1See for example Lacey 1968; Bradley 1991, p. 149-167; Dixon 1992.

2See, for example, Dixon 1997 and the recent volume of Pimentel, Simoes Rodrigues 2018.

3Inscriptions from various areas of the Greco-Roman world also offer us a glimpse into everyday family relations in other parts of the Roman empire.

4See Bengtson, Giarrusso, Mabry, Silverstein 2002; Huebner 2013, p. 10.

5On census returns in Roman Egypt, see Bagnall, Frier 1994. See Huebner 2013, p. 144-150 on the percentage of married women living with a parent-in-law recorded in the census returns of Roman Egypt.

6On marital disputes in papyri, see Arnaoutoglou 1995; Thoma 2023.

7Huebner 2013, p. 141; Thoma 2024, p. 146-147.

8On conflict between parents and children in Roman family, see Evans-Grubbs 2005.

9Huebner 2013, p. 142; Thoma 2024 p. 145-146, 152.

10On inheritance disputes between family members in Roman Egypt see, for example, Thoma 2019, p. 476-480 with further bibliography.

11Papyri of the Roman period indicate that inheritance was partible and sons as well as daughters inherited. In rural families the Egyptian practice to give the eldest son a double share is also attested.

12See Thoma 2019, p. 478-480.

13Cf., for example, O. Ber. 2.129 (50-75 AD). On the complaints about lack of communication between the correspondents in papyrus letters, see, among others, Koskenniemi 1956, p. 64-77; Stowers 1986, p. 86-87; Papathomas 2006, p. 2, 7 (introd. and. note on CPR XXV 1.9-10); Clarysse 2017, p. 65-66; Thoma 2020, p. 59-60, 64.

14Cf. for example P.Col. 8.227.10-12 (end of 2nd/beginning of 3rd cent. AD): καὶ μὴ ἐξέστω αὐ̣[τῷ ἄλλην γυναῖκα ἐπ]|[ει]σάγειν ἐπʼ αὐτὴν μήτε ὑβρίζειν̣ α̣[ὐτὴν   ̣  ̣  ̣  ̣  ̣ τρόπῳ] | μηδενεί (l. -ί).

15On adultery in Greco-Roman society and its astrological justification, cf. the astrological work P.Tebt. 2.276.15-16 (late 2nd/early 3rd cent. AD); Montserrat 1996, p. 97-105.

16See ll. 4-6, with BL 1.392: τὸ π̣[αι]|δὶν νοσεῖ· λεπτὸν γέγον[εν· οὐκ ἔ?]|φαγε· ϛ ἡμέρε [l. -αι] δʼ εἰ̣σ̣ί̣ and ll. 8-10 with BL 6.173: μάθε δὲ ὅτι, ἐὰν ἀ[ποθάνῃ] | σου μὴ ὄντος ὧδε φεῦγ̣[ε μή] | με εὑρήσῃ ἀπαγχομέ[νην - - -]. Transl. Bagnall, Cribiore 2006, p. 280-281: “The child (?) is sick. He has become thin and for six days he hasn’t eaten” and “Be aware that if he dies in your absence, watch out lest… Hephaistion find that I’ve hung myself…”. See also Huebner 2013, p. 69; Thoma 2020, p. 114, 168, 216 and 463-464.

17Cf. the letter UPZ 1.59 (2nd cent. BC) in which Isias accuses her husband Hephaistion indirectly of having an affair in Memphis, cf. ll. 28-30: καλῶς ποιήσεις καὶ διὰ ταύτην | καὶ διʼ ἡμᾶς παραγ[ε]νόμενος εἰς τὴν πόλιν εἴπερ μὴ | ἀναγκαιότερόν σ[ε] περισπᾶι.

18On women’s threats against their recipients in their private correspondence, see Thoma, Papathomas 2021.

19Cf. ll. 12-14: πῶς δύναμαί σε ἐπι|λαθεῖν; ἐρωτῶ σε οὖν ἵνα μὴ ἀγω|νιάσῃς. Transl. in the ed.: “But how can I forget you? Thus I’m asking you not to worry”.

