Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 154 (P. Oxy. 154 orP. Oxy. I 154) is an account listing various payments, written inGreek and discovered inOxyrhynchus. The manuscript was written onpapyrus in the form of a sheet. The document was written in the late 6th century. Currently it is housed in theEgyptian Museum (10102) inCairo.[1]
Therecto side of this papyrus contains a list of payments of wine, oil, meat, etc., to various people. Theverso contains a list of receipts and payments, partly in wheat and partly in money. The accounts on the verso side are of particular interest because of their comparisons between the relative values of different types ofsolidi. The measurements of the fragment are 300 by 545 mm.[2]
It was discovered byGrenfell andHunt in 1897 in Oxyrhynchus. The text was published by Grenfell and Hunt in 1898.[2]
Given to Andronicus the sailor 70artabae, and to Anoup and John, lawyers (?) and contractors of the racecourse, as payment for the 11th indiction, 60artabae of wheat, remainder482+3⁄4 artabae, 1choenix of wheat. This, at 1solidus less 4carats on the private standard for every 10artabae, is equivalent to48+9⁄32solidi less 193 carats on the private standard, that is, less289+1⁄2 carats or12+3⁄48solidi on the public standard, making36+7⁄32 puresolidi on the public standard, which are equivalent to36+15⁄32solidi on the Alexandrian standard.[3]
To the banker12+1⁄8solidi on the Alexandrian standard, also 1solidus less 4 carats on the private standard, which is equivalent to+87⁄96solidus on the standard of Alexandria, total13+1⁄32solidi on the Alexandrian standard, leaving23+7⁄16solidi on the Alexandrian standard.[4][2]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: B. P. Grenfell; A. S. Hunt (1898).Oxyrhynchus Papyri I. London: Egypt Exploration Fund.