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Chester Beatty Library

The Merton Papyri in the Chester Beatty Library

Introduction

Wilfred Merton (1888-1957) was the business partner of Sir Emery Walker, the publisher of nearly all of Alfred Chester Beatty's early catalogues to his collection.

Merton was also a close friend of Chester Beatty and a fellow book collector, specialising in rare Oriental printing and papyri.

In tribute to their long friendship and association, Merton bequeathed many of his books and manuscripts to Beatty on his death in 1957.

The Merton Papyri are, for the most part, Greek documentary papyri, but the collection also includes some Demotic, Coptic and Arabic examples.

They are invaluable records not only because they are dated but also because they provide a very clear account of everyday life in the late Roman era in Egypt. Included are letters from fathers to sons and from husbands to wives, along with the letters of government officials and temple priests, all dealing with the personal minutiae of everyday life - relationships, taxes, death, divorce and slavery.

Death

 

MP009 Notification of Death January AD 12 Tephorsais reports a death to the royal secretary
MP013 Return concerning an inheritance AD 98-102 Thaesis writes to the exegetes concerning her inheritance
MP075 Application for opening of will 2 July AD 181 Heracleides writes to Chaeremon and Theon
MP084 Notification of death AD 201 Theon reports a death to the city scribe

Private Correspondence

 

MP028 Harpochras to Ammonas Late third century AD Harpochras complains about not having heard from Ammonas
MP032 Allous to Morion Early fourth century AD Allous warns Morion that other people are after the site he wants to buy
MP080 Achillas to Apollonius Second century AD Achillas requests Apollonius to attend unfinished business at home
MP082 Nice to Berenice Late second century AD Nice attempts to excuse herself to Berenice - for haphazard delivery service?
MP083 Taos to Agathopus Late second century AD Taos writes about family occurrences
MP085 Hermes Mid third century AD Hermes advises his brother
MP112 Gaianus Second century AD Gaianus scolds his brother for neglecting the family
MP114 Achillas to Sarapias Second century AD Request for fine clothes
MP115 Private letter Fourth century AD Fatherly advice to a younger man

Official family matters

 

MP026 Extract from the minutes of an exegetes 8 February 274 Aurelia Didyme applies for the appointment of her brother as the guardian of an orphaned nephew
MP059 Action before the Chrematistae 154 or 143 BC 'Divorce settlement' between Asclapon and Antigone
MP062 Letter of introduction AD 6 Apollonius introduces Isidorus to the Strategus
MP072 Marriage contract AD 162 Contract between the mothers of Sarapous and Ekysis
MP118 Agreement to nurse a foundling AD 81-2 Nursing of a foundling destined for slavery
MP119 Nursing contract AD 157 Similar to the one above, some interesting differences

Supernatural

 

MP056 Astrological fragment Second century AD Deals with the position of Venus in relation to Saturn and Mars
MP057 Prognostications Second century AD Predictions concerning various things
MP022 Letter from Ptolemaus Second century AD Ptolemaus asks for Apollonius to make a supplication to Sarapis
MP058 Magical charm Early third century AD Charm to bring popularity and success to its owner
MP073 Draft declaration 163-4 AD A young priestess of Athena Thoeris, Isis, Sarapis, etc.
MP081 Epoeris to Demetrius Second century AD Epoeris has consulted the oracle about Demetrius

Professions and trades

 

MP012 Letter to a physician 29 August AD 58 Possible consultation between doctors regarding cauterisation of the feet
MP015 Customs account 1 October AD 114 Account given to the Strategus by the Superintendent of a customs station
MP018 Power of attorney 7 August AD 161 Appointment of the freedman Sarapion as a representative before the prefect
MP019 Sale of a boat 31 March AD 173 Valerius Diodorus, formerly a recorder, member of the Museum, has bought a boat
MP027 Agricultural account Third century AD Ledger of payments in connection with the planting of a vineyard, numerous tasks mentioned
MP033 Receipt for rent 31 October AD 344 Castor the carpet-maker pays his rent
MP041 Orders for payment c. AD 406 Orders for payment to the carpenter and the carpet-maker
MP042 Account of corn 5th century AD Distribution of corn to various people, some listed according to professions
MP044 Order for payment 5th century AD Order for payment to the brick-maker
MP046 Letter of a tax-collector Late 6th century AD It's not always easy to be a tax-collector
MP097 Receipt 6th century AD Payment of labour done on a church by a sawyer-mason
MP127 Accounts of payment 6th century AD Accounts of payment to general assistant messengers

Publications

Idris Bell, H. and Roberts, C. H. (eds) (1948) Descriptive Catalogue of the Greek Papyri in the Collection of Wilfred Merton, F.S.A. Vol. I, London: Emery Walker.

Rees, B. R. Bell, H. I. and Barns, J. W. B. (eds) (1959) Descriptive Catalogue of the Greek Papyri in the Collection of Wilfred Merton, F.S.A. Vol. II. Dublin: Hodges Figgis.

David Thomas, J. (ed.) (1967) Descriptive Catalogue of the Greek Papyri in the Collection of Wilfred Merton, F.S.A. Vol. III, Institute of Classical Studies, Bulletin Supplement No. 18, London: Institute of Classical Studies.