Aristodama, as an itinerant Greek poetess, has naturally attracted the attention of modern writers; see, for instance, I.Rutherford, "Wandering Poets in Ancient Greek Culture", pp.238-9 ( Google Books ). There is a French translation of both inscriptions by M.Dana in "Hommes et femmes dans l'Antiquité grecque et romaine", no. 24 ( Google Books ). B was not included in Dittenberger's collection.
[A] In the year when Agetas of Kallipolis was general of the Aetolians; with good fortune it was resolved by the city of Lamia: since Aristodama of Smyrna in Ionia, the daughter of Amyntas, being a composer of epic poetry, has visited our city and has given many [performances] of her own poetry, in which she has made honourable mention of the Aetolian race and the ancestors of our people, and she given these performances with great enthusiasm, therefore she shall have the status of proxenos and benefactor of the city, and she shall be granted citizenship, the right to own land and buildings, grazing rights, inviolability, security by land and by sea in war and in peacetime, 10 both for herself and for her descendants and her property for all time, and all the other rights which are granted to other proxenoi and benefactors. Let there also be given . . . to her brother and his descendants: proxeny, citizenship, [and inviolability]. When the archons were (?) Python, Neon and Antigenes; the general was (?) Epigenes; and the hipparch was Kylos. Python son of Athanaios acted as guarantor of the proxeny.
[B] With [good] fortune. In the year when Stratonikos [was archon, it was resolved] by the city of [Chaleion]: since Aristodama of Smyrna in Ionia, the daughter of Amyntas, being a composer of [epic] poetry, has visited [our city] . . . and she has made mention of the ancestors of [our city]; 10 therefore, so that [we may be seen] to honour her as is fitting, it is resolved [to praise her] for the piety that she has towards [the god], and [on account of] her goodwill towards our city, [and] to crown her [with a crown] of the god's sacred laurel, as is traditional [for the Chaleians]. [The sacred herald] shall announce the award in the festival of Poitropia. A portion [of meat] from the sacrifice for Apollo shall be [sent] to her as a gift of honour from [our city, 20 for feasting at] Smyrna. She shall have the status of [proxenos and benefactor] of the city; there shall be granted [by the city] to her and her descendants the right to own land [and buildings], freedom from taxes, [inviolability, security] both in war and in peacetime by [land and by] sea, and all the other privileges [which are granted to] other proxenoi and benefactors [of our city]. Gifts of hospitality [amounting to] one hundred drachmas shall be sent to her. Her brother Dionysos shall also have 30 proxeny, citizenship and freedom from taxes. So that it may be clear to everyone who visits the temple that the city of Chaleion considers it important to honour those who choose to speak or write about the god, the epidamiorgos Archagoras, along with the secretary Philios, shall inscribe this decree [and] set up one copy near the temple of Apollo Nasiotas, [and] another copy in Delphi.
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