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Sylloge Inscriptionum Graecarum: 399


THE AMPHICTYONS GRANT PRIVILEGES TO THE DIONYSIAC ARTISTS AT ATHENS

Greek text:   IG_2².1132 ,   lines 1-39
Date:     278/7 B.C.
Format:   see key to translations

The Dionysiac Artists were a well-organised association of actors and others involved in theatre performances. "They had magistrates and assemblies which passed resolutions, dispatched or received envoys, and dealt with states and rulers as independent sovereign bodies" (Austin_143). Links to some other inscriptions that refer to the Dionysiac Artists can be found in the search results.


Gods. From the Metroön {temple of Kybele}. In the year of Hieron as archon at Delphi; at the spring assembly; with the following men acting as hieromnemones:

It is resolved by the Amphictyons and the hieromnemones and the agoratroi, to grant to the [artists at Athens] inviolability and freedom from taxes for all time; neither [they] nor [their possessions] may be brought to trial 10 [in any place], either during war or during peacetime; but they shall retain freedom from taxes and security [in perpetuity, as] agreed by all the Greeks; the artists shall not be forced to serve as [foot-soldiers] or sailors, so that the worship [and sacrifices] to the gods, which have been assigned to the artists, shall be performed at the prescribed times, because the artists are free from other duties and dedicated to the [service] of the gods; no-one shall be allowed to prosecute an artist at any time either during peacetime or during war, 20 and no-one shall be allowed to despoil him, unless the artist is in debt and owes the debt to a city, or if he owes the debt arising from a private [contract]. If anyone acts [in contravention of these provisions], he may be brought to trial before the Amphictyons, [both himself and the] city in which the crime against the artist was [committed]; the artists [at Athens] are granted freedom from taxes and [security] by the Amphictyons for ever, and they shall be [free from all other duties]; the secretaries shall inscribe [this decree] on a stone stele and set it up in [Delphi]; and they shall [send] 30 a sealed copy of the decree to the Athenians, so that the [artists] may know that the Amphictyons take great account of piety towards the gods, and agree with the requests of the artists; for the future, they will [endeavour] to maintain these rights for all time and to add whatever other [benefits] they can provide to the artists of Dionysos.

[Envoys]: Astydamas, tragic poet; Neoptolemos, tragic actor.

{ In the inscription, this decree is followed by a later decree of the Amphictyons, which renewed the privileges ( Syll_692 ). }

inscription 400


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