Epaminondas of Acraephia Oliver, James H Greek, Roman and Byzantine Studies; Summer 1971; 12, 2; ProQuest pg. 221

Epaminondas of Acraephia 
James H. Oliver 

EPAMINONDAS OF ACRAEPHIA was a benevolent rich man who 
under the Julio-Claudian emperors lived in a small city in 
northeast Boeotia. He happens to be known to us because large 

inscriptions of documents for or by him were preserved in the walls 
of the church of St George at Akraiphnion (see PLATE 2 figure I), 
formerly called Kardhitsa. Among the testimonials to Epaminondas 
is a letter of Caligula; in preparing a corpus of imperial letters the 
writer visited the site in March 1971 and found the inscription still 
there. The writer thought it prudent to check the reading of the two 
inscriptions, IG VII 2711 and 2712, which were still at the church. 

Inscription A, the Testimonials from Abroad 
w. M. Leake, Travels in Northern Greece II (London 1835) 301, men­

tioned the long inscription serving as a jamb of a door on the north 
side. It is still there. The inscribed surface faces the passage, the left 
side faces the exterior. It is of local grey limestone: h., 1.80 m.; w., 
0.46 m.; th., 0.47 m. Height of letters, 0.01 m. 

H. N. Ulrichs, Reisen und Forschungen in Griechenland I (Bremen 1840) 249-53, 
no.26a; K. Keil, Sylloge Inscriptionum Boeoticarum (Leipzig 1847) 116-27, no.XXXI; 
M. Holleaux, "Inscription d'Acraephiae," BCH 12 (1888) 305-15, a much better 
reading after a cleaning; W. Dittenberger, IG VII (1892) 2711, proposing some 
excellent restorations; M. Holleaux, REA 1 (1899) 16-18, a note concerning 
only line 7 but even so vitiated by a false measurement of lacunae; [ILS 8792; 
E. M. Smallwood, Documents Illustrating the Principates of Gaius, Claudius and 
Nero (Cambridge 1967) 361]' The documents are discussed somewhat by 
J. A. O. Larsen in Tenney Frank's Economic Survey IV (Baltimore 1938) 450f, 
U. Kahrstedt, SymbOslo 28 (1950) 70-75, and J. Deininger, Die Provinzialland­
tage der romischen Kaiser~eit (Vestigia 6, Munich 1965) 90f. 

221 



222 EPAMINONDAS OF ACRAEPHIA 

The dossier consists of the following documents: 

1, Epistle of the general! of the (all Hellenic) League of the 
Achaeans, Boeotians, Locrians, Euboeans and Phodans, perhaps 
Achilles, son of Diodoms, of Argos, to the archons of Acraephia, in 
lines 1-15; with 

2, decree of the above mentioned League at their assembly, called 
synod of the Hellenes, in lines 15-20; 

3, epistle of the emperor to the League of the Achaeans, Boeotians, 
Locrians, Phodans and Euboeans, in lines 21-42; 

4, epistle of the acting secretary of the Achaean League to the 
Boeotian League and its secretary, in lines 43-50; 

5, epistle of the Boeotian League and its secretary to the archons 
of Acraephia, in lines 51-55; with 

6, decree of the naopoioi at the festival of the Pamboeotia, in 
lines 55-77; 

7, epistle of the archons, coundl and demos of the Thebans to the 
archons, coundl and demos of the Acraephians, in lines 78-87; with 

8, decree of the Thebans, in lines 87-124; 
9, note concerning decrees of other Boeotian cities, in lines 125-28. 

Holleaux's revision cleared up many problems, but the lacunae 
were still of uncertain extent, and readings around the ends of lines 
and edges of lacunae could still be improved. The beginning of line 1 

extends one letterspace into the margin and should probably be 
restored ['0 crpaT1JYoc Tiiw 'AXaLw]v. In the epistle of Caligula, line 
29, the right form appears to be cVVEcTaf-'lvovc. The upper part of the 
inscription need not be printed here, but lines 78-128 read after the 
writer's revision somewhat as follows: 

[81J,Bal]wv IJ.PXOVTEC Kat ~ ,BOVATJ Kat 0 8ijf-'[ oc 'AKp7JcpL€1wv IJ.p 
[xOVC]L, ,BovAfj, a~JLctJ vvv Xa[P€LV vv Twv [Jt/nJcPLcJLJlvwv 

