The labelling of strangers and aliens in Roman Egypt
The labelling of strangers and aliens in Roman Egypt

Summary/Abstract: The article investigates the various terms for labelling foreigners and aliens in Roman Egypt(30 BCE – c. 300 CE) thereby focusing mainly on the expressions xenos, epixenos, and allophylos. Such terms were used by the administration (e.g. to mark individual taxpayers in fiscal registers) as well as in private legal transactions to identify contracting parties. Also examined are the special circumstances in which the different terms were used and which potentially different grades of ‘strangeness’ could be expressed by their usage. In the overwhelming majority of cases the relevant terms do refer to inhabitants of the province of Egypt coming from places different from the ones in which they were regarded as strangers. In this respect the term epixenos in particular designates the ‘legal alien’ who is legally permitted to take residence in a place other than his original place of origin (idia).

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