Aims
Objectives
Lecture summary
Lecture structure
Further work

Aims
To explore the varied archaeological and epigraphic material preserved at Karanis
To further understanding of the problems of studying the site and the opportunities that the site presents
To increase understanding of the realities of archaeological investigation
To provide an insight into the culture of a village in the Roman period.

Objectives
By the end of this session, students should be better able to

• understand the culture of a Roman village in Egypt
  
• discuss epigraphic and archaeological material and the problems of interpretation of such material
  
• search for more material on Egyptian villages
  
• assess social relations within an Egyptian village
  
• understand the economics of an Egyptian village
  
• use epigraphic material to assess cultural values.

Lecture summary
This lecture introduces students to Karanis, a site mentioned already in discussions of houses. It attempts to give a brief history of the excavation at the site and orientate the students as to the material available from karanis both in its range and amount. It will look at the problems of interpreting such material, specifically the archaeological material, before turning to what we can understand of the society of Roman Karanis. We shall examine the small epigraphic corpus from the village to assess the public culture and look to see what kinds of information can be used to assess the private culture of the village, if any. Then we shall look at social relations within the village, looking at a single document, before making suggestions for comparison with other villages.

Lecture Structure

Importance and Location

Early exploration

                Grenfell and Hunt (1903) P. Fayum Towns 932.006EGY

                University of Michigan excavations

                                Problems

                                               Sebakh

                                               Periodicity

                                                               Archaeological reports

                                                               Numismatic finds

                                                               Pottery

                                                               Lamps

                                               Quantity of material

                                               How to?

Population                145-6: 3,316

                                171-4: 1,907-2,135

                Manufacture

                Trade

                Agriculture: Types of crops: Other foods

                Economic Structures

Public Culture

                Temples

SB VIII 10166:AD 61

For Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus Imperator and all his house. To Pnepheros and Petesouchos, great gods, when Iulius Vestinus was prefect, year 7 of the holy Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus Imperator, Epeiph 13.

SB VIII.9818 AD 73

For the emperor Caesar Vespasianus Augustus and emperor Titus Caesar and Domitianus Caesar and all their house, under Tiberius Iulius Lupus, prefect, dedication of the temple to Pnepheros and Petesouchos and the temple-sharing deities, great great great. Phamenoth of 5 year Emperor Caesar Vespasian Augustus.

SB VIII 10167 AD 69-79

For the Emperor Caesar Vespasian Augustus and all j=his house to Pnepheros and Petesouchos and all the temple-sharing deities, great, the dining hall. Year 3.....
d

SB VIII 10168 AD 180

Year 10 Lucius Aurelius Commodus Augustus, Mersore by the old calendar 13. For Lucius Aurelius Commodus Caesar, fortune and [ ], to Petesouchos and Pnepheros, great gods, for good.

SB VIII10169 AD190

For the emperor Caesar Marcus Aurelius Comodos Antoninus Caesar, the lord, Fortunate, Blessed and Augustus, year 20, Epeiph, to Petesouchos, great god and Pnepheros, the propylon Apollonios restored from the destruction of time from his own resources, for good.

SB I1542 AD 190ac

Apollonios, sitologos, put this up, for good.

SB III 6672

Lucius Valerius Serenus soldier of Legion II Traiana fortis put this up in righteous thanks for good. Year 19, Phamenoth 11

SB III 6673

Lucius Valerius Serenus soldier of legion II Traiana fortis of the century of Aurelius Apollodoroa, erected the dromos from his own resources, for good.

Private culture

                Greek and Roman deities

                Household gods

                Greek language and literature

                Culture of houses

Relationships

                Neighbours and friends

                Roman soldiers

P. Mich. III 169: Text from:

Web Link

Sempronia Gemella, under the guardianship of Gaius Iulius Saturninus, called to witness those who were about to affix their seals, that on the twelfth day before the Kalends of April just past she brought forth twin sons from uncertain father, and that these are named Marcus Sempronius Sarapion and Marcus Sempronius Sokration, the sons of [Spurius]; and she said that she had employed these written testimonies for this reason, because the Aelian-Sentian and the Papian-Poppaean laws forbid that illegitimate sons and daughters be registered in the public record; on this matter two (pairs of?) tablets were written on the same model (?). Dated at Alexandria on the coast of Egypt on the third day before the Kalends of May in the fourth consulship of the Emperor Caesar Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius and the second of Marcus Aurelius Caesar, in the eighth year of the Emperor Caesar Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius, on the fourth day of the month Pachon. (Witnesses - Page IV, on wood) (Seals of) Marcus Vibius Pollio; of Marcus Octavius Serenus; of Lucius Aemilius Maximus; of Lucius Aponius Saturninus; of Gaius Aebutius Saturninus; of Marcus(?) Vibius Eucharistus(?); of Marcus Holconius Ampliatus

(Greek summary - Page I, on wood) I, Sempronia Gemella, with my guardian Gaius Iulius Satornilos, gave testimony that twin sons were born from unknown father and that these are named Marcus Sempronius Sarapion and Marcus Sempronius Sokration, the sonsof Spurius, as described above. I, Gaius Iulius Satornilos, was appointedher guardian, and I wrote for her since she does not know letters.

                Philadelphia

Conclusions

See Gazda’s exhibition catalogue with numerous illustrations here.

Essay 4. What can the archaeology of Roman Karanis tell us about life in an Egyptian village?

or as background to 6. Did the veterans and soldiers form an elite within Egypt?

Things to consider: how does Karanis compare with other villages

see

http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/archaeology/ismant.htm

http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/hss/rare/xegycat.htm

http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/APIS/tebtunis.html (for Tebtunis with links)

http://siba2.unile.it/images/papiri/backias.html (in Italian but with good pictures)