This papyrus fragment is an ancient "epikrisis" document. It dates to 28th May, 102 AD and comes from Egypt. It is part of our Trade and Economy collection.
In Roman Egypt, boys applied for citizenship before the age of fourteen in a process called "epikrisis", which produced extensive documentation. This check of personal and fiscal status determined who would enjoy Roman or Alexandrian citizenship and was therefore exempted from the poll tax. It also clarified who belonged to the privileged population of the "metropoleis" and had to pay only half the rate, as well as who was Egyptian and had to pay the full amount.
A transcript of the writing on the fragment is below:
1 ] ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣[
2 ] ἐπικρίσεως ὑπομν̣η̣μ̣α̣[
] (vac.)
] (vac.)
3 ] ̣ ̣ ̣ Ἡ̣λ̣ι̣ό̣δωρος ἐπιδέδω̣κ̣α̣
4 [(ἔτους)] ε̣ Τρ̣α̣ι̣α̣ν̣ο̣ῦ Καίσ̣α̣ρ̣ο̣ς̣ τ̣ο̣ῦ̣ κ̣υ̣ρ̣ί̣ο̣υ̣ Παυνι Γ΄
5 (second hand) ] ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ ̣ γνωρίζω τὸν Φίλων̣α ̣α ̣ ̣και ο
] (vac.)
This can be translated as:
2 ] record(s) of declaration of legal status (epikrisis) [
3 ] Helio(?)dorus paid in [ (x amount in the)
4 [fifth year of] Trajan Caesar on the third day of Pauni (28 May)
5 (witness, in a second hand:) ] I recognise Philo ?son of [