Land and Taxes in Ptolemaic Egypt
An Edition, Translation and Commentary for the Edfu Land Survey (P. Haun. IV 70)

This edition of a Greek papyrus land survey presents a detailed picture of landholding in Upper Egypt under the Ptolemies.

Thorolf Christensen (Edited and translated by), Dorothy J. Thompson (Edited and translated by), Katelijn Vandorpe (Edited and translated by)

9781107159105, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 12 October 2017

190 pages, 19 b/w illus. 1 map 31 tables
25.4 x 18 x 1.5 cm, 0.59 kg

This book provides the first edition with an extensive introduction and full commentary of a unique land survey written on papyrus in Greek which derives from that area of southern (Upper) Egypt known as the Apollonopolite (or Edfu) nome and is now preserved in Copenhagen. Dating from the late second century BC, this survey provides a new picture of both landholding and taxation in the area which differs significantly from that currently accepted. The introduction sets this new evidence in its contemporary context, drawing particular attention to what it reveals about the nature of the relations of the Ptolemaic royal administration with local grandees, Egyptian temples and the army. No student of Hellenistic Egypt can afford to ignore this text, which importantly extends our knowledge of Upper Egypt under the Ptolemaic kings and involves some modification to the prevailing picture of landholding in Hellenistic Egypt.

Part I. Introduction to the Edfu Land Survey: 1. The Edfu land survey in context
2. Acquisition and physical description
3. Date and nature of the survey
4. Survey operations and the officials involved
5. Fiscal land categories
6. Taxes
7. Condition and use of the land
8. Historical discussion
9. Overview of the Edfu land survey
Part II. Text and Translation: Part III. Commentary.

Subject Areas: Economic history [KCZ], Ancient Egyptian religion & mythology [HRKP1], Egyptian archaeology / Egyptology [HDDG], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA], History: earliest times to present day [HBL], Humanities [H]