This inscription was set up by the city of Narthakion in Thessaly, after the senate decided in favour of the city in its long-standing dispute with its neighbour Melitaia. The senate justified the decision by referring back to the settlement imposed by Flamininus in 196 B.C.; see S.L.Ager, "Interstate Arbitrations in the Greek World, 337-90 B.C.", no. 156 ( Google Books ). The translation is adapted from A.H.M.Jones, "A History of Rome through the Fifth Century: Volume I", page 77 ( Google Books ).
[A] When Leon of Larissa, the son of Hagesippos, was general of the Thessalians, and Kriton son of Ameinias and Polykles son of Pheidippos and Glauketas son of Agelaos were [tagoi] at Narthakion; the resolution of the senate, which was passed when Thessalos of Pherai, the son of Thrasymedes, was general of the Thessalians, was [engraved].
[Gaius] Hostilius Mancinus, son of Aulus, praetor consulted the senate on the 10 . . . of July in the comitium; there were present for the writing of the resolution Quintus Statilienus, [son] of Quintus of the Cornelian tribe, Gnaeus Lutatius son of Gnaeus of the (?) Aniensian tribe, and Aulus Sempronius son of Aulus of the Falernian tribe. Whereas Harmoxenos son of Lysandros and Lampromachos son of Politas, envoys of Melitaia in Thessaly, excellent and friendly citizens of an excellent, friendly and allied people, renewed its goodwill, [friendship] and alliance, and spoke about the public [land] 20 and deserted territory of which they were in possession when they entered into the friendship of the Roman [people], which land the people of Narthakion had subsequently unjustly [annexed], and requested that the senate would turn their [attention] to this matter so that the position should be restored [(?)in full, just as previously] a decision was given to them in the court of Medeios and the Thessalians . . . and in the court of Pyllos and the Macedonians, asking that these matters be made [legally binding]; 30 about these matters it was [agreed] by us and the Narthakians [that] . . . should judge the present [dispute] in M[elitaia] . . . in this land . . . of [both] the peoples . . .
[B] . . . [and whereas] Nikatas son of Ta... and . . . son of . . ., envoys [of Narthakion in Thessaly], excellent and friendly [citizens] of an [excellent], friendly and [allied] people, [renewed its goodwill], friendship and alliance, and [spoke about their own] affairs and their land [and] temples, 10 and about the land of Narthakion in (?) Achaea Phthiotis which [had been annexed] and is under the rule of Melitaia; stating that the Narthakians were in possession of the said land when they entered into the friendship of the Roman people, and had received a favourable verdict about the said land and temples at a trial held according to the laws of the Thessalians, which laws they observe up to the present day, which laws Titus Quinctius the consul had laid down with the assent of the ten commissioners, and according to a resolution of the senate; and 20 three years before they had received a verdict on this question in three courts appointed by the cities of Samos, Kolophon and Magnesia; and requesting that decisions made according to the laws shall be valid as in other cases. It was resolved by the senate to renew goodwill, friendship and alliance and answer them in a kindly manner and address them as excellent men and to state that whatever decisions have been made according to the laws which Titus Quinctius gave must be valid as they were decided, and that it is not a light matter to invalidate what had been decided according to the laws; and that Gaius Hostilius the praetor shall order the quaestor to give hospitality up to one hundred and twenty five sesterces 30 to each embassy, as may seem [to him] appropriate for the public interest [and] for his own honour. Resolved.
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