Michigan Papyrus Collection

Social Status

 

Alexandrians- Citizens of Alexandria were extremely priveleged. First, they were exempt from the poll tax altogether. Furthermore, they did not have to pay taxes on their lands within Alexandria, and were exempt from liturgies, or compulsory public service, in territories outside of Alexandria, in which they owned land. Finally, citizens could serve in Roman legions, thus providing them with Roman citizenship.

 

Antinoites- The city of Antinooupolis was founded by the emperor Hadrian in 130 AD to commemorate his late companion, Antinous. Citizens of this city, and other Greek cities, such as Ptolemais and Naukratis, enjoyed the institutions of the Greek poleis. They were divided into tribes and demes, had assemblies, councils, magistrates, and gymnasia. Antinooupolis was further priveledged in that they were exempt from liturgies in other cities, were allowed to intermarry with Egyptians, and exempt from property purchase tax.

 

Apator- Translated as children of an unknown father. Oftentimes the father was known, but the father was an individual who could not enter into marriage, such as a soldier in the Roman army.

 

Aphelix- Children under the age of 14. Upon reaching the age of 14, the child was entered into the register of those who were to pay the poll tax.

 

Freedmen- Slaves were often freed by their owners in wills or could buy their freedom from the extra earnings they were allowed in such duties as managing their masters shops, etc.

 

Metropolites- Inhabitants of the nome centers, (the districts into which Egypt was divided). They recieved such priveleges as a reduced rate in the poll tax.

 

Perses tes epigones- An individual of Persian descent. In the Roman Period, they take on the position of an individual of lower status in loan contracts, although it is unclear what the connotations of this might be.

 

Roman Citizens- Once granted Roman citizenship, an individual obtained certain legal and tax priveleges. They were allowed the right to follow Roman laws in marriages, wills and contracts such as loans. Roman citizens were exempt from the poll tax altogether until the third century AD when the emperor Caracalla granted the entire empire Roman citizenship.

 

Slaves- Slaves came from all over the Mediterranean. In Egypt, they were used as labor less often for agricultural work and more for work within the household or as labor trained in a specific skill, such as weaving.

 

Veteran- Once a veteran, if not already granted to them, an individual recieved Roman citizenship. Being a Roman citizen meant that the veteran received immunity from the poll tax, and enjoyed Roman laws. In addition they were able to enter into marriage, whereas as a soldier, this was not permitted to them.

 

Villagers- A large portion of Egypts peasant class were villagers, of whom many were farmers. However, villages were like microcosms of the metropoleis, and as such, they were hosts to a variety of professions and classes. Thus we find not only farmers and native Egyptians, but artisans, Greeks, and Romans.