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Royal Correspondence: 30


LETTER OF PTOLEMAIOS IV (?) TO A PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR

Greek text:   DAW_44.6.101
Date:     late 3rd century B.C.
Tags:     mercenaries+garrisons
Format:   see key to translations

This inscription was found at Soloi in Cilicia. It is uncertain which king wrote the letter; Welles considered that Ptolemy IV was most likely, but Antiochos III has also been suggested. Whichever king wrote it, the letter clearly shows how the garrisons sent by Hellenistic kings sometimes harassed rather than protected the native population; see A.Chaniotis, "War in the Hellenistic World", pp.70-71 ( Google Books ).


. . . that you had no time and did not even make an investigation but that the city was oppressed in this way in no slight manner; they said that not only the outer but also the inner city as well was occupied by the soldiers camping in disorder - the inner city was never subject to billeting even in the time of king Alexandros - and that the burden was due particularly to the supernumeraries, for it was these who occupied the greater part of the houses. Now I think that when you were with me I gave you an order on this subject; even if I did not, however, you should have been very careful . . .

letter 31


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