20Cf. ll. 15-18: καὶ ὡς μεταλαμβάνωι (l. μεταλαμβάνω) ἀστοργότερον | διακείμενος πρός με καὶ τὸ τέκνον | ἑτέραι ἐ[κεῖ συ]νή̣ρ̣[μοστ]α̣ι̣ γυναικί, ἐξ ἧς | καὶ πεπαιδοποίηκ̣[ε. Transl. Rowlandson 1998, p. 170-171 (n. 128): “And as I am informed, being ill-disposed toward me and the child, he has joined himself there to another woman, from whom he has also produced a child”.

21Cf. ll. 21-24 with BL 3.24: αὐτή τε | σὺν τῶι παιδίωι ὑπὸ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ μου | παντὶ ἐπαρκουμένη μηδὲ τὴν ἀναγ|καίαν ἔχουση (l. -α) διατροφήν. Transl. Rowlandson 1998, p. 170-171 (n. 128): “And I with a child am being sufficiently tended to in every way by my brother, since I lack even basic nourishment”.

22On Paniskos’ archive, see Schwartz 1968, p. 110-115.

23See P. Mich. 3.214, 216, 218 (297 AD). On P. Mich. 3.214, see also Kotsifou 2012, p. 40-41.

24A point of interest is that Paniskos remarks that his mother behaved in the same way as Ploutogenia does, cf. ll. 7-8: ἀλλὰ οἶδα ὅτι ἡ μήτηρ μου ταῦτα ποι|εῖ.

25ll. 3-6.

26ll. 20-25.

27On this letter, see, for example, Clarysse 2017, p. 78.

28See Montserrat 1996, p. 116.

29Cf. ll. 7-8 with BL 12.86: δίχα τῆς καλουμένης ἀπ[?αλλαγῆς]. Transl. Rowlandson 1998, p. 183 n. 137: “Without a so called divorce”. See also Thoma 2023, p. 238.

30Cf. ll. 15-23 with BL 1.72: ἀλλὰ | καὶ χρίαν (l. χρείαν) ἔχω μαφόρτου […] | ὧν οὐκ ἠξίωσας πέμψαι κεράμι`ν´ω  ̣ων(). Transl.: “But I am in need of a head-dress […] and you did not deem me worthy of sending me some vessels (of oil)”.

31Cf. ll. 8-10: καὶ γὰρ καὶ | διὰ γραμμάτων ὑμεῖν (l. ὑμῖν) ἔγραψα ὅτι | γυμνός εἰμι. Transl. in ed.: “And indeed I wrote to you in my letter that I am naked”.

32Cf. ll. 4-8: ἡ δὲ | γυν[ή] σε κάει | λαλο[ῦσα] πᾶσαν | ὥρ[αν], ὅτι σοι | οὐδὲν̣ δίδω. Transl. Bagnall, Cribiore 2006, p. 282: “Your wife inflames you when she says every hour that I do not give you anything”. See also Thoma 2024, p. 145.

33Cf. l. 8: ἐν π[ολ]λοῖς ἠδικῆσθαι ὑπʼ αὐτ[ο]ῦ ἐν τοῖς κατὰ τὸν βίον. Transl. Rowlandson 1998, p. 128 n. 101: “Because of the fact that he has been wronged by him in many matters”.

34On Kronion’s loan, see Takahashi 2012, p. 82. See also Thoma 2018, p. 134.

35Cf. BGU 4.1097.7-10 with BL 1.97 (41-67 AD, cf. BL 11.24): οὐ καλῶς ἐπο[ί]ησα̣ς | συνβουλεύσας αὐτῷ στρατεύσασθαι. ἐμοῦ | γὰρ λεγούσης αὐτῷ μὴ στρ<α>τεύσῃ, λέγει μοι | ὅτι ὁ πατήρ μ[ο]υ εἶπέ μοι στρατεύσα[σ]θ[α]ι.. Transl. Bagnall, Cribiore 2006, p. 307: “You did not do well counselling him to join the army. For when I said to him not to join, he said to me, ‘My father said to me to join the army’”. On this letter, see also Thoma 2020, p. 118.

36Cf. ll. 7-8: ἡ μικρά μο̣υ̣ Ἡρ̣αιδ[ο]ῦς γ̣ράφ̣[ουσα τῶ]ι̣ πα|τρὶ ἐμὲ [οὐκ ἀσπά]ζεται κ[α]ὶ̣ διὰ τί ο̣ὐκ [οἶδα]. Transl. Bagnall, Cribiore 2006, p. 161: “My little Heraidous on writing to her father does not salute me and I wonder why”.

