In 218 B.C., during the Social War, king Philippos invaded Laconia and defeated Lykourgos of Sparta ( Polyb_5.17-24 ). The translation of this epigram is copied from N. Papazarkadas & J. Wallensten, "Religion and family politics in Hellenistic Kalaureia", p. 146 ( PDF ).
[The city] of [ Epidauros ] dedicated [this statue of king Philippos of Macedonia, the son of king] Demetrios, [on account of his virtue and his] goodwill [towards the city].
As long as the sun traverses both the great [celestial sphere and the stars],
I proclaim the glorious [leader] of the Greeks,
even though I am bronze, [because by the force of his spear]
he kept destructive [slavery] away from the island of Apis,
causing [many ills] to the Aetolians [ and the Eleians ]
and countless afflictions [to the Laconian land], which is famous for its foals.
For him has Epidauros now [set] me up; but protect,
Zeus, the man [who draws] his [noble] glory from Sparta.
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