Protagonist: Longinus alias Zosimos (Go to TM People)

Description: Zosimos, officially styled Aurelius Longinus alias Zosimos, son of Leonides, was a resident and landowner in Karanis, serving as sitologos. His archive consists of a mix of family papers, letters, and official reports. This small archive illuminates the intertwined lives of well-off villagers in Roman Egypt: Zosimos stayed home, collected taxes, and filed reports; his “brother” Ptolemaios (whose exact relationship to Zosimos is unclear) joined the army, enjoyed promotion, and tolerated unwelcome assignments away from Alexandria. Back home, Zosimos could help his absent “brother” with personal affairs and no doubt benefitted from a close relationship with a soldier rising in the ranks. Both played bit parts in Caracalla’s imperial ambitions, Ptolemaios under arms, Zosimos by handing over drachmas and keeping the grain flowing. Both lost an intimate partner, but they could fortunately rely on strong, overlapping networks of support. 

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