In the second century B.C., the city of Knossos welcomed literary performances as a form of diplomacy ( see THI_112 ), and it showed its appreciation for the speech that Dioskourides composed by ensuring that this decree was set up on the island of Delos. The translation is taken from M.J.H.Chin, "Honours for Historians", appendix A.19 ( PDF ). There is a French translation by F.Dürrbach, "Choix d'Inscriptions de Délos", no. 112 ( Google Books ).
The kosmoi and the city of the Knossos decided: since Dioskourides of Tarsos, the son of Dioskourides by birth, and of Asklepiodoros by adoption, a grammarian, out of his goodwill towards our city composed a speech of praise in the manner of the poet { Homer ?} regarding our race, and he sent Myrinos of Amisos, the son of Dionysios, an epic and lyric poet and student of his, to recite his works on his behalf; for this reason Myrinos presented himself at our city, and coming before the kosmoi and the assembly he made clear, 10 through his performance, the industry of the man and the excellence he had attained in his art; equally he showed a document, renewing its ancestral virtue, the goodwill hebore towards the city, and this account he made with as great enthusiasm and zeal, as befitted his own teacher; the citizen body, after having heard his works and the wholehearted attitude of devotion which the man bore towards the city, made its great appreciation known; 20 therefore, in order that the city of Knossos may be seen to be grateful in receiving fine and good men, honouring those who choose to be her benefactors with worthy honours, and making clear to all men her appreciation for those who are well-disposed to her, it has been decided by the city that Dioskourides son of Dioskourides by birth, and son of Asklepiodoros by adoption, shall be praised for the works he composed 30 and the attitude of devotion towards the city he has evinced. He and his descendants shall be proxenoi and citizens of our city, and shall share in all divine and human affairs in which Knossians are entitled to share; they shall have the right to own land and a house, and security to sail into and out of the ports of Knossos in in war and peace, inviolability and without formality for both themselves and their possessions. In order that there may be an eternal memorial 40 to the city's assiduous devotion, and that her goodwill towards those who dedicate themselves sincerely and honourably to noble endeavours, and those who choose to increase the goodwill towards the city, be clear, this resolution shall be written up on a stone stele and erected in the temple of Apollo Delphidios. The Athenians who reside in Delos shall be asked for a location, and the stele shall be erected in the temple of Apollo, choosing the most prominent position. The city is to write 50 to the Athenians residing in Delos and the Tarsians concerning these matters, enclosing a copy of this resolution. Makkiadon son of Tharymachos and Leontios son of Klymenidas were chosen to erect the stele.
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