IGII2 123 Decree for Andros, 357/6 BC

Decree for Andros, 357/6 BC

IG II² 123 Date: 357/6 BC

In the archonship of Agathokles (357/6). In the ninth prytany, of Aigeis^II, for which Diodotos son of Diokles of Angele was secretary. On the eighth of the (5) prytany. Of the presiding committee Diotimos of Oinoe was putting to the vote. The Council and the People decided.^[1] Hegesandros^[2] proposed: so that Andros shall be safe for the People of Athens and the People of Andros, and that the (10) garrison troops in Andros shall have their pay out of the allied levies (suntaxeōn) in accordance with the decisions (dogmata) of the allies, and the guard (phulakē) shall not be dissolved (kataluētai), appoint a general from those who have been elected; and the (15) man appointed shall manage [Andros]; and Archedemos shall exact the monies owing from the islands for the soldiers [in Andros], and shall hand them over to the [chief official (archonti) in] (20) Andros so that the soldiers shall have their pay . . . . . .

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Greek text

References:

IG II² 123 (Translated text) (PHI) (AIO)

Syll.³ 192

RO 52

Translation by: Stephen Lambert, P. J. Rhodes

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

Monument type: Stele

Inscription type: Decree (Council and People?)

Findspot: Acropolis (EM 6957)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This decree was passed in early summer 356, during the Social War between Athens and several of its allies. We know from Aischin. 1.107 (delivered 346/5) that Timarchos had been Athenian archon ("governor") on Andros, the island immediately south-east of Euboea, and, if l. 19 of this inscription is correctly restored, this is the earliest dated evidence for this official. By this time Athens had long since abandoned the undertaking that it had given at the outset of the League not to impose garrisons and governors on League members, RO 22, ll. 22-24. Already in 375 Athens had installed a garrison in Abdera (Diod. 15.36.1-4); and in the 350s Androtion was honoured as governor of Arkesine on Amorgos (RO 51). This decree seeks to maintain the security of Andros presumably against dissident League members (cf. Diod. 16.21.2) and perhaps potential rebels on Andros itself, by providing or confirming that, in accordance with an allied resolution, the garrison should be paid from the allied contributions (syntaxeis; contrast Arkesine, where the costs seem to have been carried by Arkesine itself). Ll. 16-21 contain practical measures designed to ensure this is put into effect, by detailing Archedemos (perhaps a general in office during the current year) to collect the necessary financial contributions from allies. This was presumably all designed to head off the possibility that the garrison would be abandoned for lack of pay. One of the newly appointed generals is also to be assigned to look after Andros (ll. 13-15). Decrees making military dispositions were of an ephemeral character that did not usually invite inscription. Exceptions are rare (cf. e.g. OR 171). In this case the lost end of the text might have supplied an explanation. [2] Hegesandros is identifiable as member of a well-known family discussed by J. K. Davies, in S. D. Lambert ed., Sociable Man. Essays ... Nick Fisher, 11-24, at 19. He is best known as a supporter of Timarchos and opponent of Aischines in Aischines 1. It is perhaps not coincidental that he here proposes a decree relating to Andros, an island of which his friend, Timarchos, had been governor (see note 1), and not impossible that Timarchos was governor at the time of this decree (Timarchos' governorship cannot be dated, see Fisher, Aischines. Against Timarchos p. 244, showing that the usual inference from Aischines 1.107 that he was governor before 361/0 is insecure).

Added: 29 Jul 2014
Updated: 8 Jan 2024
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