The reader will recall that the term Oxyrhynchus (pronounced Oxy-rink-us) is the name of an old city in Egypt. The Oxyrhynchus papyri are simply a collection of writings found in and around that ancient city. The writings cited here are from that collection.

When we cash a check the clerk asks to see our driver's license or some form of picture identification. It's easy to prove who you are in 1997, but what about back in Bible times? The following document summary reveals some interesting facts on how people were identified.

107 B.C. SALE OF LAND "Taous daughter of Harpos, aged about 48 years, of medium height, fair-skinned, round-faced, straight-nosed, with a scar on her forehead, and her sisters Sennesis also called Tatous, daughter of Harpos, aged about 42 years, of medium height, fair-skinned, round-faced, straight nosed, with a scar on her forehead, and Siephmous daughter of Pachnoumis, aged about 20 years, fair-skinned, round-faced, straight nosed, without distinctive mark, all three being Persians..."

112 A.D. RECEIPT OF REPAYMENT OF A LOAN "...Heraclous daughter of Ammonius, aged about 66 years, with a scar in the middle of her forehead, having with her as guardian her son Sabinus son of Didas, aged about 43 years, with a scar in the middle of his forehead, acknowledges to Tasoucharion daughter of Petermouthis son of Posidonius, aged about 60 years, with a scar in the middle of her chin and a mole at the left side of her nose...."

Another insight into ancient times deals with the age old problem people had who could not read or write. Back then, as now, people were hired to do their legal work and then simply placed their "x" or mark at the bottom of the page.

125 A.D. RECEIPT FOR RENT OF LAND "To Serapion, cultivator, greeting. I [Demetria] have received from you all the rent of the land of mine which you cultivated.....I, Arius son of Nearchus, have professed myself guardian of my mother and wrote for her, as she is illiterate."

612 A.D. PROMISE TO BE HONEST "In the name of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, our God and Saviour.....to Flavius Apion the all-honored and most magnificent landowner. I acknowledge to your magnificence through your representatives that if at any season or time I shall be found to have stolen mechanical implements or cattle, or to have committed any theft whatsoever, or to have harboured thieves.....I am bound to deliver...for each infraction 24 gold solidi..." (signed) I, Menas son of Hor. I, John, have written for him, as he is illiterate.

In among the trash heaps, receipts for some very unusual items were discovered.

173 A.D. RECEIPT FOR A MUMMY "..., inhabitant of Acho...in the...nome, pilot of a boat for carrying corpses, to...greeting. I acknowledge that I have received from you the bandaged mummy of..., whom I will transport to the harbour of Kerke in the Memphite nome and deliver to Thakaris, funeral undertaker..."

248 B.C. RECEIPT FOR RENT OF SOWS "Heraclides acknowledges that he has received from Petosiris for the year's rent [of 10 sows] sixteen young pigs.

And this, the last will and testament of a soldier who willed his half-finished dove-cote (pigeon pen) and other ordinary things to his heirs.

126 B.C. "...being sound of body, sane and sensible, has made the following will. May it be mine to own my property in good health, but if I should suffer the lot of man, I bequeath and give my property in land and moveable objects and cattle and whatever I have acquired, first my war-horse and all my armour to Esthaladas my son by my former wife Sarapias.....and the cart with harness and the dove-cote and the other half-finished one and a yard of which the boundaries are..."

Next Week: Personal letters from a schoolboy to his father dated about 200 A.D..

Blessings in your study of God's Word!

Marvin Hunt

There is never a charge for my articles, and if you have a good reason, there is no limit to how many you may request. However, if you find them valuable you may want to order my latest book, History, Mystery and Facts About the Bible. Order at 1-800-845-7618 (ext. 301). You may also order from Amazon.com. Proceeds from the book go to support this ministry.

Blessings!
Marvin Hunt

Http://www.biblehistory.com

p.s. A new column is posted weekly. Be sure and bookmark the site or put it on your favorites list.