Sylloge Inscriptionum Graecarum: 141

DECREE OF ISSA CONCERNING A COLONY ON KORKYRA MELAINA

This is said to be the oldest inscription that has been found in Croatia, where it is known as the Lumbarda Psephisma. It was dated by Sylloge³ to around 385 B.C., but it is now thought to have been about a century later. An additional fragment of the inscription was discovered in 2018 ( total croatia news ), and has not yet been published.

The translation of the first part of the inscription is taken from N. Cahill, "Household and City Organization at Olynthus", pp.219-221 ( Google Books ).   For a summary of what is known about the colony at 'Black Corcyra', see M.H. Hansen & T.H. Nielsen, "An Inventory of Archaic and Classical Poleis", p. 333 ( Google Books ).

With good fortune. When Praxidamos was recorder {hieromnemon}, in the month of  Ma[chaneus, an agreement] of the [oikists] of Issa and of Pyllos and his son Dazos. [The oikists wrote] this up and the people decreed it.

The first colonists [who took possession of the] land and who fortified the city will take by choice:

• of the fortified city, a choice house [plot, one each,] together with his portion.
• of the land [outside the walled city, the same colonists will take] a choice "first allotment" of the territory, consisting of:
   
• [of the best land], three plethra.
• of the other types of land, the portions.

Those who come later shall receive:

• of the [city, one house plot, and
• 10 of] the undivided land, four and one-half plethra.

. . . [if] it is resolved by [the] people.

These people took possession of the country [and fortified] the city:

Tribe of [Dyma]nes :  Archelaos son of Mesodamos 20 Damatrios son of Aristarchos Dionysios son of Deinarchos (?) Phanaios son of Zoilos (?) Theotimos son of Phinton Antallos son of Aristarchos ...olthon son of Theotimos Antallos son of Sopatros Eukles son of Sosios Metrikon son of Aristen Zoilos son of Phanaios 30 (?) Aristarchos son of Themistios ...tios son of Tyros ...chron son of Aristen . . . son of Artemidoros Nikandros son of Dionysios Orthon son of Klearchos Euxenos son of Philon ...les son of Doros . . . son of Stratippos ...on son of Nikasion 40 . . . son of Sthenon (?) Antallos son of Aristen ...on son of Aristen ...es son of Antimachos ...ios son of Lysikrates . . . son of Doros . . . son of Metrikon  ...tros son of Themistios . . . son of Pantikles ...os son of Esthlagoras 50 [Mnaste]r  son of Damatrios . . . son of Apollodoros Herakleidas son of Dionysios Eukles son of Xeniskos Agesianax  son of Themistios Sestos son of Ileas Zoilos son of Sopatros Euxenos son of Anthippos Kallisthenes son of Nikandros Antheus son of Poseidaios 60 Theodotos son of Herakleidas Athenagoras son of Kleomelos Theodoros son of Klearchos Sosandros son of Aristoxenos (?) Aristion son of Aristarchos Aristomachos son of Xeniskos *  *  *

Tribe of [Hylleis] :  Herakleidas son of Theotimos 20 Psyll... son of (?) Xeniskos Apollodoros son of Kothon Teles... son of ...os Aristarchos son of Philokrates Somn... son of (?) Herakleidas Kallimachos son of Aristen Dionysios son of Aristen Theodoros son of ...os Nikarchos . . . Ariston son of Aristokles 30 Xenokrates son of Aischrion Aglotrophes son of ...otos Protagoras son of Philon Protarchos son of Zoilos Kleodikos son of Mnaster Archebios son of Dionysios Philiarchos son of (?) Diokleas Antallos son of Menekrates Apollodoros son of Poseidaios Protarchos son of Aischrion 40 Thrasymachos son of Euarchos Kokkalos son of Euarchos Simias son of Kallen Kallias son of Protarchos Noumenios son of Dionysios Zoilos son of Protes Philikos son of Zoilos Dionysios son of Eubatos Aglotrophes son of Mnaster Kleainetos son of Herakleidas 50 Euboulos son of Philotas Python son of Philostratos Eukles son of Euboulidas Aristen son of Alexippos Mnesipolis son of Akousilas Phinton son of Sosthenes Philokrates son of Samos Aglotrophes son of Daphnaios Zenon son of Zopyros Hippodamos son of Menetidas 60 Doros son of Leon Zoilos son of (?) Diokleas Dionysios . . .  Phinton son of D... Mikon son of Atha... Kleostratos . . . Heloris . . . Kle... . . .  * * *

Tribe of Pamphyloi :  Onasimos son of Kephalos 20 Boulagoras son of Phileas Sallas son of Philon Aischinas son of Sallas Pantheidas son of Herakleidas Kallimachidas son of Onasimos Antipatros son of Sallas Orthon son of Philiarchos Lysanias son of Xenotimos Sosandros son of Mikylos Sosimachos son of Boulagoras 30 Onasilas son of Diophantos Kleustratos son of Kleomelos Nikanor  son of Nikon Orthon son of Nikon Agelochos son of Theodoros Dorikles son of Daphnaios Zephyros son of Damatrios Nautor son of Sibalis Sonylos son of Menyllos . . . 40 . . . . . . Ath... . . . Xena... . . . Telamidas (?) . . .  Choirilos son of Kl... Nikarchos son of Damatrios (?) Herakleidas son of D... Sitalkes son of Aristen (?) Heroidas son of Boulagoras 50 Dionysios . . . Aischylos . . . Dionysios . . . Tima... . . . * * *

{ Traces of other names have survived; originally there must have been at least 200-300 names in the list of colonists. }

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