80 [7Tap' ~]I-'EtV TE£I-'c7w Kat 7ToAE£TE{ac 'E7T[af-'LV~va~] 'E7Ta 
[(-I.LV~ JVDOV TijJ 7ToAE[771 VI-'WV 7TE7TOI-' [ cpal-'EV VI-' ]EtV 

[TO av ]TLypacpov, KaOc1c ;Dogql, <;1Jf-'7Jv[ al-'EVoL Tfj] D1Jf-'O 
[clCf c]cppay,f>L, 7TapEKaA€CaI-'Ev De TO T' ~[7TEtVaL Tfj] D£aKO 
[p.La]fj 7TpOC vf-'ac .dwpoO€OV N€LKOKAE[UC Ka, TO JVC a7TO 

1 A decree of the Achaean League during the Principate is known in two copies, Hesperia 
10 (1941) 361-63 at Athens, and W. Dittenberger/K. Purgold, Die Inschriften von Olympia 
(Olympia V, Berlin 1896) 57. For the general see this decree and IG V (2) 517. 



JAMES H. OLIVER 

85 [T7]C ~]p,€TEpaC 7ToAEOC AOyOVC 7TOt1}c[acOat 7TpOC] rYJv V 

[p,€TE]pav Ka(J' eXc :Aa{iEv 7Tapa TfjC {iO[VAfjc Kat TOU] ~~p,OV 

[EVTO ]Aac VVV "EPPWC(JE VVV 'E7TEt[D~ 'E7Tap,tVWVDa]c 'E1Tap,t 

[VWV ]80v av~p KaAOC Kat, aya(J[ OC {mEp TOU] ;(JVOVC 

[fCT ]C, CVV1Tot\eUEUOJLE[VOC TaLc BOtWTOtC] 1TaJlTOT€ Ka, 
90 [ ... . ]tK~[- - - - - - - - - - - - - -Jp,tac €1Tol'Y) 

[ \ '" \ '" , , I Q]" '" \ 
CEV, Kat otaTEI\€t aptCTn XPWp'EVOC p ~OV aywYT/, Kat 

[KaAWC lOlq. TE 1TpOC €KaCTOV -ryp'WV] Kat KOWfj 1TpO[ c] 
[7T<XVTaC oux TOU XPOVOV aEt T ]OU 1TapEA'Y)AV{}OTOC 
[ -I.' \ 'l:.' ]'" t "" '" \ 1TpOCE<pEPETO Kat astWC T YJC €aVTOU aywyYJc, K(X(, 

95 ['YJTOVp,EVYjC 1Tap' -ryp,]wv vv 1TPWTYjC Kat avaVKat 
[OTCXr'Y)C 7TpOC T ]OV vEOV EE{iacTov 1TpEcf3Elac 
[clJcp€A JovcYJc T6 KOLVOV TWV BotWTWV 7ToAAWV 0 
[ ] 

, t '" \ Q I \ \ "\ KVYjC aVTWV U1Top,€tvat TO papoc Kat TYjV 0XI\YJCW 
[ '" ]' "" '" " '" "(J , TYJC a1TooYJp,Lac, KtVoVVEVOVTOC TE TOV E VOVC a1TO 

100 [ C1Tac J{}fjvaL TfjC KOLVfjC TWV 'A xaLwv EA7TlDoc Kat rpL 

[A.av{}]pw1Tlac aVTE7T<XVYEATOC EV 1'0 KOLV0 T0v IIav 
[ ,\ '] '" , (J' '''A t , <\", \ EI\I\YJ vwv T£p ax EVTt EV pyEt U1Top,ELvac YJV al\l\OL 

[1TpOC ]KaA.OVp,EVOL ~PV1}caVTO 1TpEcf3elav ovDE dc 1Ta 
[pacKE ]v~v Xp6vov alTYJcap,Evoc aVE'\'\mwc Etfj[A.] 
[(J ] \ '" \' "" \ '" , \ I 105 EV K at TaUTa Kat Tac Oa7Tavac p,ETa TYJC 0XI\YJCEWC 
[ , "']'''' ' t' \' '" \ \ t \ EK TW v WtWV U1TOCX0p,EVOC v 1T1\T)pwcac OE TT)V U1TEp 

[TOU €]{}VOVC 1TpEcf3Elav v T6 a1T6KpLp,a Kat 1TpOC -ryp,ac 

[TOU v]EOU E€{iacTou ot€K6p,tCEV 1TacYJc EA7Tlooc 

[Kat rpt]Aav{}pW7Tlvac 1TAfjp€C, aVE7Ttf3ap~TOvc Ka[t] 
[ ']" \ \ , " '" 'l:. '''' \ , 110 Tac 1TOI\EtC KaL TO KOtVOV Kat EV Tn ESOO£p Kat EV 

