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Sylloge Inscriptionum Graecarum: 1157


REGULATIONS FOR THE TEMPLE OF APOLLO AT KOROPE

Greek text:   IG_9.2.1109
Date:   late 2nd century B.C.
Tags:     sacred_laws
Format:   see key to translations

Korope, near Demetrias in Thessaly, had an important temple and oracle of Apollo; see M.Dillon, "Omens and Oracles: Divination in Ancient Greece", pp.349-351 ( Google Books ).

The translation of A is taken from C.E.Austino, "Adaptation and Tradition in Hellenistic Sacred Laws", page 19 ( PDF ).   The translation of B is taken from A.Rostad, "Human Transgression - Divine Retribution", page 271 ( PDF ).


[A]   When Krinon son of Parmenion was priest, on the tenth day of the month Areios; Krinon of Homolion the son of Parmenion, the priest of Zeus Akraios, and Dionysodoros of Aeolis the son of Euphraios, the general of the Magnetes, and the generals - Aitolion of Pagasai the son of Demetrios, Kleogenes of Halos the son of Amyntas, and Menes of Aiolis the son of Hippias - and the nomophylakes - Menelaos of Iolkos the son of Philippos, Ainias of Spalauthra the son of Nikasiboulos, Alexandros of Spalauthra the son of Meniskos, and Menandros of Korope the son of Nikias - made the proposal.   Since our city is piously disposed toward the other gods, and not least of all to Apollo Koropaios, 10 and since it honours him with most conspicuous honours owing to the benefactions from the god; since he makes clear through his oracle, both in general and to each person individually concerning matters pertaining to health and safety; and since it is just and well, since the oracle is ancient and has been honored by our ancestors and since more foreigners are coming to the oracle, that the city take more diligent care concerning good order throughout the shrine;   it is resolved by the council and the people, that whenever consultation occurs, the priest of Apollo who is chosen by the city shall come forth, 20 and of the generals and nomophylakes one from each office, one prytanis and one treasurer, and the secretary of the god and the prophet. If anyone of the afore-written officials is sick or abroad, let him send another in his place; the generals and nomophylakes shall enroll also from among the citizens three men as rhabdouchoi {"rod-bearers"} who are older than thirty years old and who are to have the authority to hinder anyone acting in a disorderly fashion. Let a wage be given to the each rhabdouchos from the funds to be collected for two days at one drachma per day; if any of those enrolled is knowingly absent let him pay the city three drachmas with the generals and nomophylakes having recorded him. 30 Whenever the aforementioned come to the oracle and perform the sacrifices and they turn out well, the secretary of the god shall receive at once the records of those wishing to consult the god, and having recorded all of their names onto a white board at once, straightaway he shall place the board in front of the temple and introduce the consulters, summoning them from each record in succession, unless it has been granted for some to enter first. But if the one summoned is not present, let him introduce the next until the one summoned is present. The afore-written individuals shall be seated in the sanctuary in an orderly fashion in bright white garments, 40 crowned with crowns of laurel, being pure and sober and having received the tablets from those consulting. Whenever a consultation takes place, having cast them into a jar they shall seal it with the seal of the generals and nomophylakes and likewise with that of the priest and allow them to remain in the sanctuary. At dawn, the secretary of the god, having brought out the jar and shown it to the aforementioned, shall open the seals and, calling the names from the record, shall hand over the tablets to each . . .

. . . 50 The rhabdouchoi shall give forethought for good order; and whenever the assembly is in session in the month of Aphrodision, first of all business the exetastai shall administer the appended oath before the people to the aforementioned men: "I swear by Zeus Akraios and Apollo Koropaios and Artemis Iolkia and all the other gods and goddesses, that I have done each thing as it is made clear in the decree concerning the oracle that was ratified when Krinon son of Parmenion was priest." 60 And if they swear let them be guiltless, but if anyone does not swear, he shall be liable to prosecution by the exetastai and anyone else of the citizens who wishes concerning this wrong, and if the exetastai do not do any of the afore-written, let them undergo scrutiny at the hands of the subsequent exetastai and whoever else wishes. In order that the resolution may be fulfilled for all time, the generals and nomophylakes elected each year shall transfer this decree to the magistrates elected subsequently. A copy of the decree shall be inscribed on a stone column, after a contract has been let by the wall-builders {teichopoioi}, and it shall then be erected in the sanctuary of Apollo Koropaios.

[B]   70 When Krinon son of Parmenion was priest, on the tenth day of the month Artemision; Krinon of Homolion the son of Parmenion, the priest of Zeus Akraios, and Dionysodoros of Aeolis the son of Euphraios, the federal general, and the generals and the nomophylakes made the proposal. Because the trees in the sanctuary of Apollo Koropaios have been destroyed, we consider it necessary and useful that attention be paid to this, so that when the precinct is extended the great size of this area becomes most evident.   Therefore it is resolved by the council and [the people that the] person appointed warden of the temple {neōkoros} shall make clear to [all] present [at any time] in the shrine that none of the citizens, residents or foreigners staying in the country 80 be allowed [to cut] or curtail [the trees in] the marked area, likewise [that nobody be allowed to bring in] herds for grazing or keeping. If [not, (?) the transgressor shall pay] a fine of 50 drachmas to the city, but half of [the exacted money] shall immediately [be given] to the informer by the treasurers. [If he is a slave] he shall be whipped with a hundred lashes by the magistrates and the nomophylakes [(?) at the marketplace], and pay a fine [of one obol] for each animal. Information about this [shall be given] to the specified [officials]. A copy of the decision shall be written on . . . (?) of Apollo, which shall be set up before entrance to the temple, 90 after a contract [has been] let by the wall-builders {teichopoioi}, so that everyone (?) present may comply with the decision. This decision shall also be handed over to the magistrates and nomophylakes who are elected in the future, as having the status of legislation. This was resolved by [the council] and the assembly.


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