AgoraXVI 160 Decree of deme Piraeus about funding of construction works

Decree of deme Piraeus about funding of construction works

Agora XVI 160 Date: ca. 330-280 BC (?)

- son of Philistides proposed:^[1] . . . of –ias son of Peiron the – (?) . . . . . . for the health and . . . . . . of possessions to the deme . . . (5) . . . of the Piraeans to the . . . . . . as much as each may wish . . . . . . (they) donated stones so that . . . [and the] rest may be secured (?), [the Piraeans] shall resolve . . . all Piraeans for the common . . . [for the?] (10) construction 2 drachmas . . . of themselves and their wives . . . both collectively showing love of honour (?) . . . the other demesmen with the . . . the first-fruits shall be for the . . . (15) Boedromion and Pyanepsion . . . ; and to inscribe this decree . . . on a stone stele and stand it by . . . on the wall by the entrance . . . [the names?] of those making voluntary donations . . . (20) dedicate the first-fruits to the . . . each dedicated . . . the construction and the . . . the money be . . . and also . . . (25) dedicate first-fruits (?) . . . . . .

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References:

Agora XVI 160 (Translated text) (PHI) (PHI)

Russo, Ripartizioni, D74

Translation by: Stephen Lambert

Images: Agora Excavations - (1)
Ohio - (1)

Monument type: Stele

Inscription type: Decree (deme Piraeus)

Original location: ".... on the wall by the entrance ..."

Findspot: Agora (”built into the wall of a well in modern pit F at the north foot of the Areopagos”) (Ag. I 217)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This decree of the deme Piraeus was dated by Meritt (followed by Woodhead) on the basis of lettering to the early 3rd century BC, without, however, identifying specific criteria. In a case where the cutter has not been identified by Tracy, it is doubtful whether early-third century lettering can confidently be distinguished from late-fourth century lettering on such an impressionistic basis, and an earlier date, closer to that of the two dated inscriptions of the deme Piraeus, AIUK 4.3A, no. 1 (324/3 BC) and AIUK 4.3A, no. 2 (321/0 or 318/7 BC), is possible. Like most other inscriptions of the deme Piraeus it was found in Athens, and this raises the possibility that it was set up there sometime during the period between 320 and ca. 280 (?) BC when the city and the Piraeus were at various times under the control of different forces. Nothing firm can be inferred, however, given the possibility, raised by AIUK 4.3A, no. 3, that inscriptions dug up in the Piraeus in the 18th century were transported to Athens. For inscriptions of extra-urban demes found in central Athens cf. IG II³ 4, 233. The decree appears to concern the raising of money by voluntary donations (epidosis) for construction works which had a religious aspect. The reference to the wives of demesmen (11) raises the possibility that, like IG II² 1177, it related to the Piraeus Thesmophorion (location of several festivals of Demeter celebrated by wives of demesmen; note also that the Thesmophoria itself is attested in the month Pyanopsion, Parker, Polytheism, 484, cf. "Boedromion and Pyanopsion", l. 15. It is not, however, especially associated with "first-fruits", eparchai).

This is one of five known inscribed decrees of the deme Piraeus. In general on this deme and its inscriptions see AIUK 4.3A, no. 1. For the other three decrees see no. 2, and no. 3; IG II² 1177.

Textual Note. This decree was first edited by B. D. Meritt, Hesp. 3, 1934, 44-46 no. 33 (ph.). See also P. Roussel, BCH 58, 1934, 91 n. 1. 5 med. Π]ειραέων τῶι Ο[.]Ω Meritt, Woodhead, τῶι θ[ε]ῶ[ι] ("to the god") Woodward, τῶι ὅρ̣ωι ? ("the boundary marker (horos) ... of the Piraeans"?), Takeuchi per ep. after Woodhead in comm. For a horos of property of the Piraeans see AIO 2035, and see also IG I³ 1078 with IG II² 2498, note 9. 14 ἐ̣παρχὴν Takeuchi, after Roussel and Woodhead, [ἀ]παρχὴν Meritt.

Added: 15 Dec 2020
Updated: 28 Mar 2024
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ID: AIO_1982