IGII34 285 Dedication by the soldiers at Rhamnous for a general, patrol commander, and manager, 338/7 BC

Dedication by the soldiers at Rhamnous for a general, patrol commander, and manager, 338/7 BC

IG II³ 4 285 Date: 338/7 BC

The soldiers dedicated (this), having crowned [the general]^[1] [and] the patrol commander (peripolarchon)^[2] for their excellence (aretēs) [and justice (dikaiosunēs)] and the manager (epimelētēn),^[3] in the archonship of Chairondas (338/7)

col. 1

In olive crown General (5) Deinokrates son of Kleombrotos of Acharnai

col. 2

In olive crown [Patrol commander (peripolarchos)] . . . (10) . . . . . .

col. 3

[In crown] [Manager (epimelētēs)] . . . . . . (15) . . .

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References:

IG II³ 4 285 (Translated text) (IG Online)

SEG 41.150 (PHI)

I Rhamnous 93 (PHI)

Translation by: Chris de Lisle

Monument type: Base

Inscription type: Dedication (soldiers)

Findspot: Rhamnous fortress (Rhamnous Fortress 882 Φ)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This is one of a series of dedications from deme garrisons. The earliest examples appear around 340 BC at Eleusis and Rhamnous, the normal headquarters for generals tasked with protection of the Attic countryside (IG II³ 4, 278 and 284, cf. I Rhamnous 3 with notes; on these garrisons, see Oliver, War, Food, and Politics, 2007, 138-59). Similar dedications appear at Piraeus, Salamis, and Panakton (IG II³ 4, 319, 323, 324). There is a break in dedications around the end of the century, when the Athenians lost control of the garrisons. Then they reappear at Rhamnous and Eleusis in the 260s BC around the same time as the first troop decrees there (I Rhamnous 1, I Eleusis 182), perhaps as a result of the troop build-up during the Chremonidean War, and continue until around 200 BC (possibly longer at Rhamnous). Examples also occur in the Agora in the late second century BC (IG II³ 4, 276) and in the Piraeus in the early first century BC (IG II³ 4, 320, 321). Most of these dedications followed the crowning of the general who had commanded the local garrison, at the end of his year of service (sometimes his subordinate officers as well). The format of the dedications is similar to that used after 357 BC in dedications by officials crowned by the Council and People at the end of their year of service, including military officials (see Lambert, AIO Papers 9). The format of the deme garrison dedications differs in that both the crowning and the dedication are usually carried out by the soldiers themselves (IG II³ 4, 278-279, 281-282, 284-287, 324). The procedure was defined by law (IG II² 1270, ll.10-14, I Rhamnous 10 ll. 19-26, I Eleusis 184). From the mid-third century it becomes common, though never universal, for the general to be crowned by the Council and People rather than the soldiers and for the general himself to make the dedication (IG II³ 4, 291-293, 320-321). At Rhamnous, most dedications have been found near the headquarters (strategion), but some were placed in the sanctuary of Nemesis, the principal sanctuary of Rhamnous (IG II³ 4, 288 and 296), or other sanctuaries. All provenanced examples from Eleusis come from the sanctuary of Demeter. In later examples, a god is sometimes named. On many of the bases, including this one, there are traces of a square hole for a votive in the upper surface. [2] For the patrol commander (peripolarchos), see IG II³ 4, 278. His name is lost on this inscription, but IG II³ 4, 286 suggests that he may have been Telesippos son of Straton of Kephisia. [3] Manager (epimeletes) is a generic title, but in I Rhamn. 8, 38 and 40 he is an appointee of the general in charge of non-citizen troops.

Added: 2 Apr 2019
Updated: 2 Nov 2022
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ID: AIO_1744