IEleus 187 Decree [of soldiers at Eleusis] honouring a general

Decree [of soldiers at Eleusis] honouring a general

I Eleusis 187 Date: ca. 255-250 BC

Gods In the archonship of - ^[1], Stesileos . . . proposed:^[2] since [ - having been appointed] general of the (5)[countryside around] Eleusis, took charge [of the soldiers (tōn stratiōtōn)] in the fort, [and he considered also] the other things which [the laws required of him, and] he [also made provision for] the sacrifices, well (10)[and loving honour (philotimoumenōs)], for good fortune, [the soldiers (tois stratiōtais)]^[3] shall decide, [in order that they may show] [worthy] gratitude, [to praise] and crown [him with a gold crown], in accordance with [the law] . . . (15) . . . . . . . . .

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References:

I Eleusis 187 (Translated text) (PHI)

IG II² 1287 (PHI)

Translation by: Edward Jones

Images: Krateros - (1)

Monument type: Stele

Inscription type: Decree (soldiers at Eleusis)

Findspot: Eleusis (Eleusis Museum E 16)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] Kirchner in IG II² suggested a mid-century date, and in l. 2 Habicht, Untersuchungen (1979), 132 n. 91, proposed restoring "Antimachos", the archon for 256/55 BC. Tracy, Hesperia 57, 1988, 305 and 310, identified the letters as those of the "Cutter of Agora I 3238 and I 4169", who worked between 286/5 and 238/7 BC (for the dates cf. Horos 26-31, 2014-2019, 43-44). See also Tracy, Athens and Macedon, 96, suggesting that the use of vacats (uninscribed spaces) in this inscription indicates that it "may be safely dated after 270". [2] This is one of a number of honorific decrees passed by military units at Eleusis. See further I Eleusis 207 with notes. [3] The restoration "the soldiers (tois stratiotais)" is suggested by reference to other decrees honouring military officials from Eleusis during this period (see G. J. Oliver, War, Food, and Politics [2012], Appendix 4). Cf. I Eleusis 186, col. VII ll. 24-28, where "soldiers (stratiōtai) stationed in the countryside around Eleusis" are listed as one of the groups who dedicated a statue of a general in ca. 255 BC.

It is unclear whether the soldiers were Athenian citizens. Kirchner called this inscription a "decree of Athenian soldiers who were garrisoned at Eleusis". Clinton, describing the inscription as a "decree of foreign soldiers stationed at Eleusis", stated that "Kirchner's title for this decree [...] is a slip. His restorations require it to be a decree of the foreign mercenaries stationed at Eleusis" (see I Eleusis, II Commentary, p. 249). A distinction between mercenaries described as "soldiers (stratiōtai)" and Athenian citizen soldiers can be found in I Eleusis 186, a dedicatory inscription for a general set up in c. 255 BC (see above), where "the soldiers (stratiōtai) stationed in the countryside around Eleusis" are listed separately from "the citizens stationed at Eleusis (hoi tachthentes tōn politōn Eleusini)" (see col. VI-VII, ll. 18-28). However, in a dedicatory inscription from Eleusis set up in ca. 210 BC by "the soldiers (stratiōtai)", Athenians citizens are listed alongside at least ten non-Athenians (presumably mercenaries) (see further I Eleusis 210 with notes). The description, "soldiers", could seemingly refer both to mercenaries and Athenian citizen soldiers. Therefore, it is impossible to determine the identity of the stratiōtai here. Cf. G. J. Oliver, War, Food, and Politics (2012), pp.184-5, who argues that those serving at Eleusis and the other fortified demes were predominantly Athenian.

Added: 15 Mar 2022
Updated: 2 Nov 2022
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