βελτιοῦσθαι τὰς κώμας ἤπερ ἀναστά-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">τους γίγνεσθαι τοὺς ἐνοικοῦντας πολ-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left">15</div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">λάκ(ις) ἀντέγραψας· ἔστιν γ<ὰρ> καὶ ἐπὶ τῇ τῶν</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">ἀνθρώπων σωτηρίᾳ τὸ τοιοῦτο καὶ ἐπὶ</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">τοῦ ἱερωτάτου σου ταμείου ὠφελείᾳ·</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">ὅπερ καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔννομον ἱκεσίαν</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">τῇ θειότητί σου προσκομί<ζ>ομεν εὐ-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left">20</div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">χόμενοι ἱλέως ἐπινεῦσαι ἡμεῖν</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">δεομένοις τὸν τρόπον τοῦτον· οἰκοῦ-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">μεν καὶ κεκτήμεθα ἐν τῇ προγεγραμ-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">μένῃ κώμῃ οὔσῃ εὐεπεράστῳ διὰ τὸ</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">ἔχειν ὑδάτων θερμῶν χρῆσιν καὶ κεῖ-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left">25</div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">σθαι μέσον δύο στρατοπέδων τῶν ὄν-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">των ἐν τῇ σῇ Θρᾴκῃ, καὶ ἐφ’ οὗ μὲν τὸ</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">πάλλαι οἱ κατοικοῦντες ἀόχλητοι</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">καὶ ἀδειάσειστοι ἔμενον, ἀνενδεῶς̣</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">τούς τε φόρους καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ ἐπιτάγματα</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left">30</div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">συνετέλουν· ἐπεὶ δὲ κατὰ κα̣ιροὺς ε̣ἰς</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left"><ὕ>β<ρ>ι<ν> προχωρεῖν τινες κα̣ὶ βι̣άζεσθαι</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">ἤρξαντο, τηνικαῦτα ἐ̣λ̣α̣ττοῦσθαι</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">καὶ ἡ κώμη ἤρξατο· ἀπ̣ὸ γὰρ μειλίων δύ-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">ο τῆς κώμης ἡμ̣ῶν πανηγύρ̣ε̣ως</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left">35</div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">ἐπιτελουμένη̣ς δια̣βοήτου οἱ ἐκ̣ε̣ῖσε</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">τῆς πανηγύρε̣ως εἵνεκεν ἐπιδη̣μο̣ῦ̣ν-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">τες ἡμέρα̣ις̣ π̣εντεκα̣ί̣δε̣κα ἐ̣ν τῷ̣</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">τόπῳ τῆς πανηγύρεως οὐ̣ κα̣ταμ̣έ-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">νουσιν, ἀλλὰ ἀπολιμπάνοντ̣ες ἐ̣πέρ-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left">40</div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">χοντ̣αι εἰς τὴν ἡμετέραν κώμην</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">καὶ ἀναγκάζουσιν ἡμᾶς ξ̣ενίας α̣ὐ̣-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">τοῖς παρέχειν καὶ ἕτ̣ερα πλεῖστα εἰς ἀ̣-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">νάλη̣μψιν αὐτῶν ἄνευ ἀργ̣υρίου χ̣ο-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">ρ̣ηγεῖν· πρὸς δὲ τού̣τοις καὶ στρατιῶτ̣α̣ι</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left">45</div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">ἀλλαχοῦ πεμπόμενοι καταλιμπά-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">νοντες τὰς ἰδίας ὁδοὺς πρὸς ἡ̣μᾶς̣ π̣α̣-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">ραγείνον̣ται καὶ ὁμοίως κ̣ατε̣πείγουσιν</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">παρέχειν αὐτοῖς τὰ̣ς̣ ξ̣ε̣ν̣ίας κα̣ὶ τὰ ἐπι-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">τήδια μηδ̣εμίαν τε̣ιμὴν καταβα̣λόντες̣·</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left">50</div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">ἐπιδημο̣ῦσιν δὲ ὡς ἐπὶ τ̣ὸ̣ πλεῖστον</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">διὰ τὴν τῶν ὑδά̣των χρῆσιν̣ οἵ τε ἡ̣γού-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">μενο̣ι τῆς ἐπαρχείας, ἀλ̣λὰ κ̣αὶ οἱ ἐπί-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">τροποί σου· καὶ τ̣ὰς μὲν ἐξουσ̣ί̣α̣ς <ε>ὐ<ξ>ε̣-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">νώτατα δεχ̣όμε̣θ̣α κατὰ τ̣ὸ ἀναγκα̣ῖον,</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left">55</div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">τοὺς λοιποὺς ὑποφέ̣ρ̣ε̣ιν̣ μ̣ὴ δυνάμε-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">νοι ἐνετύχομεν πλειστάκις̣ τοῖς ἡγε-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">μόσι τῆ̣ς Θρᾴκης, οἵτινες ἀκολούθως</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">ταῖς θε̣ίαις ἐντολ̣αῖς ἐκέλευσαν ἀοχλ̣ή-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">τους ἡ̣μᾶς εἶναι· ἐ̣δη̣λ̣ώσαμεν γὰρ μη-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left">60</div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">κέτ̣ι ἡμᾶ̣ς δύνασθαι