[B-Greek] The Edict of Vibius Maximus

Richard Ghilardi qodeshlayhvh at juno.com
Mon Jan 24 14:28:26 EST 2005


Hello Folks,

Below is the edict of Vibius Maximus and my English rendering. I am
soliciting comments and corrections on my translation. You should know
that this translation was made many years ago when I was much less
familiar with Greek. (Not that I'm intimately acquainted with it now.)
You should also know that I have never seen an English translation of
this edict. At this point my translation strikes me as somewhat opaque.

GAIOS OUIBIOS MAXIMOS EPARCOS AIGUPTOU LEGEI` THS KAT' OIKIAN APOGRAFHS
ENESTWSHS, ANAGKAION ESTIN PASIN TOIS KAQ' hHNTINA DHPOTE AITIAN
APODHMOUSIN APO TWN NOMWN PROSAGGELLESQAI EPANELQEIN EIS TA hEAUTWN
EFESTIA, hINA KAI THN SUNHQH OIKONOMIAN THS APOGRAFHS PLHRWSWSIN KAI THi
PROSHKOUSHi AUTOIS GEWRGIAi PROSKARTERHSWSIN. EIDWS MENTOI hOTI ENIWN TWN
APO THS CWRAS hH POLIS hHMWN ECEI CREIAN, BOULOMAI PANTAS TOUS EULOGON
DOKOUNTAS ECEIN TOU ENQADE EPIMENIN AITIAN APOGRAFESQAI PARA BOULOUS
FHSTW EPARCWI EILHS, hON EPI TOUTW ETAXA, hOU KAI TAS hUPOGRAFAS hOI
APODEIXANTES ANAGKAIAN hAUTWN THN PAROUSIAN LHMYONTAI KATA TOUTO TO
PARAGGELMA ENTOS THS TRIAKADOS TOU ENESTWTOS MHNOS EPEIF...

Gaius Vibius Maximus govenor of Egypt declares: Since there is to be a
census taken of each family, all those who are residing outside their
legal jurisdiction, for whatever reason it may be, must announce their
return to their own homes so that the household may contain the customary
complement of persons for the registry and so that such persons may
identify themselves with the farmlands addressed to them. I realize,
however, that our city needs some of the goods which the hinterland
produces. Therefore I want all those who deem it prudent to remain there
to register their excuse with Boulus Festus the commander of the cohort,
whom I appointed for this purpose. From him, in turn, those who can
demonstrate the necessity of their presence [in the countryside] will
receive official, written documention [to the same] per this edict, this
being the thirtieth day of the present month Epiphi...

Thanks in advance to all who help me out!

Yours in His grace,

Richard Ghilardi - qodeshlayhvh at juno.com
New Haven, Connecticut USA


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