37Thoma 2018, p. 141.

38Cf. ll. 19-25: καὶ νῦν | [ο]ὖν εἰ μὴ πίθῃ καὶ τὴν χορηγί|αν τῇ μητρὶ εὐγνομώνως (l. -όνως) | ἀποδίδυς (l. -οις) τὸ ἀκόλουθον τού|των ἔσται καὶ μετάμελόν | σ[ο]ι πάλειν (l. -ιν) εἰσο[ίσ]ει ἡ πλεονε|ξ[ί]α σου. Transl. in ed.: “Therefore if you do not comply and pay your mother her allowance in a fair manner, the consequences of your behavior will follow and your cupidity will again cause your regret”. See also Huebner 2013, p. 137; Thoma 2018, p. 133.

39Cf. the Athenian γραφή γονέων κακώσεως and Τhoma 2018, p. 131.

40See Taubenschlag 1956a, p. 177. Cf. 8-9 with BL 4.8: […] δηλῶ τὰ εἰς ἐμὲ κα[τ]ὰ ἀσέβιαν (l. -ειαν) ὑπὸ τῆς θυγατρός μου Λογγεινί|[ας ἀπο- τ]ο̣λ̣μ̣η̣θέντα. “I show the impious things my daughter dared to commit against me”.

41Huebner 2013, p. 137; Thoma 2018, p. 132-133.

42Thoma 2024.

43Thoma 2024, p. 151-152.

44Cf. P. Mich. 3.217.11-13: ταύτας τὰς ἐπιστολὰς | [ἔγραψ]ά̣ σοι ἐπεὶ ἡ ἀδ[ε]λφή σ[ο]υ ἀναγκ[ά][ζει με] ἐνθάδε γράψαι. Transl. in ed.: “These letters I have written to you because your sister compels me here to write”.

45Thoma 2024, p. 152-153.

46On oracle questions in papyri, see Raïos-Chouliara 2016.

47Cf. some questions in P. Oxy. 12.1477 (Sortes Astrampsychi) about family relationships.

48Cf. ll. 3-9: εἰ | μὴ δέδοται Ἀμμωνοῦν | τὴν γυναῖκά μου αὐτο|μάτην ἐπανελθεῖν πρὸς | ἐμέ, ἀλλὰ ἐμὲ πορευθῆ|ναι ὥστε αὐτὴν ἐλθεῖν, | το[ῦ]τό μοι δός. Transl. Rowlandson 1998, p. 324 n. 256: “If it is not to be permitted that my wife Ammonous come back up to me of her own free will, but that I must make the first move in order for her to come, return this to me”.

49Cf. P. Lips. 1.41 (4th cent. AD).

50Cf. ll. 11-15 with BL 7.205, 13.201: ὥστε οὖν ἐρωτῶ μν̣ησ|θῆναι μου, καὶ ἐλθόντα̣ ἐγδικῆσαί | με ἢ ἀπολῦσαί με παρ’ αὐτοῦ | ̣ ̣α̣ζ̣ω μή πώς με φονεύσῃ κα̣θ̣ὼ̣ς̣ | ἐπαγγέλλεταί μοι. Transl. Price 1955-1956, p. 161: “So therefore I ask you to take thought for me, and to come and avenge me, or release me… lest he ruin me as he is threatening me”.

51See Kelly 2011, p. 76-77 and appendixes I and III for comparison between the categories of cases that appear in surviving petitions, and those that appear in surviving reports of proceedings.

52See Thoma 2023, p. 228-229.

53Cf. 8-12: ἡ τῆς ἀδελφῆς μου Ταπετ|σωύκιος θυγάτηρ Θασῶς | Χαι̣ρῖτος τῶν ἀπὸ τῆς αὐτῆς | κώμης λογοπυουμενης (l. -ποιουμένη) | πρὸς ὃν ἐγάμει Ἡρακλῆν. Transl. in ed.: “The daughter of my sister Tapetsoykis, Thasos, daughter of Chairis, of the same village, when having an argument with her husband Herakles [- - -]”. See also Kelly 2011, p. 224.

54Thoma 2023, p. 221-240.

