The contribution deals with the mechanisms of governmental control of guardianships over minors in Roman Egypt as it was exercised through the responsible administrative officials at the various levels of the administration. The relevant measures of this administrative control extended over the appointment of guardians for which applications had to be filed with the administrative authorities. These applications, which aimed at an official registration as guardian, may also reflect in some respect an indigenous legal tradition, though it is doubtful if such applications were obligatory. Another important measure of control of guardians was the obligation of the latter to render account of his management of affairs. The article also examines the role of the officials responsible for the appointment and control of guardians, i.e. the prefect of Egypt, the nome strategos and, at the municipal level, the exegetes and others.
