These two decrees were passed during the course of the Chremonidean War. Although Ionia was not directly involved in the war, there was conflict arising from the presence of the Ptolemaic fleet, which was operating with varying success in the Aegean Sea. By 262 B.C., both Miletos and Ephesos had come under Ptolemaic control; see R.M.Errington, "A History of the Hellenistic World", pp. 133-135 ( Google Books ). Priene seems to have retained its independence, and its citizens were understandably grateful to a man who had loyally protected their citadel during these years.
An earlier decree in honour of Nymphon was inscribed in the same place, but only the last part of this has survived ( Priene_67 ).
[A] [When] Akamas was stephanephoros, on the . . . day of the month of Metageitnion, as proposed by A... [son] of . . .; [since Nymphon] son of Protarchos, who was appointed by the people to be commander of the guard of the c[itadel], has remained in the fort for the whole of the period in accordance with the law; and along with the guards he has protected the citadel carefully and honourably, and handed it back to the people in the same condition as he received it; and he has continually treated the guards correctly and justly; therefore with good fortune it is resolved by the council and the people to praise Nymphon and to crown him with a golden crown, and to announce the award of the crown and the reasons for awarding the crown at the next Dionysia, in the first contest of the flute-players, and the agonothete shall take care of the announcement, so that the people may be seen to commemorate just and good men. This decree shall be inscribed on the stele that already exists for him in the temple of Athena. The neopoiēs Kleotimos shall provide money for the expense of the crown and the inscribing of the decree, in the month of Boiēdromion when the god is stephanephoros in the year after Akamas; and he shall report it in his accounts.
[B] For Nymphon son of Protarchos. When Leomedon was stephanephoros, in the month of Taureon, as proposed by Lysias son of Polychares; since Nymphon son of Protarchos, when he was previously appointed by the people to be commander of the guard of the citadel, along with the guards protected the citadel carefully and honourably, and handed it back to the people in the same condition as he received it; and again when he was appointed by the [people] to be commander of the guard of the citadel for a second time, he remained [in the] fort for the whole of the period in accordance with the law, and handed it back to the [people]; and he has treated the guards correctly and justly [in every respect], as he did previously; and in other matters he has continually offered [himself] to do what is advantageous [to the city]; therefore with good fortune it is resolved by the council [and the people] to crown Nymphon son of Protarchos with [a golden crown] as is customary, [at the next] Dionysia in the contest of the tragedians, and to declare [the reasons for] awarding the crown; the agonothete [shall take care of] the announcement. And so that the continual good attitude [of the people towards] noble [men] may be [evident] . . . [and] they may be commemorated, [these things shall be inscribed on] a stone stele [and it shall be placed in the temple of Athena. The] expense [of the crown] . . .
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