English translation

Translation by: Charlotte Roueché

(Translation taken, with very slight modifications, from Antony Kropff, New English Translation of the Price Edict of Diocletianus)

(Part of the Imperial title): The Emperor Caesar Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletian], dutiful, blessed, unconquered [Augustus, . . . ] and the Emperor Caesar [Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximinian . . . l

(Preamble, II.22): . . . ]nourishment [ . . . moderation] may consider [ . . . ] ought to [ . . .

(Preamble, II.26, and Chapter I, Pulses and cereals, 14-18): . . . ] they could mitigate or satisfy. (Chapter I, 14) [Peas, unshelled] 1 k. mod. 60 denarii; (15) [Chick peas] 1 k. mod. 100 denarii; (16) [Bitter vetch 1 k. mod.] 100 denarii; (17) [Oats 1 k. mod.] 30 [denarii]; (18) [Fenugreek 1 k. mod.] 100 [denarii; . . .

(From Chapter I, Pulses and cereals, lines 21-23): (21) [Kidney] beans, dried [100 denarii;] (22) [Flax]seed [150 denarii;] (23) Rice, hulled [ . . .

(Chapter V, Fish, lines 1a-4): . . . 1a Sea fish, not bony, 1 lb,] 24 denarii; (2) [Sea fish, second quality, 1 lb,] 16 denarii; (3) [River fish, first quality, 1 lb,] 12 denarii; (4) [River fish, second quality, 1 lb,] 8 denarii; [ . . .

(Chapter XII, Timber, lines 3-4): . . . (3) Fir planks, 40 cubits long, 4 cubits in perimeter,] 30.000 denarii; (4) [Fir planks, 35 cubits long, 80 digiti] in perimeter, [12.000 denarii; . . .

(Chapter XV, Wagons, metals etc.: ): . . . ] copper [ . . . ] copper [ . . . ] copper [ . . . ] copper [ . . .

(Chapter XIX, Clothing, lines 11 to 36): (11) Close fitting strictoria with coloured bands] 6.000 denarii; (12) [Dalmaticomafor]tium (i.e. hooded wide garment with sleeves)), part silk, with light purple bands, one pound, 44.000 denarii; (13) [Dalmat]icomafortium, part silk, part wool from Mutina, with light purple bands, one pound, 46.000 denarii; (14) [Dalmatic]omafortium, part silk, part ‘sea wool’ (wool made from the byssus thread of the Pinna nobilis mussel shell) with light purple bands, as above, 48.000 denarii; (15) Men’s silk [dalmatica] with dark purple bands, [?one] pound, 50.000 denarii; (16) Men ’s silk dalmaticomafortium with coloured bands, two pounds, 135.000 denarii; (17) [ . . ] for incomplete items the same calculation of silk of the value of the dyeing must be made (18) Silk strictoria (i.e. close fitting undershirt with sleeves) with purple bands, weighing six unciae, 40.000 denarii; (19) Silk, [without bands, . . . ] 45.000 denarii; (20) . . . ] quality of the wool [ . . . and the quantity of the gold thread] and the embroidering may be taken into account (21) [Cloak of wool from Mutin]a, double, purple bands, dyed once … (22) Again cloak [ . . . ] (23) Cloak of wool from Mutina, single, with purple bands... 5 unciae, [ . . . (24) Women’s garment closed with clasps from Mutina, single, with purple bands, once dyed, [ . . . ] unciae [ . . . ] (25) Women’s garment closed with clasps from Laodicea, of wool from Mutina or Laodicea, single], as above, four unciae, 40[ . . denarii; (26) Cloak of wool from Mutina or Laodicea, single [ . . . ] unciae, 15.000 denarii; (27) Women’s garment closed with clasps [ . . . ] with purple bands, first [ . . . ]four unciae 4.000 denarii; (28) Cover from Britannia, first quality, 5.000 denarii; (29) Second quality, 4.000 denarii; (30) Cover from Cappadocia or Pontica, first quality 3.000 denarii; (31) Second quality 2.000 denarii; (32) [Cover] from Egypt 1.750 denarii; (33) [Cover from . . . ] 4.000 denarii; (34) [Cover from . . . for covering a reclining dinner sofa] 4.500 denarii; (35) [Cover from Africa] 1.500 denarii; (36) [Covers are to be sold according to the value of the weight of the wool] and the dyeing [ . . .

(XIX, 43-53): ?five denarii [ . . . ], ?twelve denarii; [ . . . ], 8,000 denarii; [ . . . ], 10,000 denarii; [ . . . ], 6,000 denarii; [ . . . ], 6,000 denarii; [ . . .

