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Sylloge Inscriptionum Graecarum: 402


A CHIAN DECREE ABOUT THE SOTERIA GAMES, FOUND AT DELPHI

Greek text:   FD_3.3.215
Date:     249/8 B.C.
Tags:     games+festivals ,   kinship
Format:   see key to translations

In about 249 B.C. the Aetolians relaunched the Soteria festival at Delphi as panhellenic games, and sent out envoys to invite other Greek states to join in the games. The invitation was soon accepted by the Chians, who enjoyed a particularly close relationship with the Aetolians in the 3rd century B.C.; see J.B.Scholten, "The Politics of Plunder", pp.99-100 & 106 ( Google Books ).

There is another translation of this inscription by S.M.Burstein, "The Hellenistic Age from the Battle of Ipsos to the Death of Kleopatra VII", no. 62 ( Google Books ).


[It was resolved by the people], as proposed by the polemarch for the month, Melesippos son of Philo..., [and the exetastes for the month], Apollonides son of Angeliskos; since the Aetolians, who have been our kinsmen [and friends since the time of our ancestors], displaying their [piety] towards the gods . . . have sent Kleon and Herakon and . . . as sacred ambassadors {theoroi} [to announce the] Soteria games, which they have established as a memorial [(?) of their piety] and of the victory over the barbarians who [attacked the Greeks] and the temple of Apollo, the common sanctuary of the Greeks; and concerning the games the Aetolian league [and their general] Charixenos have sent envoys, so that we may participate in the games, the musical contest - equivalent to the Pythian contest - and the gymnastic and horse-racing contests - 10 equivalent to the Nemean contests in their age-groups and rewards - [as they] have been voted; therefore, so that the people might be seen [to enhance] the honour of the gods, [mindful] of the close friendship that exists between them and the [Aetolians, with good] fortune it is resolved by the people to accept the invitations and participate in the [Soteria] games, which the Aetolians have established on behalf of the temple of Apollo at Delphi and the common safety [of the Greeks], with a prize of crowns, as has been voted by the Aetolian league; with a [music] contest - equivalent to the Pythian games - and gymnastic and horse-racing contests - equivalent to the Nemean games in their age-groups and [rewards]; and to give to those citizens who are contestants and victors at the Soteria games, [the same as] is prescribed by law for those who are victors at the Pythian and Nemean games; and to praise the Aetolian [league], and to crown them with a golden crown on account of their virtue and their piety [towards the gods] and their bravery against the barbarians. 20 So that everyone may be aware of [the honours that have been granted] to the Aetolians, the sacred herald shall make this proclamation in the theatre, when the [choruses] of boys [are about to] have their contest: "The Chian people crown the Aetolian league [with a golden crown] on account of their virtue and their piety towards the gods; and the people have voted [to recognise the games] which the Aetolians have established, the music contest - equivalent to the Pythian contest - and the gymnastic [and horse-racing] contests - equivalent to the Nemean contests in their age-groups and rewards." The agonothete shall take care of this proclamation. This decree shall be inscribed on a stone stele and placed [in the temple] of Apollo at Delphi by the next theoroi who travel there. Three theoroi shall promptly be chosen out of all the Chians, when this decree is approved, and [in future] the selection of the theoroi shall take place every four years, at the same time as the theoroi [to Olympia] are appointed. 30 The chosen theoroi shall be given . . . [drachmas] for sacrifices, and whatever the people decide for their travel expenses. The treasurers shall give [whatever the polemarchs] and exetastai [instruct] for the cost of [the inscription and the stele] . . .

* * *

Each [of the theoroi] was granted travel expenses of [thirty drachmas].   Chosen as theoroi: Mikkos son of Hermis, Oineus son of Phesinos, and . . . 40 son of Aristophon.

inscription 403


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