Your Day in the Ancient Greek World

December 20

December 20 in ancient Greece is represented in our source-audited archive by 2 verified records spanning AD 141 to AD 164. Together, the entries below connect this calendar date with different moments in the ancient Greek world through historical and documentary evidence.

Across the centuries

On This Day

  1. AD 141

    Life on This Day

    Roman Egypt Family & Relationships High

    Officials Verify the Status of a Fourteen-Year-Old Boy

    On December 20, AD 141, a Greek petition concerned Anubas as he entered his fourteenth year and the official verification of his status. The document shows how age and civic identity could trigger bureaucracy.

    Sources

    Primary evidence

    • British Library Greek status petition concerning Anubas

    Modern scholarship

    • British Library Archives and Manuscripts catalogue

    Public links

  2. AD 164

    Life on This Day

    Syene, Roman Egypt Economy & Trade High

    Psentisatis Pays Five Drachmas and One Obol in Poll Tax

    On December 20, AD 164, a complete Greek ostracon records Psentisatis son of Sarapion and Thinpachnoubis paying five drachmas and one obol in poll tax through officials of the Sacred Gate of Syene.

    Sources

    Primary evidence

    • APF 63 (2017), no. 9; Ostr. Cairo EM SR 18955

    Modern scholarship

    • Shereen A. Aly, Nine Greek Ostraca from the Egyptian Museum
    • Texts & Scripts from Elephantine

    Public links