The manumission documents found at Bouthrotos { Butrint } are relatively brief, and do not reveal much about the individuals they mention; but they are remarkable for their number. After Delphi, Bouthrotos has the second largest collection of manumissions in the Greek world: over 200 inscriptions, containing about 600 separate manumissions.
One feature that is immediately obvious in these inscriptions, as compared with manumission inscriptions elsewhere in the Greek world, is that instead of being manumitted by a single person, the slaves are usually manumitted by a group, consisting of both men and women; these groups are almost certainly family units. For an analysis of the role of women in these groups, see K.B Frank, "Juxtaposing formats: Studying northwestern Greek women through formal and personal inscriptions" ( BICS, 2026 ).
The inscriptions of Bouthrotos were published with a French translation by P. Cabanes, "Corpus des Inscriptions grecques d'Illyrie méridionale et d'Épire", vol. 2 (2006). This book is not easily available online, but French translations of some of the inscriptions have been provided by Claire Tuan, with plentiful photographs.
Scholars have found it difficult to agree on accurate dates for the inscriptions, so the dates quoted here must be treated as tentative. It is clear that by this time there were already Italian residents in Bouthrotos; for instance, Marcus appears in D and Titus in F.
A smaller number of manumission inscriptions have been found at Dodona, about 40 miles to the east of Bouthrotos. A couple of these are translated at K and L.
[A] I.Bouthrotos 1 { ? 232-168 B.C. }
With good fortune; when Eualkes the Molossian was strategos of the Epirotes, and Lykidas Helinnos was president of the Chaones, and Saōtas the Prasaibian was priest of Asklepios, in the month of Kraneios; Archēn son of Archiadas released Soteris to be free, and dedicated her to be sacred to Asklepios who is in Bouthrotos, and no one shall be able to claim her as a slave. Soteris shall remain with Archēn for as long as Archēn lives. Witnesses: Hagesandros son of Lamiskos, Lamiskos son of Hagesandros 10 and Archedamos son of Apollodoros, all from Bouthrotos.
[B] I.Bouthrotos 6 { ? 200-170 B.C. }
When Boïskos Messaneos was president of the Chaones, and Nikadas Kartōnos was priest of Asklepios, in the month of Agrianios; Teimagora Ophyllis, the daughter of Nikolaos, dedicated Sotia and Hierō the daughter of Sotia 10 to be sacred to Asklepios, and no one shall be able to claim them as slaves. Sotia and Hierō shall remain with Teimagora for as long as Teimagora lives. Witnesses: Anaxandros son of Kephalos, Philoxenos son of Nikadas and Saōtas son of Nikandros.
[C] I.Bouthrotos 18 { ? 163-130 B.C. }
When Menoitas Messaneos, the son of Boïskos, was priest of Asklepios, these persons were released to be free, and were dedicated to be sacred to Asklepios:
Andronikos, Philōtera and Meganika released Philistō to be free.
Boïskos son of Polemon and Polemon son of Boïskos released Dosis.
Archelaos and Philippos released Timō to be free, in accordance with the law on childless persons, with the consent of Archelaos.
Arkoleon son of Sosandros, Sosandros son of Arkoleon and Philis released Euameris to be free.
Kephalos, his son Lysanias and Philopatra released Sokratis.
Lamiskos, Lamios and Aischra daughter of Leon released 10 Ktesikrates.
Nikanor son of Nestor, Nikaia, Kleomētis, Nestor and Nikadas released Symmachis.
Stratonika, being childless, released Parmeniskos, with the consent of her father.
Philippidas, Phainō and Phila released Syriska.
Philotas son of Kallikrates, being childless, released Soteris.
Lykiskos son of Boïskos, being childless, released Philistiōn.
Leontiŏn, Lykiskos and Euthōlis released Enthymēma.
Leon and Nikanor released Pardalis.
Symmachos, Lysanias and Philotera released Lamios.
Agathokles son of Ergoteles, being childless, released Zenon.