ὑπομένε̣ιν, ἀλ̣-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">λὰ καὶ νοῦν ἔχειν συνλε̣ί̣π̣ειν καὶ τοὺ̣ς</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">πατρῴους θ̣εμελίους διὰ τὴν τ̣ῶν</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">ἐπερχομένων ἡμεῖν βίαν· καὶ γὰρ</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">ὡς ἀληθῶς ἀπὸ πολλῶν οἰκοδεσπο-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left">65</div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">τῶν εἰς ἐλαχίστο̣υς κατεληλύθα-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">με̣ν· καὶ χρόνῳ μέν τινι ἴ̣σχ̣υ̣σεν</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">τὰ προστάγματα τῶ̣ν̣ ἡγου̣μένων</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">καὶ οὐδεὶς ἡμεῖν ἐνόχλησεν οὔτε</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">ξενίας <αἰτή>ματι οὔτε παροχῆς ἐπι-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left">70</div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">τηδείων, προϊόντων δὲ τῶν χρόνων</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">πάλιν ἐτόλμησαν ἐπιφύεσθαι ἡ-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">μεῖν πλεῖστοι ὅσοι <τ>ῆς ἰδιωτίας</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">ἡμῶν καταφρονοῦντες· ἐπεὶ οὖν οὐ-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">κέτι δυνάμεθα φέρειν τὰ βάρη</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left">75</div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">καὶ ὡς ἀληθῶς κινδυνεύομεν ὅπερ</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">οἱ λοιποὶ τόδε καὶ ἡμεῖς προλιπεῖν</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">τοὺς προγονικοὺς θεμελίους, τού-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">του χάριν δεόμεθά σου, ἀνίκητε</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">Σεβαστέ, <ὅ>πως διὰ θείας σου ἀντιγρα-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left">80</div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">φῆς κελεύσῃ<ς> ἕκαστον τὴν ἰδίαν πο-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">ρεύεσθαι ὁ̣δὸν̣ καὶ μὴ ἀπολιμπάνοντας</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">αὐτοὺς τὰς ἄλλας κώμ̣α̣ς ἐφ’ ἡμᾶς</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">ἔρχεσ̣θ̣α̣ι μήτε δὲ κ̣α̣τανα̣γκάζειν</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">ἡ̣μᾶ̣ς̣ χορηγεῖ̣ν α̣ὐτο<ῖ>ς προῖκα τὰ</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left">85</div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">ἐπιτήδια̣· ἀ̣λ̣λὰ μ̣ηδὲ ξενίαν αὐ̣τοῖς̣</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">παρέχ̣ειν, οἷς μή̣ ἐστιν ἀ̣νάγκη, -ὅτι</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">γὰρ οἱ ἡγούμενοι πλεο̣ν̣άκις ἐκέ-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">λευσαν μὴ̣ ἄ̣λλῳ παρέχεσθ̣αι ξε-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">νίαν εἰ μὴ τοῖς ὑπὸ τῶν ἡ̣γ̣ουμέ-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left">90</div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">νων καὶ ἐπιτρόπων ἐκπεμ-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">πομένοις εἰς ὑ̣πηρεσίαν· ἐὰν δὲ</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">βα̣ρο̣ύ̣μεθα, φευξό̣μεθ̣α̣ ἀ̣πὸ τ̣ῶν</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">ο̣ἰ̣κ̣ε̣ίων καὶ μεγίστ̣η̣ν̣ ζημίαν τ̣ὸ</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">ταμ̣εῖον περιβληθή̣σεται -ἵν̣α</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left">95</div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">ἐ̣λεηθέντες διὰ τὴν θείαν σου</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">πρόνοιαν καὶ μείναν̣τες ἐν</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">τοῖς ἰδίο̣ις τούς τε ἱερ̣οὺς φόρους</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">κ̣αὶ τὰ λοιπὰ τελέσ̣ματα π̣αρ̣ασχεῖν</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">δυνησόμ̣εθα· συμβήσεται δὲ</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left">100 </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">τοῦτ̣ο ἡμ̣εῖν ἐν τ̣οῖς εὐτ̣υ̣χεστά-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">τοις σοῦ καιρ̣οῖς, ἐὰν̣ κελ̣εύσῃ̣ς</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">τὰ̣ θεῖά σου γράμματα ἐν στ̣ή̣-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">λῃ ἀναγραφέν̣τα δ̣ημοσίᾳ πρ̣ο-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">φ[α]νεῖσθα̣ι, ἵνα̣ τούτ̣ου τυχόντε̣ς</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left">105  </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">τῇ Τύχῃ σου χάριν ὁμολογ̣εῖν</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">δυνησόμ̣εθα, ὡς καὶ νῦν καθ̣ο̣[σ]-</div> </td> </tr><tr><td valign="top" width="21"> <div align="left"> </div> </td> <td valign="top" width="496"> <div align="left">[ι]ωμένοι σου ποιοῦμεν.</div> </td> </tr></tbody></table> <p style="text-align: justify;">This translation is reproduced from Hauken, Tor, <em>Petition and Response: An Epigraphic Study of Petitions to Roman Emperors</em>, <em>181-249</em>. Monographs from the Norwegian Institute at Athens, Vol. 2. Bergen: Jonsered, Sweden: Norwegian Institute at Athens ; Distributor, P. Åstrøms Förlag, 1998, p. 95-96. I wish to thank Prof. Hauken for his kind permission to reproduce it.