[Tfj a1T ] 01TPEc{i€lq. rpVAatac Ot' eX o~ oEooyp,Evov elvat 

[TOLC] TE c1PXOUCL Kat Tfj {30UA.fj Kat 1'0 01}p,£p {9YJ{3alwv 
[oE86]cBat 7TOA€tTfdav KaTa DwpEav 'E1Tap,Etvwv8q. 
['E ] '''' \ l' , '" " 7Tap, EtVWVOOV Kat ELVat aUT£p P,ETOXYJV 7TaVTWV 

115 [TWV TNc 1T()AEWC rptAavBpw1TwV Ka(Ja Kat TOLC E!' [E]Y 
[ ] ' '(J '" "" , '" \', , Xwp tOtC, ava €tvat OE aUTOU Kat EtKOVa ypa1TTYJV 
[ ' "]\' I , "" "', -I.' I EV 01T I\£p €7TtXpUC£p EV Tn ayopq. E7Ttypa<pYJv 1TOtT)cav 
[Tac· to] 9fjp,oc BYJ{ialwv 'E7Tap,EtVwv8av 'E1Tap,Et 

[vwv80]v 7TpEc{iEvcavTa KaTa 8wp€av EV 1'0 KOt 

120 [v0 TWV] 'A[x]atwV {mEp TOU [B]OtWTWV ;(Jvovc v 1TPOC 

[TOV E E ]f3acTov Kalcapa r Epp,aVtKOV apETfjc 
[" ] t, I (J '" , '''' , ", €VEKEV • EI\EC aL OE TOV OLaKOp,tCaVTa TO aVTt 

[yparpo]v TOU ifJT)rplcp,aTOC 1TpOC T~V • A KpT)rptEWV 1T()Atv. 

223 



224 EPAMINONDAS OF ACRAEPHIA 

124 ["ijplO7J] Jwp6fJ.:oc N£KOKA€VC vacat 

[KaTa Tav]Ta S~ Ka~ ai, Aomat 7T6A€LC vacat 

[Ell Bo£ ]wTl~ ¢n1cplcp.[ a ]CW Kat 7TOA€£T€l~ ET€lp.7Jcav 
[ \\]' l' "'..1.-. <:" <:" " , 7TOlV\a £ ovca£' OVK €ypa'fJl/cav O€ o£(x, TO T07TOV p.7J 
[ € tva£] vacat 

RESTORATIONS: 78 Ulrichs. 79-81 Holleaux. 82 [av]Tlypa4)ov Ulrichs; c'Y}JL'Y}vaJL€Vo£ 
Tfi] Dittenberger. 83 [cl<it Holleaux. 83-84 TO T' J[7TE'Vat Tfi] 8taKOluu8]fi 
Oliver, TO[V TO aVTlypa¢>ov] 8taKO I [p.l'oVTa] Holleaux. 84 NtKOK'\[ lovc 
Ulrichs, apJLO'OvTa]c Holleaux, Ka, TO ]VC Oliver. 85 [T~C ?]]JLETlpac Ulrichs, 
7To£-r1c[acOa£ 7TpOC] Holleaux. 86-88 Holleaux. 89 Oliver. 91 [CEV aplc77J XP'Y}c­
aJL€Voc {1lo]v Holleaux, [CEV Ka, 8£aTE'\Et aplc77J XPWJLEVOC Oliver. 92 Ka'\wc 
Oliver, T€ Dittenberger, cetera Holleaux. 93 [nJv ?]JLErtpav 170'\", JK TO]V 
Holleaux, [lTaVTac 8£a TE TOV Xpovov Dittenberger, aE' Oliver. 94 [Xpovov 
8tlKE£TO &.glwc TNc Holleaux, [lTpOCE¢>IpETO Ka'\wc Ka, Dittenberger. 95-96 
[
'A , , r ] A , " 'I [Y , '] , EV Tlf> lTapOVT£ lTap 'Y}JL wv lTPWT'Y}C KaL aVaVKaL ac ':> 'Y}TOVJLE"'Y}C lTPOC T ov 

