Price edict of the emperor Diocletian.
created: From transcription and previous publications (Reynolds)
source date: 301 CE
language: ar; en; fr; de; grc; grc-Latn; el; he
availability: Creative Commons licence Attribution UK 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/uk/) All reuse or distribution of this work must contain somewhere a link back to the URL http://inslib.kcl.ac.uk/

Bibliography

Fragments A-V: Published [...], whence [...] 1956.113. X-Y: Published [...], 47, a and b; Z.e-g published, and other fragments revised in brief by [...], and, more fully, [...]; from these [...], Ptolemais I-XVI. Discussed by M. H. Crawford (forthcoming with the publication of the copy of the edict from Aphrodisias). Mentioned [...], 103

[Part of the first two lines of the Imperial titles, immediately preceding the Preamble] [...] Diocletianus Pius Felix inuictus Augustus pontifex maximus [...] [...] [Maximianus] [...] [...]

[Preamble, II.22] [...] [...]species uictui adque usui [...] temperamentum existumauerit [...] [...]esse debeat inferentis [...] [...]

[Preamble, II.26, and Chapter I, lines 14-18] [...] [...] mitigare aut satiare potuerunt unum sexaginta unum centum unum centum unum triginta unum centum [...]

[Chapter I, lines 21-23] [...] Fasioli sicci [...] Lini seminis [...] oryzae mundae [...] [...]

[Chapter V, lines 1a-4] [...] piscis aspratilis marini Italicum pondo unum uiginti quattuor piscis secundi Italicum pondo unum sedecim piscis flubialis optimi Italicum pondo unum duodecim piscis secundi flubialis Italicum pondo unum octo [...]

[Chapter XII (Crawford Chapter 23), lines 3-4] [...] cubitorum numero quadraginta latitudinis suprascriptae triginta milibus cubitorum numero triginta quinque latitudinis per quadrum digitorum octoginta duodecim milibus [...]

[From Chapter XV (Crawford Chapter 36)] [...] aeramentum [...] aeramentum [...] aeramentum [...] aeramentum [...] [...]

[Chapter XIX (Crawford Chapter 49), lines 11 to 36] [...] [11] sex milibus [12] Dalmaticomafortium subsericum aluum clavans purpurae hypoblattae libram unam quadraginta quattuor milibus [13 a-b] Dalmaticomafortium Mutinense subsericum clavans purpurae hypoblattae libram unam quadraginta sex milibus [14 c] Dalmaticomafortium marinum subsericum ut supra quadraginta octo milibus [15 d-e] Dalmatica holoserica uirilis clavans purpurae blattae [...] libram quinquaginta milibus [16 f] Dalmaticomafortium holosericum aluum clavans purpurae libras duas centum triginta quinque milibus [17 g-h] item de aliis infectis eadem holoserica habita ratione tincturae sic distrahi debent [18, i] Strictoria holoserica clavans purpurae [...] uncias sex quadraginta [...] milibus [19, k] Asema holoserica [...] quadraginta quinque milibus [20, l-n] episemae secundum qualitatem lanae pondus auri et habita ratione mensurae auri et plumaturae distrahi poterunt [21, o-p] Chlamys Mutinensis duplex clavans hapliae secundae uncias [...] d[...] [22, q] Autem clavantes p[...]ui[...]i [...] purpurae distrahuntur [23, r] Chlamys Mutinensis simplex clavans purpurae [...] uncias quinque [...] [24, s] Fibulatorium Mutinense simplex [...] clavans purpurae hapliae [...] [25, t] Fibulatorium Ladicenum simplex ex lanis Mutinensibus et Ladicenis hapliae clavans uncias quattuor quadraginta [26, u-v] Chlamys simplex ex lanis Mutinensibus et Ladicenis clavans hapliae uncias [...] quindecim milibus [27, w] Fibulatorium Ladicenum clavans purpurae [...] primae uncias quattuor quattuor milibus [28, 17] Tapete Britannicum primae formae quinque milibus [29, 18] Formae secundae quattuor milibus [30, 19]Tapete Cappadocicum siue Ponticum formae primae tribus milibus [31, 20] Formae secundae duobus milibus [32, 21] Tapete Aegyptium mille septingentis quinquaginta [33, 22] Tapete cavallaricum quadringentis [34, 23] Tapete accubitale singulum quattuor milibus quingentis [35, 24] Tapete Africanum millequingentis [36, 25] Stragula secundum pondus plumaturae et lanae distrahi debent

[XIX, 43-53: Crawford Chapter 49, lines 40-46] paragaudae Laodicenae addito pretio purpurae reliqua inputanda sunt byrrus Nerbicus leoninus optimus quindecim milibus byrrus Taurogastricus duodecim byrrus Ripensis octo milibus byrrus Noricus decem milibus byrrus Britannicus sex milibus byrrus Meditomagensis sex milibus [...]