20 Nikandros and Phileia, being childless, released Ōpheliōn.
[D] I.Bouthrotos 21 , lines 1-36 { ? 163-130 B.C. }
When Sosipatros son of Philippos was priest, these persons were released to be free, and were dedicated to be sacred to Asklepios:
Lykiskos, Hadylō, Philotera, Lykos and Protomachos released Philotera.
Phalakrion, Pamphila and Pheideta released Philōtas.
Philippos, Photeus, Ariston and Philōtas released Pyrrhos.
Aphrodisios son of Markos, Aphrodisios, Kleopatra 10 and Laodika released Chrēsimos.
Aphrodisios son of Markos, Aphrodisios, Kleopatra and Laodika released Agathon.
Leon son of Nikandros and Philistiŏn daughter of Aischron, being childless, released Philokles.
Philippos son of Photeus, Photeus, Ariston and Philŏtas released Synedris.
Philagros and Philōtiŏn released Erōtis.
Menoitas son of Boïskos, Boïskos, Dinomacha and Deinomacha released Pardalis.
Machatas released Agatharchidas.
20 Nikanor son of Lykiskos and Attea released Lykinos.
Andronikos and Philippos released Aristomachos.
Boïskos, Philotas and Dromon released Euboula.
Nikanor son of Lykiskos and Attea released Apollonia.
Thebaïs released Theudosis and dedicated her to be sacred to Asklepios, in accordance with the law on childless persons.
30 Nikanor son of Nikanor and Hadylō released Sōtōn.
Phanias, Nikasō and Herakleidas released Asklepon.
Sosipatros [son of] Phalakrion, Lykos, Arista, Melissa and Arista released Sostrata.
[E] I.Bouthrotos 30 { ? 163-130 B.C. }
When Phrynichos Ancheropaios son of Sosipatros was priest, these persons were released to be free:
Parmeniskos, Hybrimmas, Lamia and Pamphila released Nikasios.
Materō, with the consent of Arkoleon and Sosandros, released Antigona.
Nikasios, Menephylos and Kleomētis released Helikon.
10 Herakleidas son of Nikias, being childless, released Aphrodisia and Parmeniskos.
Boïskos, Polemon and Stratonika released Krateia.
Eurymmas and Lykiska released Philistos to be free, in accordance with the law on childless persons.
Admatos and Satyra released Erōtis, in accordance with the law on childless persons.
Xenis daughter of Dromon released Lareisa.
20 Dikaios released Nikias to be free, in accordance with the law on childless persons.
Aristomachos son of Aristeus released Echenika, in accordance with the law on childless persons.
Thoinos, Aristomacha, Philotera, Philotas and Lykos released Philokrates; he shall remain with Thoinos and Aristomacha for as long as they live, but afterwards he may go wherever he wishes.
Boïskos, Polemon and Stratonika released Phryniōn.
30 Nikarchos, Pherenika and Philotera released Philōnidas.
Hadylō, with the consent of her father Myrtilos, released Nearchidas, in accordance with the law on childless persons.
Nikanor son of Symmachidas released Apollonia, in accordance with the law on childless persons.
Ainatos, Lamia, Hiromachos and Antipatros released Philokrateia . . .
40 Herakleitos, in accordance with the law on childless persons, released Doriōn, in accordance with the law on childless persons.
Dorotheos released Epiktēsis, in accordance with the law on childless persons; she shall remain with Dorotheos for as long as he lives, doing whatever he requests.
Phrynichos, Leaina, Antiphon and Sosipatros released Genthios.
[F] I.Bouthrotos 45 { ? 163-130 B.C. }
When Myrtilos Drymios was priest, in the month of Gamilios; Nikostratos son of Nikanor, Nikanor son of Nikostratos, Philotas son of Ariston and Pheideta released Sotion to be free, and dedicated him to be sacred. Witnesses: Soterichos son of Apollophanes, Alexandros son of Pyrrhos and Philokrates son of Ōpheliōn.
10 Sosipatros son of Philippos, Nikias son of Sosipatros, Sosipatros and Pamphila released Zenon.
Sopatros son of Sosipatros released Sosipolis, in accordance with the law on childless persons.
