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Translations of Hellenistic Inscriptions: 194


ACCOUNTS OF THE BASILEIA GAMES AT LEBADEIA

Greek text:   (B) IG_7.3078 ,   (D+E) SEG_3.367
Provenance:   Lebadeia , Boeotia
Date:   (A-C) 80-51 B.C. ,   (D+E) 40-30 B.C.
Tags:     accounts ,   victors+contestants
Format:   see key to translations

These two inscriptions have been known for over a century, but it is only recently that their context and meaning has been properly explained, in particular by C. Müller, "A Koinon after 146? Reflections on the Political and Institutional Situation of Boeotia in the Late Hellenistic Period" ( academia.edu ). The Greek text and a French translation of A+C can be found in "Nouveau choix d'inscriptions grecques", republished in 2005, no. 22 ( PDF ); see also C. Doyen, "Pratiques comptables en Grèce hellénistique", paras.34-41 ( OpenEdition ).

The first inscription consists of five separate texts, engraved on three sides of a stone:   (A1) {front} list of victors at the games;   (A2) accounts of the agonothete;   (B) {right} list of delegates from the cities;   (C1) {left} inventory of the temple treasures;   (C2) proceedings against a previous agonothete.   Section C1, which has mostly been ignored by recent editors, was published in 1906 by M. Holleaux, "Observation sur une inscription de Lébadeia" ( Persée ).

The mention of horse-vaulting {ἀπόβασις} in both inscriptions is intriguing; there were various similar events at the Eleutheria games in Larissa (Greek text: IG 9.2.527). However, no description of the event has survived from ancient times, unless Pausanias (5.9'2) is referring to the same thing when he mentions 'mounters'.



[A1]     . . .   :   . . . of Epidamnos
heavy-armour race :   . . . of Nikaia in Bithynia, son of Demetrios
horse vaulting :   . . . of Thespiai, son of Kleainetos
race for a team of horses in the stadium :   . . . of Thespiai, son of Theon
race for a pair of foals :   . . . of Thebes, son of Naumēnichos
10 race for a young race-horse :   . . . of Anthedon, son of Paramonos
race for a full-grown pair :   . . . of Tyre, son of ...kymnos
race for a full-grown race-horse :   ...ius . . . of Rome, son of Lucius
chariot race for foals :   Dioskourides of Tyre, son of Herakleitos
chariot race for full-grown horses :   king Ptolemy Philopator
 

[A2]   20 Accounts of Xenarchos of Hyettos, son of Sokrates, the agonothete of the Basileia.

Receipts:

Total :   [260] bronze drachmas and 198 Attic drachmas.

I have remitted to the cities the entire contribution that was due to be paid by them for the games; and I have paid from my own resources the entire expense of the sacrifices and of the games. I have not taken into account [the payments] either to the attendants or to the under-secretary or for the preparation of the stele or for the inscribing of the names of the victors or for the engraving of the accounts and the decrees and the other texts. I have not received [any other money apart from] the 260 bronze drachmas and 198 Attic drachmas. From these receipts 30 I have dedicated a gold phialē to Zeus Basileus, and I have handed over the remainder of the money to the agonothete who succeeds me.

I let out the hippodrome for . . . ; it was leased by Melesias of Lebadeia, son of Antigenes; guarantors for part of this: Dēmagnetos son of Athanias and Euboulos son of Melanthios, both of Lebadeia. And I let out the stadium and the area around the stadium for 125 drachmas; it was leased by Aston of Lebadeia, son of Amphikrates; guarantor: Pēlekatas of Lebadeia, son of Epōpheles. Concerning the [management of the games {agonothesia}], I chose by lot the (?) delegations of Thespiai and Plataia.
 

[B]   . . .
...los son of Dion
 . . .
. . . son of Thoineas
...etos son of Philoxenos
...onos son of Sōton
...eas son of Proteas
...kos son of Kriton
...os son of Herakleides
Zoïlos son of Hermaios

10 From Anthedon :
Demetrios son of Aristodemos
Hermokrates son of Hermogenes
  Staff-bearers :
...aton son of Nikon
Apollonios son of Paramonos

From Akraiphia :
Chariton son of Theomnestos
Praxites son of Athenodoros
Lysitheos son of Kaphisotimos
  20 Staff-bearers :
Theomnestos son of Chariton
Mnasarchos son of Chariton

From Boumelitaia :
Polykleides son of Mnasippos
  Staff-bearer :
Phrasisthenes son of Philagros

From Larymna :
Lykon son of Hipparchos
Pythonikos son of Xenainetos
  30 Staff-bearer :
Amphikles son of Empedon

From Kōpai :
Kaphisios son of Demetrios
Nikodamos son of Theophilos
  Staff-bearers :
Eumelos son of Nikon
Ariston son of Antigenes

From Plataia :
Lysandros . . .
 

