Translations of Hellenistic Inscriptions: 166

LIBRARIES IN KOS, RHODES AND TAUROMENION

Inscription A provides the earliest documentary evidence for the creation of a public library in a Greek city; see S.Johnstone, "A New History of Libraries and Books in the Hellenistic Period", pp.352-354 ( academia.edu ).

Inscription B contains part of a catalogue of library books.  It was found near the gymnasium in the city of Rhodes.  The library seems to have been attached to the gymnasium, and the gymnasiarchs had at least some responsibility for its administration; see NimRoD.  The translation of B is taken from A.Ellis-Evans,  "Literature and History in the Hellenistic Period" ( academia.edu ).

Inscription C was painted on a plaster wall at Tauromenion in Sicily. Several fragments have survived. Like B, it is probably part of the catalogue of a library attached to a gymnasium; but it also provides brief biographical details of the authors. The translation is adapted from F.Battistoni, "The Ancient Pinakes from Tauromenion: Some New Readings" (ZPE, 2006).  There is a photograph of the inscription, with some information in French, on the NimRoD website.

[A] These men made offerings for the library.

• Diokles son of Apollodoros and Apollodoros son of Diokles :   the library and 100 books.
• Hekataios son of Simias :   200 drachmas. 
• ...mos son of Epigēris :    200 drachmas and 100 books.
• . . . son of Simos :    200 drachmas and 100 books. 
• ...os son of Python :   200 drachmas and 100 books.
• ...autos son of Parmeniskos [and] Hagesias son of Hagesias son of Nikostratos :    200 drachmas.
• Xenokles son of Xenokles :    200 drachmas and 100 books.
• Leonidas son of Euteris :    . . .
• Eunomos son of Pisikles :    . . .
• Dara...   * * *

[B] 

[ Works of Demetrios of Phaleron ] Boiotiakos Aristaichmos Kleon,   1 book Phaidondas or On O... On Legislation at Athens,   5 On the Constitutions at Athens Works of Hegesias.  The Philathenaioi Aspasia,   1 Alkibiades,   1 Works of Theodektes.  Techne,   4 Amphiktyonikos,   1 Works of Theopompos.  Lakonikos,   1 Panionikos,   1  Mausolos,   1 Olympikos,   1 Philip,   1 Encomium of Alexander,   1 In Defence of Olig[archs or -archies],   1 In Defence of ...ias,   1 Against Euagoras of Cyprus,   2  Letter to Antipatros,   1 Advisory Speech to Alexander Panathenaikos Invective against the School of Plato  Works of another Theopompos. On Kingship,   1 book

[Works of . . . ] In Defence of . . . In Defence of . . . Works of Dionysios.  . . . On . . . On the . . . On the paid... Works of (?) Diodotos.  On [(?) the Deeds of . . .]  Harmod[ios (?) and Aristogeiton] Works of Damokleides.  . . . On Generation Against Alexander Works of Eratosthenes.  . . .

[C] 

1.   Kallisthenes of Olynthos.     He was the secretary {epistolagraphos} of Alexandros. He also left 'Deeds of Alexandros', having written . . .

2.   ...on of Elis.    . . .

3.   Quintus Fabius, called Pictorinus, of Rome, the son of Gaius.     He recorded the arrival of Herakles in Italy, and . . . of Lanoïos {Lanuvius} . . . by Aineias and . . . much later there were Romulus and Remus and the [foundation] of Rome by Romulus . . . (?) reigned . . .

     Philistos of Syracuse.     They say he was a pupil of Euenos . . . who wrote elegies. He was the first to compose in the manner now predominant and to structure correctly the narration and . . .

4.   Anaximandros of Miletos, son of Praxiades.     He was of Thales . . .

→ inscription 167

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