182 B.C.E. A Contract for a Loan without Interest

Apollonios son of Protogenes, Jew of the Epigone, has lent to Sostratos son of Neoptolemos, Jew of the epigone, two talents three thousand drachmas of copper money without interest for one year from the date above written on the security of the house belonging to him and its court and all appurtenances situated at Apias in the division of Themistos, of, of which the measurements are, from south to north twenty cubits, from west to east twenty cubits, and the adjacent areas, on the south the house of Sopatra, on the north and east streets, on the west the house of Harpalos and Sostratos [belonging?] to them at the date above written.

Sostratos shall repay this loan to Apollonios shall have the right to lay claim to the security in accordance with the regulation [diagramma]. Sostratos shall guarantee to Apollonios this security and shall produce it unencumbered, unpledged, not liable for another debt, and free from royalties.

[Second Hand:] Though Boubakos also called Stheneus [the notary public].

[Third hand:] Apollonios, aged about 35, tall, fair, with rather bright blue eyes and protruding ears.

Sostratos, aged about 35, of middle height, fair, blue-eyed, with a scar over his right eyebrow.

Source: Joseph Mélèze Modrzejewski. The Jews of Egypt. (p. 114)