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

Veterans 229
bought previously from Prapetheus, mother of Thaseus, also a third portion
of the palm grove which I have close to the canal which is called (col. ii)
Old Canal. I wish my body to be borne out and laid out for burial through
the care and piety of my heirs. If, after this, I leave anything written in my
own hand, written in any manner whatsoever, I wish it to be valid. May
malice and fraud be absent from this will.
When this will had been made, Julius Petronianus bought the
household effects for one sestertius, Gaius Lucretius Saturnilus held
the scales. (Confirmed). Marcus Sempronius Heraclianus was
summoned to act as witness. (Confirmed).
The will was made in the village of Karanis in the Arsinoite nome,
on 17 October(?), in the consulship of the two Silani (AD 189), year
30 of Emperor Caesar Marcus Aurelius Commodus Antoninus Pius
Fortunate Augustus, Conqueror of the Armenians, Conqueror of the
Medes, Conqueror of the Parthians, Conqueror of the Sarmatians,
Conqueror of the Germans, 21 Hathyr.
If I leave any additional document written in my own hand, I wish it
to be valid.
The will was opened and read in the metropolis of the Arsinoite
nome in the forum of Augustus, at the office of the five per cent tax on
inheritances and manumissions on 21 February, in the consulship of
the present consuls, in year 2 (194) of Emperor Caesar Lucius Septimius
Severus Pertinax Augustus, 27 Mecheir. The remainder who had affixed
their seal: Gaius Longinus Acylas. (Confirmed). Julius Volusius, Marcus
Antistius Petronianus, Julius Gemellus, veteran.
Translation of the tablets of codicils.
I, Gaius Longinus Castor, veteran, honourably discharged from the
praetorian fleet at Misenum, made the codicils. I have appointed Marcus
Sempronius Heraclianus, my worthy friend, to act as administrator of
my property according to his own good faith. I give and bequeath to
my kinsman Julius Serenus four thousand sesterces. I wrote this in my
own hand on 7 February. Sealed by: Longinus Acylas and Valerius
Priscus. Those who affixed their seals: Gaius Longinus Acylas.
(Confirmed). Julius Philoxenus, Gaius Lucretius Saturnilus.
(Confirmed). Gaius Longinus Castor, Julius Gemellus, veteran. They
were opened and read on the same day on which the will was opened.
(Second hand) I, Gaius Lucius Geminianus, skilled in Roman law,
translated the preceding copy, and it tallies with the original will.
(On the back) Of Gaius Longinus Castor.
This will was written in Latin and then translated into Greek after it was opened.
Castor, who had settled in Egypt after serving in the fleet at Misenum, owned