Translations of Hellenistic Inscriptions: 150

ARBITRATION BETWEEN TROIZEN AND ARSINOĒ

During the Hellenistic period, the city of Methana became an important Ptolemaic base, and its name was changed to Arsinoē; see D.Gill, "Arsinoe in the Peloponnese: the Ptolemaic base on the Methana peninsula", especially page 70 ( academia.edu ).   For a discussion of the arbitration, see S.L.Ager, "Interstate Arbitrations in the Greek World, 337-90 B.C.", no. 138 ( Google Books ).

This inscription was found at Epidauros in two parts, which have been joined together by modern editors to make an almost complete text of the agreement. Some missing words at the end of the text have been restored from another copy of the agreement, which was found at Troizen.   There is a recent edition of the Greek text, with Italian translation and commentary, by C.Carusi, "Nuova edizione della homologia fra Trezene e Arsinoe" ( academia.edu ).

When Nikon [was . . . in Troizen] for the third time and Pheidostratos was [priest of] Athena in Arsinoē, the Troizenians [and Arsinoeis made] an agreement for all time [on these terms, when] envoys [and arbitrators came from king] Ptolemaios.

• Concerning the so-called [common] land [and] Chersonesos and Praxōneion; both [these and the isthmus] of Stenitas shall be common between the cities.
• Concerning [the cutting of] stone and wood; 10 no-one [anywhere] shall prevent those who have bought it from [launching it] and landing it and carrying it across; [they shall not prevent those] transporting it [from launching it] and landing it and carrying it across; and they shall not do anything else to hinder [those engaged in] the work or [dwelling in] the fort. [If anyone contravenes these regulations, a] city [shall pay] 10,000 drachmas and [a private individual] shall pay 1,000 drachmas and what [(?) is owed . . . ] to the royal [treasury]. . . .
• There shall be . . . along with Chersonesos concerning [the so-called] Diastenitis, and from there towards the demarcated [land], as agreed at any time, [and the] fort at Stenitas.
• 20 The [Stenitas] and the land outside the fort, [from the] fort to the white Hermes [opposite Stenitas], shall be common [land], marked by boundary stones; . . . of the tuna fisheries and the common land shall be held in common.
• Ownership of property [in the common] land shall be assured.
• [Boundary markers shall be placed] from the fort to the white [Hermes. The land] and the salt-works and the little harbour . . .
• Export shall be granted each year . . . there being no taxation for exploiting the salt-works . . . 30 the one who takes on the salt-works is chosen . . . in the so-called Stenitas, and the . . . marked by boundary stones. It shall be possible to . . . the common land . . .
• Whatever the polemarchs or the damiorgoi or any one else from the public . . . has reclaimed either from the territory or in the city . . . outside the territories, shall be set aside; and no-one shall bring a lawsuit about this money. If anyone does bring a lawsuit, [it shall be] ineffective; [and if it is brought by a private individual, he shall pay a fine of] 1,000 drachmas; and if it is brought by a city, it shall pay a fine of 10,000 drachmas.
• [Concerning the common land, and concerning] the produce from the territory, [and concerning the revenues] that came [from the tuna fisheries] in previous [times, 40 no-one shall bring a lawsuit. If] anyone does bring a lawsuit, if it is brought by a private individual, he shall pay a fine of [1,000 drachmas; and if it is brought by a city], it shall pay a fine of 10,000 drachmas; and the lawsuit shall be ineffective.
• Concerning [the goods that were seized by the Troizenians] or were brought from the territory [when it was made inaccessible, those whose goods have been seized shall be paid out of the public] revenues from the tuna fisheries, in line with what is recorded in the accounts [of the (?) Troizenian treasurer].
• [Concerning the prisoners who] were recovered by the [(?) Troizenian] polemarchs - [Artemidoros, Pyrros and Theodotos] - there shall be paid to each of them 200 drachmas in Troizenian currency, [and the land] and the buildings that were seized [by the Troizenians shall be returned to those] from whom they were seized, by paying out [from the public revenues to those who acquired some] of the property seized 50 [by the Troizenians].
• The two peoples shall have [the right of intermarriage and shared ownership with each other for all time].

So that this agreement [may be fully effective, each of the peoples shall send an embassy to Athens and] they shall ask the Athenians [to appoint for them three men, who on coming here shall confirm] the terms of the agreement [between the cities and display them in three steles, in the temple of Poseidon in Kalaureia and the temple of Asklepios at Epidauros and the temple of Athena on the acropolis at Athens; so that] . . .

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