55Cf., for example, P. Oxy. 2.281 (20-50 AD).

56Cf., for example, BGU 4.1050 (12-11 BC) and Thoma 2023, p. 228-229.

57Cf. P.Heid. 3.237.5-8 with BL 9.103 (middle 3rd cent. AD): εὐκαι|ρία[ν λαβοῦσα τὴν ἀπ]ουσ̣ί̣α̣ν μου ἐξῆλθέ μου τῆς οἰ|κί[ας πρὸ - - -] μ̣ηνῶν δίχα τῆς καλουμένης | ἀ̣π̣[αλλαγῆς - - -]. Transl. Rowlandson 1998, p. 183 (n. 137): “[Seized] an opportune absence of mine, and left my house… months ago, without a so-called divorce”. Cf. P. Lond. 5.1651.7-10 (363 AD).

58Cf. P. Mich. 3.217 (297 AD); P .Oxy 59.3994 (early 3rd cent. AD); Thoma 2024, p. 152-153.

59Huebner 2013, p. 150.

60See Thoma 2023, p. 229 n. 36. On models of a wife’s security in case of husband’s death see Yiftack-Firanko 2003, p. 252-253.

61Cf. also the petition PSI I 41 dated to the 4th cent. AD which is submitted by Aurelia Herais against her husband Pagenes who abused her property and cast her away. Herais highlights that Pagenes’ sister persuaded him to throw his wife out of the house and keep her instead (cf. ll. 13-18). See also Thoma 2023, p. 229 n. 36; Thoma, Papathomas 2024.

62The father usually had the duty of taking care of the children in case of divorce. Cf. Dig. 25.3.3.1 (= Ulpianus 34 ad ed.); Taubenschlag 1956b, p. 124. See also Thoma 2023, p. 235 n. 65.

63Cf. ll. 21-24: αὐτή τε | σὺν τῶι παιδίωι ὑπὸ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ μου | παντὶ ἐπαρκουμένη μηδὲ τὴν ἀναγ|καίαν ἔχουση (l. ἔχουσα) διατροφήν. Transl. Rowlandson 1998, p. 171 n. 128: “And I with the child am being sufficiently tended to in every way by my brother, since I lack even nourishment”.

64On the abandonment of a wife with her child by her husband, Cf. P. Oxy. 54.3770 (334 AD); P. Ryl. 4.706 (early 4th cent. AD).

65Cf. ll. 8-9: ὕστερον δὲ μετ̣[ὰ πολὺ]ν χρόνον ἀπέσπα|σεν τὸν παῖδα. Transl.: “But a long time later he kidnapped the boy”.

66Cf. ll. 3-4: ὠνη[σ]αμένου ἐν ὀνόματι ταύτης̣ τινὰ  ̣[  ̣]  ̣  ̣έκ̣ ̣ ̣ π̣ολλὰ̣   ̣  ̣  ̣[±14] | ἔν τε̣ χρυσίοις καὶ σκεύεσι καὶ ἱματίοις καὶ ἐνδομενείᾳ. Transl. in ed.: “On her name some […] many […] consisting of gold objects and effects and cloths and household furniture”. Cf. the wills P. Oxy. 27.2474.18-20; PSI XI Congr. 5.7-8.

67Transl. in ed.: “For you my lord know better that whatever a woman acquires while she is living in her husband’s house […] of the man even if he/she has ceased to have sexual relations (?)”.

68Gifts between spouses were prohibited by Roman law. See the discussion of Evans-Grubbs 2002, p. 98-102.

69Cf. the petition of a woman against her husband PSI 5.463.10-14 (158-160 AD): ἐξ[ε]φόρησεν πάντα τ[ὰ] ἀποκείμενα ἐν τῇ | ἐπὶ τῆς μητροπόλεως οἰκίᾳ χρυσικά τε [κ]οσ|μάρια γυναικεῖα καὶ χαλκώματα καὶ ἱ̣μ̣ατ̣ι̣σ|μ[ὸ]ν καὶ ἐνδομενίαν πᾶσαν καὶ παραθέσι|μ̣α καὶ ἄλλα τινά; the private letter P.Thomas 14.8-10 with BL 13.258 (2nd half of 2nd cent. AD): ἐξε|φόρησε̣ν̣ ὅτι (l. ε̣ἴ̣ τι) ἐὰν ᾖ ἐ⟦ν⟧ οἰκίᾳ, | καὶ ἡ̣ θύρα σήμερον ἤνυται (l. ἤνοικται); the circular letter BGU 8.1774.6-10 (64-44 BC): περὶ ἐκφο|ρή̣σ̣εως σκευῶν τε καὶ | βι̣β̣λ̣ίων `πατρικῶν´ καὶ ἑτέρων ἀδικη|[μ]ά̣τ̣ω̣ν̣ σ̣υ̣ν̣ε̣τ̣ά̣ξ̣α̣μ̣[ε]ν̣ | παραγγεῖλαι. The aforementioned examples indicate that abuse of property was a very common aspect of conflict within the family.

