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Sylloge Inscriptionum Graecarum: 665


DECISION OF ARBITRATORS BETWEEN THE ACHAEANS AND LAKEDAIMONIANS

Greek text:   IvO_47
Date:     163-148 B.C.
Tags:     arbitration ,   democracy
Format:   see key to translations

This incription refers to a previous pronouncement of the Romans about the boundary dispute between Megalopolis and Sparta, which was probably made by C. Sulpicius Galus in 164/3 B.C. ( Polyb_31.1 ). For comments on the inscription, see S.L.Ager, "Interstate Arbitrations in the Greek World, 337–90 B.C.", no. 137 ( Google Books ); and E.Mackil, "Creating a Common Polity", no. 45 ( Google Books ).


Decision of the arbitrators [who were chosen] to make a judgment [about the land that is disputed between] the Achaeans and [the Lakedaimonians] - . . . son of Epigonos, Aristarchos son of . . . Polykrates son of Poly... - [and] concerning the fine that they imposed . . . [the people] of Lakedaimon, that they contested . . . these territories [with the people] of Megalopolis . . . after many [words] had been spoken, since . . . through the advocates, and [we tried to resolve] the dispute that [has occurred] 10 between the cities [for a long time completely] . . ., [leaving] nothing [to be desired] in our eagerness and zeal; and we did [not] deliver an assessment for a long time, in order to give sufficient time for the disputed points to be resolved; but since it was necessary and consistent with the oath that we swore and with the laws of the Achaeans to complete the judgment, [so that] it could be entered [in] the public records, and neither would the matters that needed a decision remain unresolved nor would the decisions be ineffective; and so that the Achaeans may remain democratically governed and in harmony with each other for all time, and the decisions that were made previously amongst the Greeks and their allies 20 may valid and immutable for all time; and so that the inscriptions and [boundary markers] that were put up in consequence of the decisions may remain valid throughout, and nothing may supplant them; since previously a decision was delivered to the Megalopolitans and Lakedaimonians concerning the territory, which is [now disputed between them] . . . in the . . . at Megalopolis . . . in the inviolable and . . . [(?) it should be recorded that . . .] arbitrators . . . 30 chosen by the allies . . . when both sides entrusted the decision to them, [whether it is resolved] that the territory of Skiritis [should be held by the] Megalopolitans . . . in which also the territory [of Aigytis] . . . or by [the Lakedaimonians, and] the demarcation of the boundaries of the territory should be registered; and that they made an oath [that they would be chosen from] everyone according to merit; and [that] the arbitrators [decided] that Skiritis and Aigytis belonged to the Arcadians [from the time] when the Herakleidai returned to the Peloponnese; and [the oath] that the arbitrator pronounced when they made the decision, and the names of the arbitrators, who were a hundred and one in number, and of the Lakedaimonians who were present at the oath.

Deciding that thus especially would the Achaeans remain in harmony [with] each other, 40 [if] their decisions were never rendered ineffective by other accusations, but their disputes with each other were brought to a close with the decision of the arbitration panel, and recognising from the [documents] that have been presented to us by both sides that the Romans also, who oversee the [good order and] harmony of the Greeks, when the Megalopolitans [and the Lakedaimonians] came to them in their dispute about this territory, [expressed the opinion], because the [decisions] ought [to be valid] . . .

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