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

Veterans 207
veterans from different arms of the service (cf. text no. 329). It may be that the
privileges in text no. 336 were restricted to legionary and praetorian veterans,
or perhaps there were special arrangements in Egypt (see text no. 339). The
second papyrus (b) seems to be a record kept by the soldiers of several meetings
with the prefect in respect of their petitions; the last encounter probably refers
to the meeting described by papyrus (a). It is obscure how the veterans had
organized themselves for this joint petition, but significant that they were able
to approach the prefect directly and apparently wait in the camp for a reply.
338 SB 12508, papyrus, Egypt, AD 149
Copy. Aurelius Petronius [ _ _ _ ] to Diophantus, royal scribe of the
[Arsinoite nome, Heracleides district], greetings. Achillas, son of
Harpocrates, cavalryman of the ala of Vocontians—before his military
service his name was Oronnous son of Rapalios (?) and Tamestremphi—
residing in the village of Syngna, is recorded as having served in the
army for more than twenty-five years. It is proper therefore to write to
you that in accordance with the grant of our mighty Emperor he has
been released from payment of the poll tax. Farewell.
(Second hand) I pray that you are well.
(Third hand) Year 13 of Emperor Caesar Titus Aelius Hadrian
Antoninus Augustus Pius, on 4 Phaophi.
339 SP 285=Daris, Documenti 105, papyrus, Arsinoite nome, Egypt,
AD 172
[ _ _ _ ] from Gaius Julius Apollinarius, veteran, landholder in the
village of Karanis. It has been laid down, sir, that veterans after their
discharge have a period of five years’ respite (from compulsory public
services). In contravention of this ruling I was threatened after two
years of my respite and was arbitrarily chosen for compulsory public
service, and up until the present moment I have been continuously
performing compulsory public service without a break. Treatment like
this is entirely forbidden even in the case of the native population, and
the rule ought to be much more strictly observed in my case since I
have served for such a long time in the army. Therefore I have been
forced to have recourse to you with my just petition, and I request that
you secure for me an equivalent period of respite in accordance with
the rules about this, so that I may be able to look after my own property,
since I am now an old man on my own, and that I may be thankful to
your fortune for ever. Farewell.
(Second hand) I, Gaius Apollinarius have presented this (petition).
(Third hand) Year 12, 29 Mecheir.