OR 148 Accounts of payments for expeditions to Corcyra

Accounts of payments for expeditions to Corcyra

OR 148 Date: 433/2 BC

The Athenians spent the following on Corcyra.^[1] In the archonship of Apseudes (433/2) and the Council for which Kritiades son of Phaeinos of Teithras was first secretary, the treasurers of the sacred funds (chrematon) of Athena, (5) - of Kerameis and his fellow officials, to whom Krates son of Naupon of Lamptrai was secretary, handed over to the [first] generals sailing out to or generals sailing out [to help] Corcyra, Lakedaimonios of Lakiadai, Proteas of Aixone, Diotimos of Euonymon,^[2] (10) in the first prytany, of [Aiantis^IX], (when) thirteen days (of the prytany) had elapsed, [2?]6 talents.

In the archonship of Apseudes (433/2) and the Council for which Kritiades son of Phaeinos of Teithras was first (15) secretary, the treasurers of the sacred funds of Athena, Pronapes of Erchia and his fellow officials, to whom Euthias son of Aischron of Anaphlystos was secretary,^[3] handed over to the [second] generals sailing out or generals sailing out [later] to Corcyra, Glaukon (20) [of Kerameis, Metagenes?] of Koile, Drakontides [of Thorai],^[4] in the [first] prytany, of Aiantis^IX, on the last day of the prytany, [50?] talents.

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Greek text

References:

OR 148 (Translated text) (AIO)

IG I³ 364 (IG Online) (PHI)

SEG 65.52

ML 61

Fornara, Translated documents 126

Matthaiou, Grammateion 2015 b, 70-71 (ll. 8, 19) (Grammateion)

Translation by: Stephen Lambert, P. J. Rhodes

Images: Aleshire - (1)
Ohio - (1)

Monument type: Stele

Inscription type: Account

Findspot: Acropolis (EM 6777)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] In 433 Athens made a defensive alliance with Corcyra, which was in dispute with its mother city, Corinth. This inscription records payments from the treasury of Athena for the expeditions Athens sent in support of Corcyra, an initial ten ships (Thuc. 1.45), followed at a short interval by a further 20 (Thuc. 1.50-51), "fearing (as indeed happened) that the Corcyraeans would be defeated and their own 10 ships would be too few to defend them" (Thuc. 1.50). In the battle of Sybota (between the southern end of Corcyra and the mainland) the Corinthians were initially successful against the Corcyraeans, but withdrew after the arrival of the second squadron. This does not belong to the regular series of accounts of the treasurers of Athena, but is an ad hoc account of expenditure for a specific purpose, which had been controversial in the Assembly. Part of the purpose of the inscription will perhaps have been to seek Athena's blessing for the campaign on which her funds were to be spent. [2] Thucydides 1.45.2 also records the names of these generals. Lakedaimonios was son of the famous Athenian politician of the previous generation, Kimon. There is probably nothing in the assertion of Plut. Per. 29.1 that appointing him to such a small command was intended by Pericles as a humiliation. [3] This is a different board from the first as the treasurers of Athena held office from Panathenaia to Panathenaia (at the end of Hekatombaion, after the beginning of the year). [4] Thuc. 1.51.4 names only two generals, Glaukon son of Leagros (our ll. 19-20) and Andokides son of Leogoras (grandfather of the orator of the same name), who is not mentioned in our inscription. Thucydides' reference to Andokides is perhaps a mistake occasioned by the fact that the Drakontides who, as this inscription shows, was actually general for this expedition, also had a father named Leogoras.

Added: 20 Jan 2016
Updated: 11 Jul 2020
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