Holleaux, [' 'Y}TOVJLI"'Y}c lTap' ?]JL ]WV lTPWT'Y}C Ka, &'VaVKa£ I [OTaT'Y}C lTPOC T ]OV 
Dittenberger. 97 [dJcPE'\]ovc'Y}c Oliver, [VlTEp TOU €,Ov]ovc <el)c Holleaux. 98 
Holleaux. 99-102 Ulrichs. 103 [lTpoc]Ka'\ovJL€vm Oliver, [lTO'\'\OL] Ulrichs. 104-
05 Holleaux. 106-09 Ulrichs. 110 [Ka, cP£ ]'\avOpwlTlac Oliver, [cPL ]'\avOpwlTl"'Y}c 
Ulrichs. 111 [Tfi lTp]EC{1El<it Ulrichs, [Tfi &'IT]OlTPEC{1El<it Oliver. 112-14 Ulrichs. 
115 [TWV T]i]C Holleaux; Jv [J]y Oliver. 116 JI[VTlJL]o£c Holleaux, JI[yxwpl]otc 
Dittenberger, E[V I OLK]O£C Ulrichs. 117-18 Holleaux. 119 Ulrichs. 120-21 
Holleaux. 122 [E'VEKEV] Holleaux, [€'vEKa] Dittenberger. 124 Holleaux. 125 
[KaTIl Tav]TIl Dittenberger, ["ElTEt]Ta Holleaux. 126 [Jv BO£]WTl<it Holleaux, 
[al €v Dittenberger. 127 [lTo'\'\ai,] Holleaux. 128 [Elvat] Oliver, [JgapKE'v] 
Dittenberger. 

LINE 82: The word VP.Et[V, first read by Ulrichs and retained by the 
later editors, was a mere misreading of c7Jp.7Jv[ap.€vo£. 

LINE 83: T6 T(€), not T6T(€). The phrase means Hwe called upon 
Dorotheus son of Nicocles in respect to his being in charge of the 
delivery to you and his making the speech of transmittal from our 
. " oty to yours. 

LINE 88: The letters Yn which Holleaux reported at the end of the 
line would still show if they had ever existed. 

LINE 96: The new Augustus was the emperor Gaius, the year 
A.D. 37. 

LINES 97-100: The Boeotians, because by themselves they could not 
afford the expense of the embassy, would have had to drop out of the 
Panachaean League, which they shared with the other Hellenes of 
Achaia. 



JAMES H. OLIVER 225 

LINE 98: 'TO f3&poc. The same noun occurs in lines 62-63, and the verb 
in line 33. In Latin one used onus similarly (Aes Italicense, lines 17-18: 
Hesperia 24 [1955] 331). For the Athenian formula {mojLELva, 'T~V AEt'TOVP­

y{av see Hesperia 17 (1948) 21f and 28 (1959) 181. 
LINE 109: w€1Tt{3ap1JTovc. The word occurs in IG II2 1043 line 64, and 

in other inscriptions. 
LINE 111: The word a7To7TpEcf3E{a occurs in Polybius 24.10.5,26.3.14 

and 28.15.11 and in the Menogenes inscription, Sardis VII 8 lines 35 
and 53. 

LINES 127-28: Dittenberger emended to read D£<t 'TO <TOV) T67TOV 

jL~ I [EgapKELv], but the lacuna at the beginning of line 128 cannot be 
more than five letters. 

Inscription B, the Acraephian Decree 
in Honor of Epaminondas 

Two fragments of a large block or orthostate of grey limestone were 
and still are built into the exterior of the south wall of the church of 
St George at Akraiphnion. 

Height of letters 0.009 m. 
The main piece (PLATE 3), originally containing the uninscribed 

bottom, all or most of the last seventy-five lines and parts of the pre­
ceding eleven lines, was copied by W. M. Leake, who years later in 
Travels in Northern Greece II (London 1835) 296, complained: "The 
longest of the inscriptions has required a continued labour of six hours, 
the letters being small, and in some places much defaced; and the 
stone which is in the wall of the church on the outside, on a level with 
the earth, being so placed that the lines are perpendicular to the 
horizon, whence it it is impossible to obtain a distinct view of them 
without lying on the ground." Lolling does not seem to have found 
the stone, for Dittenberger says ccperiisse videtur." Yet the stone is 
still there minus the uppermost twenty-six lines recorded by Leake. 
The writer examined it in March 1971, reading each line kneeling, 
then standing. He spent much more than six hours upon it and so 
was able to read much more than Leake did in the last sixty lines. 
Fortunately Holleaux read a section in the part now lost and so im­
proved the text of lines 22-28. Leake did not record blank spaces, 
which usually served as punctuation, but he scrupulously noted the 



226 EPAMINONDAS OF ACRAEPHIA 

indentation of lines 77ff, where a slice missing from the left edge 
limited the engraver. Dittenberger misrepresented the situation by 
resetting Leake's diplomatic transcript with a straight left edge. The 
bottom and sides are preserved, probably the back too, though the 
stone is and was broken away above. The piece must have been about 
1.34 m. high when Leake and Holleaux saw it, but the dimensions 
were in March 1971: h. 1.04 m.; w. 0.56 m.; tho 0.34 m. 

