IGII2 110 Honours for Menelaos the Pelagonian, 363/2 BC

Honours for Menelaos the Pelagonian, 363/2 BC

IG II² 110 Date: 363/2 BC

Relief^[1] Menelaos the Pelagonian, benefactor (euergetēs).^[2] In the archonship of Charikleides (363/2). In the sixth prytany, of Oineis^VI. The Council and the People decided. Oineis^VI was in prytany. (5) Nikostratos was secretary.^[3] Charikles of Leukonoion was chairman. Satyros proposed:^[4] since Timotheos the general demonstrates that Menelaos the Pelagonian is both himself joining in the war and providing money for the war against the Chalkidians and Amphipolis, the Council shall (10) resolve: to introduce him to the People at the next Assembly (ekklēsian), and submit the opinion of the Council to the People that it seems good to the Council to praise him because he is a good man and does what good he can for the People of Athens. The generals (15) who are in the area of Macedon shall take care of him, so that, if he needs anything, he shall obtain it; and he shall be permitted to obtain from the People any other good he can; and to invite Menelaos to hospitality (xenia) in the city hall (prutaneion) tomorrow. (20) Satyros proposed:^[4] in other respects in accordance with the Council; but since the ancestors of Menelaos [were benefactors (euergetai)] of the People of Athens, [Menelaos also shall be a] benefactor (euergetēn) . . . . . .

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Greek text

References:

IG II² 110 (Translated text) (PHI) (AIO)

Syll.³ 174

Osborne, Naturalization, T56

Lawton 23

RO 38

Axon 125 (Axon)

Translation by: Stephen Lambert, P. J. Rhodes

Images: Krateros - (1)
Ohio - (1)

Monument type: Stele

Inscription type: Decree (Council and People), Decree (People)

Findspot: Acropolis (EM 7024)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] The lower parts of three figures are preserved: to the left a small male figure, probably Menelaos, facing to the right; in the centre a larger male figure facing the viewer (a divinity); to the right Athena, facing left. [2] Pelagonia was part of Upper Macedonia and the context of this decree is the war Athens had begun in 368 to recover Amphipolis (which she had colonised in 437/6, but lost to the Spartans in 424/3) and the Chersonese (where she was in rivalry with king Kotys). Timotheos son of Konon (l. 6) had succeeded Iphikrates as Athenian commander in the western sector of this war in 365/4. The "Chalkidians" in this context (l. 9) are not the citizens of Chalkis in Euboea, but a state based on Olynthos in Chalkidike. It had joined the Second Athenian League in 375 (RO 22, 101-102), but shortly after 368 had withdrawn, presumably feeling threatened by Athens' belligerence in the region, and by this time was openly at war with Athens. Timotheos did not succeed in taking Amphipolis or Olynthos, but did capture several cities of Chalkidike, including Potidaia (Diod. 15.81.6, cf. Dem. 23.149-51, Isok. 15.108, 113). We know from Dem. 2.14, Polyain. 3.10.14, that the Macedonians co-operated with Athens during this war, and here we see Athens recognising the support of Menelaos against the Chalkidians and Amphipolis (ll. 7-9), apparently in the campaigning season of 363. He is named as "benefactor" (ll. 1, 21-23), a title that usually but not always accompanies "proxenos", is offered the protection of Athenian generals operating in the area of Macedon (14-17) and was in Athens to receive the city's hospitality (18-19). He is subsequently honoured by Ilion as "Menelaos son of Arrhabaios of Athens" (M. N. Tod, A Selection of Greek Historical Inscriptions vol. 2, 149), indicating that he was later made an Athenian citizen (he had possibly taken refuge in Athens). He was perhaps the Menelaos who, in 351, commanded cavalry against Philip II in Thrace (Dem. 4.27). It is unclear what his relationship was to P- king of the Pelagonians, honoured by Athens in IG II² 190 (in 371/0 according to D. M. Lewis, ABSA 49, 1954, 38-39). [3] Same secretary as in RO 39, from a different prytany, showing that by this date the secretary of the Council (later also referred to as the "prytany secretary", grammateus kata prytaneian) held office for the whole year, whereas until at least 366/5 he was in office for one prytany only (decree of that year published by A. P. Matthaiou, in Attika Epigraphika . . . C. Habicht, 2009, 83–95 at 87–91 no. 2 = SEG 59.104, has a secretary different from that of IG II² 108, of the same year. Cf. A. S. Henry, Hesperia 71, 2002, 91–118 at 91–92). A few years later, in 356/5, the appointment of the secretary began to be made from the tribes in rotation (secretary of 357/6 is from tribe III, 356/5 from tribe VII, 355/4 tribe VIII etc. The rotation perhaps started with tribe VII because a secretary from that tribe had already been appointed for 356/5 under the old system). Presumably the change in method of appointment from election from among the councillors to by lot among all Athenians or all Athenians of a particular tribe took place at the same time as one of these two changes (Ath. Pol. 54.3. "All Athenians" in this context means all Athenians who put themselves forward and passed the initial scrutiny as to suitability, dokimasia. It does not imply that every Athenian had the capacity to be a secretary). Several possible reasons for these changes can be envisaged, e.g. a need for greater continuity and specialism in this office, in line with increasing administrative complexity. Ath. Pol., however, alleges contentiously that the shift to appointment by lot resulted in a decline in the calibre of secretaries. [4] The same man proposed the rider as had proposed the Council's probouleuma. There are other examples of this (e.g. IG II³ 1, 294). It would seem to reflect a preference on the part of the Council for leaving major decisions to the Assembly. The "open" probouleuma, containing no proposal at all, is a related phenomenon, e.g. IG II³ 1, 337.

Added: 29 Jul 2014
Updated: 7 Jan 2024
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