back

Sylloge Inscriptionum Graecarum: 613


THE AMPHICTYONS HONOUR NIKOSTRATOS OF LARISA

Greek text:   CID_4.106
Date:     184/3 B.C.
Tags:     autonomy ,   democracy

This decree is carefully phrased, but it appears that by the phrase "Greeks who have chosen freedom and democracy" it means the states that were not allied to the Aetolians or the Macedonians; the Thessalians, who had been set free from Macedonian control in 197 B.C., would certainly have strongly supported such a grouping.


[A] When Kraton was archon at Delphi, and the secretary of the Amphictyons was Mnasidamos of Corinth, it was resolved by the council of the Amphictyons from the autonomous nations and the democratic cities: since Nikostratos of Larissa in Thessaly, who was sent by the Thessalians as hieromnemon to the Pythian games that were held when Nikoboulos was archon at Delphi {186/5 B.C.}, made every effort, along with the men sent from the Athens and the other hieromnemones, so that the council of the Amphictyons might be restored to its original and traditional state; and he presided over the games and the sacrifices with them, so that they might be performed in the best possible manner; and when he was chosen by the council of the Amphictyons as an envoy to Rome along with with Menedemos of Athens, he appeared before the senate and the praetor and the tribunes and spoke on the matters concerning which he had been instructed, so that he achieved everything that was beneficial to the Amphictyons and the other Greeks who have chosen freedom and democracy; and he was also sent as a hieromnemon to the autumn assembly when Kraton was archon at Delphi {184/3 B.C.}, and after sacrificing with the other hieromnemones he returned with them to the temple, and he appeared before the assembly to speak on the matters concerning which he had gone with instructions as an envoy to the senate and the praetors and the tribunes of the Romans; and he urged the Delphians to retain their goodwill towards all the Greeks, and to do nothing contrary to what had previously been decreed by the Greeks; and he continues to comply with the other matters that the Amphictyons request, by which he shows himself to be assiduous and honourable in seeking what is to the common advantage, not shirking the hardship or the danger arising from those who plot against him; therefore, so that all the Greeks may know that the council of the Amphictyons understands how to render suitable thanks to the benefectors of both themselves and the other Greeks, with good fortune it is resolved by the council of the Amphictyons praise Nikostratos of Larissa in Thessaly, the son of Anaxippos, and to crown him with the god's wreath and with a bronze statue, on account of his virtue and his continuing benefactions towards the council of the Amphictyons and the other Greeks, and to place the statue in the temple of Pythian Apollo. The assembled hieromnemones shall proclaim the award of the crown and the statue in the gymnastic contest at the next Pythian games; and they shall proclaim it also in the gymnastic contest at the Eleutherian games that are held by the Thessalians.

[B] { The fragment that Dittenberger printed as 613.B has been shown by J.Bousquet to be part of Syll_643. }

inscription 614


Attalus' home page   |   20.12.16   |   Any comments?