70See also Lewis 2000, p. 87.

71Cf. ll. 14-17: ἡ δὲ Θατρῆς […] οὐκ ἀ|πέδωκ[ε]ν τὴν ἐνδομενίαν, οὐδὲ μὴν παρέδωκεν τὰ ὑπάρ[χο]ντα. Transl.: “Thatres […] did not return the household items and did not give the property”.

72Cf. ll. 15-23: ἅπερ πάν[τα] βιαίως | ἀντιποιε̣[ῖτα]ι̣ [  ̣]εῶς ὁ τοῦ | προ[κ]ε̣ιμένου ἀν[δρό]ς μου | ἀδ[ελ]φός. ἔτι δὲ καὶ πρὸς |   ̣  ̣[  ̣  ̣  ̣  ̣] ̣[  ̣]  ̣ αὐτὸς ἐπεισῆλ|θε[ν ἐ]ν τῇ [ο]ἰκίᾳ νύκτωρ |κα̣ὶ̣ π̣ά̣ν̣τα τὰ [ἐ]ν τῇ οἰ|κίᾳ   ̣  ̣  ̣  ̣ρκλερ[  ̣ τ]ρ̣ό̣πῳ | ἐβάσταξε. Papyri indicate that even mothers acting as guardians of their children could abuse their inheritance. See, for example, P .Oxy. 6.898 (2nd cent. AD) in which the minor Didymus complains of having been deprived of his rightful property by his mother-guardian. On this topic, see also Thoma 2019, p. 480.

73Transl. in ed.: “All of which . eos, the brother of my aforesaid husband, lays claim to with violence. Moreover, . . . he entered the house by night and stole every thing that was in the house like a thief(?)”. On the phrase λῃστρικῷ τρόπῳ, see Bryen 2013, p. 94.

74Cf. P. Tebt. 2.332.12-15 (176 AD): καὶ πάν|τα ἃ εἶχον ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ μου | ἀποκείμενα τὰς θ̣ύ̣ρ̣[α]ς̣ | ἐξηλώσαν[τ]ες ἐβάσταξαν; BGU 2.454.12-15 (193 AD): καὶ ἐβάσταξαν ἡμῶν θήκας | λαχανοσπέρμ̣[ο]υ̣ εἰς ἕτερον | ψυγμὸν οὐκ [ἔλα]τ̣τον θηκῶν | δέκα δύο; BGU 1.157.3-10 (2nd/3rd cent. AD): τῇ ιβ τοῦ ὄν|τος μηνὸς Παχὼν Πτολε|μαῖος Ἰσχυρᾶ ἐπῆλθεν | τῇ οἰκίᾳ μου καὶ τῶν στρα|τευομένων μου ἀδελφῶν | καὶ ἐβασταξαν (l. -εν) πάντα ὅσα | ἔχω οὐχ ἧττον ἀργυρίου | δραχμῶν τετρακοσίων; P. Abinn. 45.9-12 (343 AD): τινὲς κακοῦρ|γοι νυκτὸς λῃστρικῷ τρόπῳ ἐπηλθα (l. -αν) | τῇ οἰκίᾳ καὶ ὑπόρυχμα (l. -γμα) πεποιηκότες | καὶ ἤ (l. εἴ) τι καὶ ἐγὼ αὐτὸς καὶ ἡ γυνὴ̣ ἐβάταξαν (l. ἐβάσταξαν).

75See LSJ s.v. “ἐξαίρω” I 5.

