Le marquage et les soins vétérinaires appliqués aux camélidés d’après la documentation papyrologique grecque d’Égypte

Abstract

The present paper is based on the examination of the 35 camel sale contracts known so far, dated between the first and fourth centuries A.D. and coming mostly from Soknopaiou Nesos, an isolated village in the North of the Arsinoite Nome on the border of the desert. These documents will be studied as sources for our knowledge of breeding and veterinary treatment of camels in Roman Egypt. A particular attention is dedicated to the indication of age, especially based on the inspection of the camel denture, and brands. These are most often located on the right thigh or cheek, and correspond to Greek letters or Arabic characters.

Keywords

• camels
• Greek documentary papyri
• breeding
• veterinary treatment
• Roman Egypt