(XIX, 73 - XXII, 17): 73b Dalmaticomafortium from the wool of hares with [purple] bands, one pound, 7.000 denarii. (Chapter XX, Clothing workers) [For (i.e. wages for)] embroiderers and silk workers: (1a) [For embroidery] on a close fitting strictoria, part silk, for one uncia of thread [200 denarii]; (2) For embroidery on a close fitting strictoria, pure silk, for one uncia of thread [300 denarii]; (3) For embroidery on a light cloak of wool from Mutina, for one uncia of thread 25 denarii; (4) For embroidery on a light cloak from Laodiceia, as above, for one uncia of thread 25 denarii; (5) For a brocade maker, working in gold thread, for work of the best quality, or one uncia of thread 1.000 denarii; (6) For work of the second quality, for one uncia of thread 750 denarii; (7) For a brocade maker, on pure silk, for one uncia of thread 500 denarii; (8) For work of second quality, for one uncia of thread 400 denarii; (9) Silk worker on part silk, with maintenance, for a day 25 denarii; (10) On pure silk, with maintenance, for a day 25 denarii; (11) On pure silk, checkered, with maintenance, for a day 40 denarii; (12) Woman weaver of tunics of soft cloth, according to the indictio (i.e. tax regulations), with maintenance, for a day 12 denarii; (13) Of tunics of cloth from Mutina and other places, with maintenance, for a day 16 denarii; (Chapter XXI, Wool weavers) (1) For a wool weaver, working in wool from Mutina or ‘sea wool’ with maintenance, for 1 lb 40 denarii; (2) Working in wool from Tarentum, Laodiceia or Altinum, for 1 lb 30 denarii; (3) Working in wool of the second quality, for 1 lb 20 denarii; (4) Working in wool of the third, coarse quality, for 1 lb 15 denarii; (5) For a linen weaver for first quality work, with maintenance, for a day 40 denarii; (6) For second quality work, with maintenance, for a day 20 denarii; (Chapter XXII, Fullers). For (i.e. wages for) fullers (1a) Fuller, for a new light cloak, as described in the indictio, 50 denarii; (2) For a new strictoria as described in the indictio 25 denarii; (3) For a shirt without decoration, of coarser wool 20 denarii; (4) For a new cover 30 denarii; (5) For a new dalmaticomafortium of coarser wool 50 denarii; (6) For a new dalmaticomafortium of pure soft-finished wool 100 denarii; (7) For a new strictoria of pure soft-finished wool 50 denarii; (8) For a man’s new dalmatica, part silk 200 denarii; (9) For a new strictoria, part silk 175 denarii; (10) For a new strictoria, part silk, without purple bands 125 denarii; (11) For [a new dalmaticomafortium, part silk 300 denarii;] (12) For [a man’s new dalmatica in pure silk 400 denarii;] (13) For [a new dalmaticomafortium, pure silk 600 denarii;] (14) For [a new strictoria, pure silk 250 denarii;] (15) For [a new strictoria, pure silk, without purple bands 200 denarii;] (16) For [a new light cloak, double, of wool from Mutina 500 denarii;] (17) For [a new light cloak, single, of wool from Mutina 250 denarii;]

(Chapter XXIV: Purple): . . . ] purple [ . . . ] purple [ . . . ] purple [ . . .

(From Chapter XXVI, Linen): . . . ] from Tarsus, Alexandrian [ . . . ] dalmatic (i.e. wide-sleeved tunic) [ . . .

(Chapter XXVIII, Linens, lines 45-47): (45) Third quality [1 150 denarii;] (46) Bed ticking [and pillow ticking from Tralles or Antinoe 2.750 denarii;] (47) From Damascus [ . . .

(Chapter XXX, Gold and silver, lines 2-4) (2): . . . Spun gold 1 lb,] 12.000 denarii; (3) [Goldsmith working in gold,] 1 lb, [5.000 denarii; (4) [Gold cutters making gold foil,] 1 lb, [10,000] denarii; [ . . .

(From Chapter XXXI: Slaves): On the price of slaves. [ . . . ? male] slaves [ . . . ] from the age of [- . . .

(Z.g: Unidentified): . . . ], fifty [ . . . -]ty [ . . . ] fifty thousand? [ . . .

Commentary

This text has been greatly enhanced by Benet Salway, drawing on the work of Michael Crawford.

On section XXXI see Salway (2010), 4-5.

Images

None available (2020).