AIO 1135 Payments for Athens’ war against Samos, 440-439 BC

Payments for Athens’ war against Samos, 440-439 BC

AIO 1135 Date: 440-439 BC

. . . ^[1] . . . . . . . . . of Phrearrhioi (?) . . . (5) ≥ 128 talents. The Athenians [spent . . . ] against the Samians . . . of Athena P[ . . . and his colleagues?] to whom Phyro[machus son of - of - was secretary, under the Council for which . . . was first? (10) secre]tary; treasurers . . . Eubou- . . . from Oion, Naus- . . . ≥ 368 talents. From the treasurers . . . [to whom -]oleos . . . [was secretary, and under the Council for which Epichar?]inos of Pirae[us] [was first ? secre]tary, the following [was given to those . . . to Samos?] (15) later (husteron) (?). These [were treasurers?: - of] [Kera]meis, L- . . . of Aphidna . . . of Prasiai . . . ≥ 908 talents. [Total] of the whole: . . . ≥ 1400 talents . . .

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Greek text

References:

AIO 1135 (Translated text) (AIO)

IG I³ 363 (IG Online) (PHI)

IG I³ 454 (IG Online) (PHI)

SEG 65.51

ML 55

Fornara, Translated documents 113

Marginesu and Themos, Samian War Expenses, 171-184

Matthaiou, Grammateion 2015 b, 67-71 (l. 15) (Grammateion)

OR 138

Translation by: Stephen Lambert, P. J. Rhodes

Images: Aleshire - (1, 2)

Inscription type: Account

Fragment a - Findspot: Acropolis (EM 6770)
Fragment b - Findspot: Acropolis (EM 6755)
Fragment c - Findspot: Acropolis (EM 6718)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] Our translation of this very fragmentary inscription omits most of the speculative restorations included in previous editions. It is an account of three sums paid from the treasury of Athena, together with a total. The second (ll. 6-12) is specified as “against the Samians” and this suggests the context was Athens’ war against Samos, which was prompted by Samos’ defection from the Delian League in 441/0 when Athens supported Miletos against it in a dispute over territory, and ended with Samos’ capitulation after a 9 month siege (Thuc. 1.115-17; cf. OR 139). There are various ways these accounts, which contain no dates, can be reconciled with this timetable and with evidence in some literary sources, e.g. Nepos 13 Timotheos 1.2, that the war cost 1,200 tal.. After the war Samos lost its status as a ship-providing member of the League, but instead of being assessed for tribute was required to pay reparations (Thuc. 1.117.3; cf. 7.57.4). This funding of military activities by loans or payments from Athena’s treasury foreshadows Athens’ practice in the Peloponnesian War. The numerals in ll. 5 and 19 were inscribed over erasures, suggesting that there was originally an incorrect sum entered in l. 5 which entailed an incorrect total in l. 19.

Added: 15 Sep 2016
Updated: 8 Nov 2022
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ID: AIO_1135