[Chapter XIX, line 74 - Chapter XXII, line 17: Crawford Chapter 49, line 73-Chapter 52, line 17] [74 = 63] Dalmaticomafortium leporinum clavans purpurae pondum unum semis septem milibus [Chapter XX] De mercedibus plumariorum et sericariorum [1a] Plumario in strictoria subserica pro uncia una ducentos [2] In strictoria holoserica per singulas uncias trecentos [3] In chlamydem Mutinensi in uncia una uiginti quinque [4] In chlamydem Ladicena ut supra in uncia una uiginti quinque [5] Barbaricario ex auro faciente operis primi in uncia una mille [6] Operis secundi septingentos quinquaginta [7] Barbaricario in holoserica in uncia una quingentos [8] Operis secundi in uncia una quadringentos [9] Sericario in subserica pasto diurnos uiginti quinque [10] In holoserica pura pasto diurnos uiginti quinque [11] In holoserica scutulata quadraginta [12] Gerdiae pastae in tunica pexa indictionali duodecim [13] In tunicis Mutinensibus uel ceteris pastae sedecim [XXI] [1a] Lanario in lana Mutinensi uel marina pasto in pondum unum quadraginta [2] In lana Terentina uel Ladicena uel Altinata in pondum unum triginta [3] In lana sequenti in pondum unum uiginti [4] In lana grossa in pondum unum quindecim [5] Linteoni diurnos in opere primo pasto diurnos quadraginta [6] In opere secundo pasto uiginti [XXII] [1] De fullonibus [1a] Fulloni in chlamyde indictionali rudi quinquaginta [2] In strictoria indictionali rudi uigintiquinque [3] In asema ex lanis grossioribus uiginti [4] In rachana rudi triginta [5] In dalmaticomafortio grossiori rudi quinquaginta [6] In dalmaticomafortio pexo tenuiori rudi centum [7] In strictoria pexa tenui rudi quinquaginta [8] In dalmatica uirili subserica rudi ducentos [9] In strictoria subserica rudi centum septuaginta quinque [10] In asema subserica rudi centum uiginti quinque [11] In dalmaticomafortio subserico rudi [300 denarii] [12] In dalmatica holoserica uirili rudi [400 denarii] [13] In dalmaticomafortio holoserico rudi [600 denarii] [14] In strictoria holoserica rudi [250 denarii] [15] In asema holoserica rudi [200 denarii] [16] In chlamyde Mutinensi duplici rudi [500 denarii] [17] In chlamyde Mutinensi simplici rudi [250 denarii]

[From Chapter XXIV: Crawford Chapter 54] [...] purpura [...] purpura [...] purpura [...] [...]

[From Chapter XXVI: Crawford Chapter 56] [...] Tarsico Alexandrinarum[...] Dalmaticarum[...] [...]

[Chapter XXVIII, lines 45-47: Crawford Chapter 56, lines 240-242] [...] formae tertiae item culcita [...] milibus Damascena [...] [...]

[Chapter XXX, lines 2-4: Crawford Chapter 58] [...] [...]pondo unum septuaginta duobus milibus [...]is in pondo unum quinque milibus [...] Auricaesoribus in pondo unum tria milia [...]

[Chapter XXXI, lines 1-3: Crawford Chapter 60] [...] de pretiis mancipiorum [...] mancipium rusticum siue urbanum virilis sexus ab annis sedecim ad annos quadraginta [...]

[Chapter XII: Crawford Chapter 24, lines 9-11] cum ferro quadringentis Paloredica sine ferro decem [...]is cum ferro quinquaginta [...]

[...] [...] quinquaginta [...] [...]ginta [...] [...]milibus quingentis[...] [...]

[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 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 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 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 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 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 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.