This inscription is a key document for establishing the chronology of Delphi in the middle of the 3rd century B.C.; see for instance J.B.Scholten, "The Politics of Plunder", page 237 ( Google Books ). It has often been dated to 246/5 B.C., but more recent studies have placed the Athenian archon Polyeuktos in 250/49 B.C. For the relaunch of the Soteria at Delphi, see Syll_402; and for another inscription mentioning Kybernis, who proposed this decree, see Syll_403.
When Polyeuktos was archon, in the ninth prytany of the Aigeis tribe, with Chairephon of Kephale, son of Archestratos, acting as secretary of the prytany, on the 22nd day of Elaphebolion, which was the 30th day of the prytany; it was resolved by the people, as proposed by Kybernis of Halimous, the son of Kydias: since the Aetolian league, displaying its piety towards the gods, has voted to hold the Soteria games in honour of Zeus Soter {the Saviour} and Pythian Apollo, as a memorial of the battle that was fought against the barbarians who attacked the Greeks and the temple of Apollo, the common sanctuary of the Greeks; and the people sent picked troops and cavalry to join in the fight for our common safety; and concerning the games the Aetolian league and their general Charixenos have sent an embassy to the people, to explain how the people should accept the games, the musical contest - equivalent [to the Pythian contest - and the gymnastic and horse-racing contests - equivalent] to the Nemean contests, in their [age-groups and rewards] . . .
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