IGI3 259 Athenian Tribute List, 454/3 BC

Athenian Tribute List, 454/3 BC

IG I³ 259 Date: 454/3 BC

These first-fruits^[1] all separately, were the first to be declared to the Thirty^[2] by the hellenotamiai^[3] to whom - was secretary for the goddess^[4] from the allied tribute in the archonship of Ariston at Athens^[5] (454/3), one mina per talent.^[6]

col. 5

^[7] 5 Abderites: 1285 dr. 2 ob.^[8] Olynthians, Skablaians, Asserites: 266 dr. 4 ob. Sermylians: 772 dr. 10 Mekypernians^[9] Stolians, Polichnitans: 231 dr. 2 ob. Singians: (≥) 202 dr. 2 ob. Thasians: 300 dr.^[10] 15 Mysians: 33 dr. 2 ob. Pikres of Syangelia: [50 dr.] Kedrietans: [50 dr.] Keramians: [150 dr.] Boutheians: . . . ^[11] 20 Kyllandians: [200 dr.] Chians, Karians: [33 dr. 2 ob.] . . .

col. 6

5 Narisbareans: [16 dr. 4 ob.] Mydones: [25 dr.] Kianians: 1[6 dr. 4 ob.] Artakenians: [33 dr. 2 ob.] Neapolis 10 in Thrace: 1[6 dr. 4 ob.] Berysians under Ida: 16 dr. 4 ob. Karian Auliatans: 8 dr. [2 ob.] Iatans: 100 dr. 15 Parianians: 100 dr. Daskyleion in Propontis: 8 dr. 2 ob. Aiginetans: 3000 dr.^[12] Milesians 20 from Leros: 300 dr. Milesians from Teichioussa: . . . ^[13]

Previous - IG I³ 258 Next - IG I³ 270

References:

IG I³ 259 (Translated text) (IG Online) (PHI)

ML 39

Fornara, Translated documents 85

Immerwahr, Script, 107 no. 741

OR 119A

Translation by: Stephen Lambert, Robin Osborne

Images: Wikimedia Commons - (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

Monument type: Stele

Inscription type: Tribute list (lapis primus ["first stone"], 454/3-440/39)

Original location: [Acropolis]

Fragments 3, 4, 6 - Findspot: Acropolis and nearby (EM 6870)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] From its foundation in 478/7 BC the league of Greek states led by Athens to prosecute the war against the Persians was funded by tribute (phoros) paid by members (the first assessment amounted to 460 tal., according to Thuc. 1.96.2). Initially members could provide either ships or money, but as time went by those who supplied ships tended to commute, or were forced by Athens to commute, this into money, which, according to Thucydides, was one of the main causes of increasing Athenian dominance of the League (by the beginning of the Peloponnesian war only Chios and Lesbos still provided ships). At first the money was deposited on Delos (no records survive from this period), but in 454/3 the treasury was transferred to Athens, and from then on lists of the sixtieth portion of the tribute paid to Athena were inscribed on stelai on the Athenian acropolis. These portions are usually thought to have been deployed for the Periclean building programme there, e.g. IG I³ 439.73 records payment by the hellenotamiai of 38,675 dr. (?) for the building of the Parthenon in 444/3 (which would equate to a total annual tribute of 376 talents). The "first stone" (lapis primus), which at 3.8 m. high is the most massive of Athenian inscriptions, covered the years 454/3 to 440/39. Composed of 184 fragments, some aspects of the current reconstruction and that of the 73 fragments of the "second stone" (lapis secundus, 439/8-432/1) have been questioned. To give an idea of the general character of these inscriptions, however, AIO initially follows OR in supplying extracts from the current IG edition of list 1 (lines 1-4, inscribed at the top of the front of the first stone, and cols. 5 and 6), list 13 (IG I³ 270) and list 21 (IG I³ 278).

As well as documenting the geographical extent of the Athenian Empire, its financial resources, and its development over time, the Tribute Lists played an important role in the development of the Athenian "Epigraphic Habit" on the Acropolis. This has been elucidated most recently by K. Trampedach, in U. Gotter and E. P. Sioumpara eds., Identität aus Stein. Die Athener Akropolis und ihre Stadt (2022), 53-66, who argues that the lapis primus stands at the head of and acted as important impetus to the regular series of decrees and accounts relating to the Athenian Empire inscribed on the Acropolis. [2] A board of auditors. [3] Literally "Treasurers of the Greeks", these were in reality Athenian officials responsible for collection of the tribute. [4] Athena. [5] The addition of "at Athens" is unusual in dating inscriptions of central organs of the city of Athens, again indicative of a Panhellenic perspective. [6] There were 100 dr. in a mina and 60 minai in a talent. So the proportion of tribute dedicated to Athena was a sixtieth. The amounts listed below are these sixtieth portions. [7] In the early lists cities are not listed geographically. [8] This high level of tribute perhaps reflects the economic strength of Abdera as a trading city. [9] Followed by a vacant space on the stone. [10] This tribute (= 3 tal.) was paid until 448/7, but from 443 onwards it rose to 30 talents. What, if any, connection this had with the revolt of Thasos in 464 BC, is obscure (Thuc. 1.101.3). [11] Boutheia is a small community cose to Erythrai. Its appearance here apparently without Erythrai (unless Erythrai was listed after l. 21) suggests that Erythrai may not have paid this year. Cf. IG I³ 14 n. 1. [12] Aegina had been forced into membership of the League in 457 (Thuc. 1.105, 108). Together with Thasos, which also paid 30 talents from 443, this is the highest tribute recorded in the pre-Peloponnesian War tribute lists. This no doubt reflects the powerful trading position of Aegina, and the substantial mineral and other resources of Thasos, and in both cases there may also be a punitive element. [13] These entries suggest that Miletos itself may not have paid this year.

Added: 12 Sep 2015
Updated: 6 Jul 2022
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