IGII2 1205 Decree of Epikephisia honouring those chosen to prosecute Neokles

Decree of Epikephisia honouring those chosen to prosecute Neokles

IG II² 1205 Date: ca. 350-300 BC

The demesmen decided.^[1] Pythodoros son of Philokles of Epikephisia proposed: since those chosen by the demesmen to be prosecutors (katēgoroi) (5)of Neokles managed the case well and justly and convicted him in the jury court, the demesmen shall decide to praise (10)them for their [excellence] and justice . . .

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IG II² 1205 (Translated text) (PHI)

Syll.³ 916

Russo, Ripartizioni, D36

Translation by: Stephen Lambert

Images: Krateros - (1)

Monument type: Stele (?)

Inscription type: Decree (Deme Epikephisia)

Findspot: Athens, near the Dipylon (EM 7727)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] Textual Note Kazuhiro Takeuchi kindly reports that he reads from autopsy the upper end of the right vertical of Η at stoichos 5 of l. 9, i.e. τ|[οῖς δ]η̣[μό]ταις.

This is the only extant decree of the small deme of the city trittys of Oineis, Epikephisia (bouleutic quota 2 in the 4th century BC, IG II³ 4, 56, 3-5, but possibly 1 in Agora XV 48, 24-25). Its precise location is uncertain, but it was doubtless on the river Kephisos close to other small demes of its trittys, Boutadai and Lakiadai, a little north of the findspot of this inscription close to the Dipylon gate (cf. Russo, p. 79, note 176). It was dated by early editors to end-iv BC, but may be a little earlier since the proposer, Pythodoros son of Philokles, now appears as guarantor of a lease of sacred property for 160 dr. taken out by his son in 343/2 BC, Agora XIX L6, 79-80. For a brief discussion of the deme and its attested members see Humphreys, Kinship, 1007. On demes in general, see RO 46, with notes.

Demes were not infrequently involved in litigation, in which they might be represented by volunteer members, who might be honoured by the deme for their services. See in general D. Whitehead, Demes (1986), 128-30 (who also discusses the literary evidence). Cf. in Aixone, Ackermann, Aixone no. 1, no. 8, A 17-19 (syndikoi); in Piraeus, IG II² 1177, ll. 13-17; in Ikarion, IG II² 1179, ll. 3-4. A deme would supply five kategoroi ("prosecutors") to represent it where a man ejected from the deme appealed to a central court (Ath. Pol. 42.1); cf. in Halimous, Dem. 57, discussed SEG 2.7, with notes. Whether this was a case of this kind, however, is unclear, and the man prosecuted, Neokles, is not identifiable.

Added: 20 May 2023
Updated: 16 Oct 2024
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