The Roman Army, 31 BC–AD 337: A Sourcebook

144 The Roman Army
either military or civilian, and had perhaps leased out part of the land belonging
to the ala on the agreement that they provide fodder in appropriate instalments
for the cavalrymen of the troops. See MacMullen 1967:9; more receipts for
fodder and foodstuffs—Fink RMR 76, 78–79; 81.
237 ILS 9103, inscription, Carnuntum (Petronell), Upper Pannonia,
AD 205
Sacred to Jupiter Best and Greatest, for the welfare of the Emperors,
Gaius Julius Catullinus, soldier of Legion XIV Gemina, Martial and
Victorious, who leases the land called Furianus under the contract (?)
of Nertius Celerinus, chief centurion, willingly and deservedly paid his
vow on 1 October in the consulship of Emperor Antoninus Augustus,
for the second time, and Geta Caesar.
The chief centurions seem to have been responsible for allocating leases to
soldiers and others for trading on, or cultivation of, the land within the legion’s
territory. Cf. ILS 4222; 9104. For the territory of the legion, see MacMullen
1967:6–12.
238 Speidel 1981b, papyrus, Fayum, Egypt, 2nd/3rd C.AD
Flavius Silvanus, standard-bearer of the horseguards of the prefect, to
the elders of the village of Socnopaios, greetings. I have received from
you the spears of palm-wood that were assigned to you, for which I
have paid out the agreed fee from public funds.
These villagers in the Fayum may have been supplying spear shafts rather than
the complete weapon, possibly for light missiles used in training. Note the
fragmentary text from Vindolanda, which seems to refer to a contract for the
supply of wooden components to the army (Bowman and Thomas 1987:140–2).
239 BGU 1564=SP 395, papyrus, Egypt, AD 138
Copy of order for payment. Ammonius, son of Polydeuces, Syrion, son
of Heras, Heraclides, son of Heraclides, all three collectors of clothing
(in requisitions), and Hermes, ex-agoranomos, to Heraclides, banker,
greetings. Pay to Heraclides, son of Horgias, Heron, freedman of Publius
Maevius, and Dioscorus, freedman of the mighty god Serapis, weavers
of the village of Philadelphia, for them and the other weavers in the
same village on their mutual responsibility, (these sums) as an advance
payment of the cost of the clothing which is part of that which his
excellency the prefect Avidius Heliodorus ordered to be prepared for
the requirements of the soldiers in Cappadocia: one white tunic with
belt, 5 feet, 1 inch (3½ cubits) long, 4 feet, 6 inches (3 cubits, 4 dactuloi)