Letter from Hadrian to the Achaian League
Oliver, Constitutions 78 Date: 126 AD
Copy A (Athens): When the general of the Achaians was P. Egnatius Brachy[llos, the League of the Achaians decided]:
[since an embassy] was sent to the most divine Emperor Caesar Trajan Hadrian Augustus,
[through which] the Achaians [begged] that he accept the honours [decreed] in hope [by them and to permit] [them to set up] stelae inscribed with the [decree] about the honours, [and they received a letter from the most divine] Emperor [to the Achaians] (5)[through which the greatest and most divine emperor] accepted some of the honours, [but declined others as invidious],
which has been copied out (below) . . . . . . by a decree or even . . . [ . . . when the general?] of the Achaians, G. J[ulius . . . ] . . . emperor . . . [1] Copy B (Olympia):
Fragment abcde
With good fortune,
When the general of the Achaians was P. Egnatius Brachy[llos, the League of the Achaians decided, since an embassy was sent to] the most divine Emperor Caesar Trajan Hadrian Augustus, [through which] the Achaians [begged that he accept ] the honours [decreed] in hope [by them and to permit them to set up stelae inscribed ] (5)with the [decree] about the honours, [and they received a letter from the most divine] Emperor [to the Achaians] [through which the greatest and most divine emperor] accepted some of the honours, [but declined others as invidious],
which has been copied out (below) . . . . . . by a decree or even . . . [ . . . when the General?] of the Achaians, G. J[ulius . . . ] (10) . . . emperor . . .
Fragment fgh
. . . . . . and . . . . . . . . . . . . to give thanks . . . . . . . . . . . . previously to him . . . . . . . . . . . . so that the - about . . . . . . (15) . . . . . . as far as possible . . . . . . . . . . . . with most fitting and appropriate things . . . . . . . . . . . . bearing no less kindness and benevolence . . . . . . . . . . . . both children and offspring, being gentle even in the . . . . . . . . . . . . and he restored some cities that were no more, while he - other cities . . . . . . (20) . . . . . . just as he took care of piety towards the gods, [equipping] temples . . . . . . . . . . . . and restoring the ancestral sacrifices and . . . . . . . . . . . . finding some sacred [games] abandoned and [newly establishing] others . . . . . . . . . . . . may seem that Greece, through all these things . . . . . . . . . . . . to - the things that have been decreed, since much . . . . . . (25) . . . . . . honour of the customary ones . . . of him . . . greater . . . . . . . . . . . . the [copy] of the decree at Olympia [and in Delphi] [and in Nemea] and Isthmia and in Argos and in Athens . . . . . . . . . . . . we shall be . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fragment iklm
(30) . . . . . . to restore . . . . . . . . . . . . both in deeds and words . . . . . . . . . . . . and more blessed . . . . . . . . . . . . to each city. [The League of the Achaians] shall decide . . . . . . . . . . . . the - of Greece and . . . . . . (35) . . . . . . to Greece, and shall sacrifice to Zeus of Safe Landings (Apobatēriou)[2] . . . . . . [ . . . . . . and to Athena] Polias. On the same day, a sacrifice [shall be performed . . . . . . ] [ . . . . . . to Zeus] Olympios and to Poseidon [and . . . . . . ] . . . . . . and shall sacrifice on his birthday[3] . . . . . . . . . . . . thus in common to Asklepios . . . . . . (40) . . . . . . of the best man to write . . . . . . . . . . . . on account of family . . . . . . . . . . . . to the Senate . . . . . .
Fragment r
. . . . . . . . . . . . towards
(45) . . . . . . the - of the
. . . . . . magnificence?
. . . . . . that
. . . . . . asking
. . . . . . and the
(50) . . . . . .
Fragment stuvx
. . . . . . (55) . . . . . . on? honour, our memorandum
have . . . . . . reciprocation. Put to the vote by G. Clodius
Secu[ndus. Emperor Caesar, son of Divine Traianus P]arthicus, grandson of Divine Nerva,
Tra[jan Hadrian Augustus . . . tribunician] power 10 times, consul 3 times (126 AD) to the League
of the Achaians, [greetings. . . . . . . ] the other honours decreed by you,
(60)I accept . . . . . . for some things, I resolved for you (?), then also
whatever . . . . . . but I praise the good will, which you continue
[to bear towards me . . . . . . ] and because you continuously decree honours for me . . . . . . . . . which you think it necessary to do [ . . . for] my [honour] . . . . . . of the honours that have been decreed by the Council . . . (65) . . . . . . - and I did not prevent you from [decreeing] those things
. . . . . . of the festivals and sacrifices and the . . . . . . . . . to be publicly proclaimed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . serve as envoy . . . . . . (70) . . . . . . agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . served as envoys . . . . . . . . . . . . Ptolemaios ? - to whom travel expenses [should be granted,] [unless they have promised to serve as envoys for free. . . . ] from the . . . in the care of Claudius
. . . . . . . . .
Fragment n
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Fragment o
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Fragment p
. . . . . .
Fragment q
. . . . . . inhabited world . . . . . . . . . (5) . . . . . .