[C1]   . . .
Another from . . ., when . . . son of ...imedes was agonothete, weighing 102 drachmas, [but its actual weight was] 100 drachmas.
Another from . . ., when . . . of Koroneia, son of ...ainetos, was agonothete, weighing 100 drachmas, but its actual weight was . . .
Another from Boiotos, 10 when On... . . . of (?) Koroneia, [son of . . .], was agonothete, weighing . . ., but [its actual weight] was 101 drachmas.
Another without an inscription, weighing . . .
Another weighing 90 drachmas
Another weighing 90 drachmas
Another weighing 90 drachmas
Another weighing 90 drachmas
Another weighing 90 drachmas
Another weighing 90 drachmas

20 Altogether 25 items. Total weight : 2594 drachmas, 3 obols.   Weight of melted items : 2533 drachmas.
A tray for barley cakes {mazomenon}, inscribed with the name of the agonothete Kaphisios of Orchomenos, weighing [205 drachmas, 3 obols].

Overall total : weight, 5333 drachmas.
 

[C2]   I imposed a fine on Platon of Thebes, 30 son of Aristokrates, who was agonothete before [me], because [he did not render] accounts of his time in office as agonothete, that he should pay the penalty prescribed by law, namely ten thousand drachmas; [and] I brought this matter [before] the judges at the equestrian competition, 40 and they [gave] a decision, as written [below].

When the matter of the fine imposed on [Platon] was [brought before them, the judges] of the Basileia who had come from the cities decided to extend the time permitted to the heirs [of Platon] 50 to render accounts of his time in office as agonothete, until the 15th day of the month of Pamboiotios, when Xenarchos is agonothete. If they render the accounts, the fine imposed on Platon shall be cancelled and void; but if they do not render the accounts, 60 the fine shall be valid.

When Karaïchos son of Archias was archon, on the 15th day of the month of Pamboiotios. Accounts of the agonothete Platon of Thebes, son of Aristokrates.

Receipts:



[D]   . . . for men : . . . son of Kallon . . .
pankration for boys :   . . . Cornelius [of Rome], son of Marcus
pankration for men :   . . . of Chaironeia, son of Kallon
pentathlon for men :   ...les of Thebes, son of Kallon
10 heavy-armour race :   . . . of Bargylia, son of Menippos
horse vaulting :   ...les of Thespiai, son of Dion
race for a team of horses in the stadium :   ...as of Koroneia, son of Sokles
race for a pair of foals :   [Publius] Licinius of Rome, son of Publius
race for a young race-horse :   ...mos of . . . in Thessaly, son of Hippokrates
20 race for a pair of full-grown horses :   [Publius] Licinius of Rome, son of Publius
race for a full-grown race-horse :   [Publius] Licinius of Rome, son of Publius
chariot-race for foals :   Publius Licinius of Rome, son of Publius
chariot-race for full-grown horses :   Publius Licinius of Rome, son of Publius
 

[E]   When Antimedon of Plataia was secretary of the naopoioi, registered on the first day of the month of Pamboiotios.   Prokles of Thespiai, son of Thebangelos, who has been appointed to be agonothete for the Basileia games, which are held by the league of Boeotians, 30 states to Tryphon of Plataia, son of Thiopeithes, who was agonothete before him : since it was incumbent on you, when you completed your term as agonothete, to make a handover to me of the funds which had been managed by you, and of all the other matters [that ought] to be handed over by you, but you did none of this, I have decided to resign [as agonothete] and to give an official statement to Antimedon, the secretary [of the naopoioi], and to the naopoioi who have come here from the cities, so that you may all know [who is responsible for this]. I have also given a copy of this same statement [to the boeotarchs].

[Letter] of Nikolaos son of Nikokrates, the archon of Thespiai, [and (?) the polemarchs, which was sent] to the polemarchs of Lebadeia and to the councillors [and to the naopoioi.   Since it has happened] that Prokles, [who was appointed to be agonothete] of the Basileia games, has departed from life in the month of Panamos, and it seems right 40 to us, [on account of] the nobleness of this man [in other respects] and on account of [the piety towards the god] which he has displayed at all times, [both himself and his son], that [the council and all the Boeotians] should maintain their goodwill towards them; [and now we think it right] that Thebangelos son of Prokles [should be appointed agonothete in place of his father, Prokles] son of Thebangelos, [who has departed from life] . . .

inscription 195


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