Renting Oil Press In Roman Egypt "A Documentary Study Of The Papyri" (30B.C-284).

Document Type : Academic research papers

Authors

1 History Department, Faculty of Women, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

2 Professor of History Department-Faculty of Women for Arts, Science & Education-Ain Shams University - Egypt

3 Professor of History, Faculty of Humanites -Alazhar University - Egypt

Abstract

The oil industry was one of the most important industries in Egypt during the Roman era. Oil makers expanded the manufacturing of olive oil and rapeseed oil which is supported by what was reported by Strabo and Pliny about the expansion of the oil industry. It is known that the Ptolemies had a complete monopoly on the oil industry in Egypt, and that it was forbidden for anyone to own mills, presses, or any type of tools used to extract oil. We find out from the documents that there were two types of oil factories, one owned by the government and the other owned by citizens. They were often obligated to pay the tax for practicing the oil industry, just like everyone who practices any industry or craft. We also see the scarcity of the first type of factories, and the relative abundance of documents for the second type. The oil industry did not have a complete monopoly. The rent for private and public oil presses was paid by the tenants either in cash or in kind or in cash or in kind. When leasing, tenants and lessors took into account the efficiency and size of the machines and the area of the presses building to estimate the rental value. Hence, the rent amounts varied from one press to another. Documents related to oil presses show that the presses contained the following tools: oil pressing machines, mortars, and boilers.

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Buhūth
Volume 4, Issue 11
Social Sciences and Humanities and languages
November 2024
Pages 49-60

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