<br /><br />I. Authentication (ll. 1-5) Good Fortune. In the consulate of Fulvius Pius and Pontius Proculus [238], on December 16 copied and examined from the collection of petitions answered by our master, the emperor Caesar Marcus Antonius Gordianus Pius Felix Augustus, and posted in Rome in the portico of the Baths of Trajan in the words which are written below.<br /><br />II. Note of delivery (ll. 6-7) Presented by Aurelius Pyrrus soldier in the tenth praetorian cohort <em>pia fidelis Gordiana</em>, of Proculus’ century, fellow villager and owner.<br /><br />II. Petition to Gordianus III (ll. 8-11) To the emperor Caesar Marcus Antonius Gordianus Pius Felix Augustus. Petition from the villagers of Skaptopara, also called the Greseitai. (ll. 11-21) That in your most happy and everlasting times the villages should be inhabited and prosper, rather than the inhabitants should be driven off, you have on many occasions stated in your rescripts. (ll. 15-17) This policy is both salvation to the people and to the profit of your most sacred fisc. (ll. 18-21) Therefore we too bring a legal supplication to your divinity, praying that you will look graciously upon us when we entreat you in this way. (ll. 21-26) We dwell and have our property in the village mentioned above; it is most attractive because it has thermal springs and lies between the two military camps which are in your [province of] Thracia. (ll. 26-30) In the past – as long as the inhabitants were left alone and not subject to extortion – they contributed faultlessly in full both taxes and the other impositions. (ll. 30-33) But when some persons now and then started to get rough and use force, then the village too started to decline. (ll. 33-44) A famous market takes place two miles from our village. Those who stay there to attend the market, do not [however] remain at the marketplace for all the fifteen days – they leave it and turn up in our village and compel us to provide them with quartering and most of the other things for their entertainment without offering payment. (ll. 44-49) In addition, these soldiers that are despatched elsewhere leave their proper routes and appear among us and likewise press us hard to furnish them quartering and provisions without paying anything. (ll. 50-53) For the most part because of the thermal springs the provincial governors but also your procurators come here to stay. (ll. 53-59) We greet the authorities in a most hospitable way by necessity, but as we could not put up with the others, we have on many occasions appealed to the governors of Thracia, and they have – in accordance with the imperial instructions (<em>mandata</em>) – ordered that we shall be undisturbed (ll. 59-63). We explained that we can no longer remain, but that all of us have in mind to leave our ancestral homes because of the violence of those who assault us. (ll. 63-66) For in very truth from (being) landowners we have been reduced to very few. (ll. 66-73) For some time the orders of the governors held force and no one troubled us by demanding either quartering or provisions. But as time went on, numerous persons who despise our private status have again ventured to stick close. (ll. 73-107) So, since we can no longer sustain these burdens and, as the others, we too really face the risk of abandoning the settlements of our ancestors, (ll. 77-86) for this reason we beg you, invincible Augustus, to order by your sacred <em>rescriptum</em> that everyone shall keep to his proper route, that they shall not leave the other villages and come to us and compel us to offer them provisions at our expense, and that we shall not quarter those who are not entitled to [such service]. (ll. 86-94) For the governors have on many occasions ordered that quarters should not be provided for men other than those sent on service by governors and procurators. If we are oppressed, we shall flee our homes, and the fisc will be embroiled in the greatest loss. (ll. 94-99) If we are shown mercy by your divine foresights and remain in our homes, we will be able to provide both the sacred taxes and the other impositions. (ll. 99-107) This will happen to us in your most happy times if you order that your divine letter shall be written on a stele and set up in public so that we, when we have obtained this, can acknowledge our gratitude to your Genius, just as we do now because we [regard] you [with reverence].</p> Yes Villagers from Thrace petitioned the emperor Gordian III to end abuses from soldiers that threatened their ancestral homes. fortuna Gordianus liber libellus rescriptum Roma convicanus conposesor κώμη βελτιόω ἱκεσία ἔννομος θειότης εὔχομαι σωτηρία εὐτυχής καιρός ὕδωρ φόρος βιάζω ἐλασσόω πανήγυρις ξενία ἡγεμών ἐπίτροπος στρατιώτης ἀργύριον ἐντολή θεῖος βάρος πρόγονος θεμέλιος δέομαι σεβαστός ἀνίκητος ἀντιγραφή πρόνοια τύχη στήλη Aitor Blanco Pérez English Imperial petition Yes 189 265 1