The ktoinai were ancient territorial divisions in that continued to exist on the island of Rhodes even after demes became the main administrative units. As this inscription shows, the ktoinai existed not only on the main island, but on the small island of Chalkē and on the mainland opposite Rhodes. The inscription also describes a situation in which religious officials (hieropoioi) seem to have some power over the civic authorities (mastroi): see D.R.Smith, "Hieropoioi and Hierothytai on Rhodes", pp.533-4 ( Persée ).
Resolved by the Kamirans: to inscribe the names of all the townships {ktoinai} of the Kamirans, on the island and on the mainland, and to place them on a stone stele in the temple of Athena, except for Chalkē - and the inhabitants of Chalkē can be inscribed if they so wish. Three men shall promptly be selected, who will take of this matter as quickly as possible, and allocate it to whoever promises to provide the stele for the least cost and inscribe the names of the townships and to carve them on the stele and to place it in the temple of Athena and to mount it so that it is as secure and as beautiful as possible; and the cost of all of this shall be provided by the treasurer. The inhabitants of all the townships shall each appoint a mastros in the most sacred temple of their township, according to the law of the Rhodians. These mastroi shall gather at Kamiros in the temple of Athena, whenever the hieropoioi announce, and they shall consider all the sacred and public matters of the Kamirians . . .
Attalus' home page | 30.04.18 | Any comments?