Titos Orphios and Ammia released Statios, in accordance with the law on childless persons.
Tatiŏn daughter of Diogenes, Praxias son of Diogenes and Phainō released Pamphila.
[G] I.Bouthrotos 50 { ? 163-130 B.C. }
When Lysanias son of Telesidas was priest, these persons were released to be free:
Sokrates, being childless, released Nikomachos.
Zopyros and Xenō, being childless, released Zoïlos.
Stratō, Lysanias, Sosandros and Simakos released Adea, with the consent of the guardians of the orphans [Nikanor] and Philotera.
Boïskos [son of Polemon] and Polemon released Diodoros.
Nikandros and Philippos released Areion.
Satyros, Nikanor, Pherenika and Lysimacha daughter of Akrotateus released Lysō.
Philotas released Sotia.
Sosandros, 10 Simakos, Lysanias, Stratō and Leaina released Sopatra, with the consent of the guardians of the orphans Nikanor and Philotera.
Menoitas, Deinomacha and Boubaliŏn released Kleon.
[H] I.Bouthrotos 76 { ? 163-130 B.C. }
When Tauriskos Phonidatos was strategos of the Prasaiboi, and Phidys Chilios was president, and Philippos Kortōnos was priest of Asklepios, on the fourth day of the month of Halotropios; Lykos son of Phalakros and Phalakros son of Geron and Phalakros son of Lykos and Mena the wife of Phalakros, with the consent of Phalakros, dedicated Soteris and her son Apollonios to be sacred. Witnesses: Philippos the priest, Sokles son of Glaukias, Lamiskos son of Hagesandros, Nikias son of Dionysodoros and Philon son of Mēlophon.
[I] I.Bouthrotos 99 { ? 163-130 B.C. }
[When Tauriskos] Phonidatos [was strategos of the Prasaiboi,] and Thyrmax Eschatios was president, in the month of Apellaios; Aristogenes and Philotera and Philis, with the consent of Antigonos and Kleupatra, released Moschina to be free and dedicated her to be sacred to Asklepios, from this day onwards, and she can go wherever she likes; with good fortune. Witnesses: Tauriskos Phonidatos, Appoitas Kydestos, Boïskos Eschatios, Theudotos and Nestor Opatai, Sosandros, Simias, Leon and Sosipatros Opatai, Dokimos Talaōnos.
[J] I.Bouthrotos 126 { ? 163-130 B.C. }
With good fortune; when Nikadas Loigyphios was strategos of the Prasaiboi, and Philippos Porrōnos was president, and Lysanias Aixōnios was priest of Zeus Soter, in the month of Gamilios . . .; Kephalos son of Eurymmas, with the consent of his daughter Philis and his wife, released Philostratos to be free and dedicated him to be sacred to Zeus Soter; Philostratos shall remain with Kephalos for five years. Witnesses: Nikolaos Tharios, Sosandros Tharios, the son of Theotimos, and Sosipatros of Bouthrotos, the son of Gorgos.
[K] Cabanes 583.63 { ? 300-232 B.C. }
God; with good fortune. Boïskos, Phormiskos, Echenika and Damnagora, on behalf of themselves and their descendants, released Phleuchō to be free, both herself and her offspring. When Boïskos and Damnagora have died, and Phormiskos has reached maturity, she may move wherever she wants. Witnesses: Lagoros Batelōnos, Kephalos Oplainos, Polyperchon Oplainos and Simias Kelaithos.
[L] Cabanes 589.75 { ? late 3rd cent. B.C. }
When Eualkos Arianteus was strategos of the Epirotes, and Polykleitos Ossonios was president of the Molossians, in the month of Phoinikaios; Anaxandros Pharganaios, the son of Gelon, being childless, released Agathokleia, who was called Euporia, to be free, and no one shall be able to claim her as a slave. Witnesses: Antinous Klathrios, the son of Aleximachos, Antinous . . . the son of Nikomachos, . . .
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