76Cf. ll. 20-23 with BL 1.257: […] {ἐτόλ|μησεν} ἐξᾶραι τὰ πατρικὰ [ἡμ]ῶν ἔπιπλα καὶ σκεύη | τὰ καταλελειμμένα ὑπὸ τ[οῦ πατ]ρὸς ἡμῶν τῇ μητρὶ | καὶ ἡμεῖν (l. ἡμῖν) […]. Transl.: “She dared to remove the paternal furniture and utensils, which had been bequeathed from our father to our mother and us […]”.

77Thoma 2019, p. 476.

78Thoma 2023, p. 240.

79Bryen 2013, p. 171.

80Bryen 2013, nr. 244.

81Cf. ll. 12-16: ἐπῆλθέ μοι μετὰ Σερήνου τοῦ καὶ | Τιβερείνου γυμνασιαρχήσαντος ἀνδρὸς | τῆς ἀδελφῆς, καὶ οὐ μόνον ἐξύβρισαν ἀλ|λὰ καὶ τὴν ἐσθῆτά μου περιέσχισαν βου|λόμενοι ἀποστερέσαι τῶν ἐμῶν. Translation Bryen 2013, p. 244: “[…] attacked me with the help of Serenos, also known as Tiberinos, the former gymnasiarch. This man is the husband of her sister. They not only did violence on me, but they also tore my clothes, since they wanted to take my property”.

82On the use of the verb regarding the act of theft, cf. the service contract BASP 53 (2016) p. 110 nr. 4 (= P.Col. 10.249). 17-19: ἐὰν δʼ ἀποσπάσωσι ἢ καὶ αὐτὴ̣ ἡ θυγάτηρ ἀπαλλαγῇ ἢ κλέ̣|[π]τ̣ουσα ἢ καταβλάπτουσα ἢ νοσφιζομένη ἁλίσκηταί τ̣[ι τῶν] | [Θ]έ̣ωνος.

83Cf. ll. 10-12: τῶν πατρῴ<ω>ν μου ἀποσυλη|θέντων καὶ διακατεχομένη (l. -ων) ὑπὸ τοῦ προι|ρημένου (l. προειρη-) Χαιρήμωνος. Transl. Bryen 2013, p. 89: “But my paternal property was stolen and is being held by the aforementioned Chairemon”.

84See Thoma 2019, p. 478-480.

85Cf. ll. 21-26: ἐκθές (l. ἐχθές), ἥτις ἦν κδ, τὰς ἑαυτοῦ θυγατέρας | Κυριλλοῦν καὶ Τασουχάριον καὶ Ταῆσιν κ̣α̣ὶ̣ Τ̣  ̣[  ̣  ̣] | καὶ Θατρῆν μητέρα αὐτῶν εναφι ̣ισμο ̣ ̣ ̣ | σας με πλ[ηγα]ῖς ἠκίσαντε̣ς̣ (l. αἰ-) τῶν τριχο͂ν (l. -ῶν) περι  ̣  ̣  ̣  ̣ |τες καὶ τὴν [ἐσ]θῆταν (l. -τα) διαρήξαντες (l. διαρρή-) χαμεριφῆ (l. χαμαι-) με ἀ|φῖκαν (l. ἀφῆκαν). Transl. Bryen 2013, p. 89: “Yesterday, which was the 24th, his daughters Kyrillous, Tasoucharion, Taesis, and Thatres, their mother… abused me with blows, pulled out (?) my hair, tore my clothes, and threw me on the floor”.

86Cf. 9-12: αἴγραψά (l. ἔ-) σοι, ὅτι γυμνός | εἰμει (l. εἰμι). παρακα[λ]ῶ σαι (l. σε), μήτηρ, δ[ι]αλάγητ̣ί (l. διαλλά-) μοι. λοι|πὸν οἶδα τί αἰμαυτῷ (l. ἐμαυτῷ) παρέσχημαι, παιπαίδ̣|δευμαι (l. πεπαίδευμαι) καθʼ ὃν δὴ τρόπον, οἶδα ὅτι ἡμάρτηκα. Transl. Winter 1933, p. 106: “I write you that I am naked. I beseech you mother be reconciled to me. For the rest, I know what I have brought upon myself. I have been punished in every way. I know that I have sinned”.

87Kelly 2011, p. 174.

88Bryen 2013, p. 146.