The smaller piece (PLATE 2 figure 2), broken all around and contain­
ing parts of lines 1-30 at or near the right edge, is likewise built into 
the south wall of the church. It was first copied by Lolling and first 
located in respect to the large piece by Dittenberger, who published 
it from Lolling's copy and showed the two pieces as probably con­
tiguous fragments. Its thickness cannot be measured, but it is 0.38 m. 
high and 0.28 m. wide. 

EDITIONS AND COMMENTARY: W. M. Leake, Museum Criticum 2 (1826), inset 
to face page 581; A. Boeckh, CIG I (1828) 1625; K. Keil, Sylloge Inscriptionum 
Boeoticarum (Leipzig 1847) 137-47; W. Dittenberger, IG VII (1892) 2712; M. 
Holleaux as cited by L. Robert, BCH 59 (1935) 446 and 452 (=Opera minora 
selecta I [Amsterdam 1969] 287 and 293). [Ph. Lebas, Voyage archiologique en 
Grece et en Asie mineure II (Paris 1847) 588, Leake's transcript]. The inscription 
is discussed by J. A. o. Larsen, in Tenney Frank's Economic Survey IV (Balti­
more 1938) 466 and 476, by U. Kahrstedt, Das wirtschaftliche Gesicht Griechen­
lands in der Kaiser~eit (=Diss. Bernenses, SER. I, 7, 1954) 83-85, and by L. 
Robert, ArchEph 1969, 34-39. 

TRANSLATION: W. M. Leake, Travels in Northern Greece II (London 1835) 
296-99. 

~--------------------------~ 
[ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - }rov[ - - - - - -] 

[- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -] TrEvT€ Ot[ - - - - -] 

[- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ] <;XPTWV vawt[ - - - -] 

[- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -] OVTWC Emc/>w[V€LCOat] 
5 [- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -] EOWKafL€V av [Tep - - -] 

[- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -] ~fLLV, ;va OE Ka~ [--] 

[- - - - - - - - - - - - KaTa Tijv o]€vnfpav YVfLvacta[px{av] 
[- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ]fLlJcaTo, mxcav 9~ [- - -] 
[- - - - - - - ~pwfLanCJdvcp?] EAa{cp flAWf;€V, 0 fL7JO€~C; [TWV] 

10 [TrPO aVTov YVfLVaCtapXwv €Tro{7J]C;€V Trap' ~fL€LV c1Jc fLVPOV fL7J[ - -] 
[- - - - - - - - - - - - - -]AW TfjC apxfjc v EV y€v€OAl[OK oE] 



JAMES H. OLIVER 

[TOU L:Ef3acTou - - - - TOVC TE] 7ToAdTac 7T(XVTaC Kat 7Tapo[tKovC] 

[Kat EKTYJfLEVOVC - - - - - - -] 7TaLoac TOVC TWV 7TOAELTW[V - -] 

[- - - - - - - - - - - - - - ]Wt TOVC 7TapE7Tt0YJfLOUVTac [~EVOVC] 

15 [- - - - - - - - - - - - - -] XELfLWVOC OAOV E7Tavuywy [- -] 

[- - - - - - - - - - - - - O]Ei1TVOtC Xpwl-'f.voe we ov~ f.~a[ • • ] 

[ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ]aTWV Kat dJCX~fLovae 1TOUU[ KtC] 

[- - - - - - - - - - - - - -]a OAYJV T~V 7TOAtV 0YJfLo()OLvla[ LC] 

[ELCTlaCEV EVOELKVVfLEVOC TO 1>LAU]V()pW7TOV .fj()OC, fLYJOEva [&fLOL ]pov 

20 [- - - - - - - - -]TWV oa7TuV'lJ [Ea]vTou, 7TAYJpwcac O~ TauTa [7TuvT]a 

[- - - - - - ]AtVWV[ .]a X[p ]ovwv, EV 0 £C OAYJV T~V 7ToAtV ELcTla 

[CE], 7TUA[L]V TE Tfj EOpTfj TWV ()~fjJv Tavpo()vT~cac <EpfLEL Kat <Hpa 

[K]AEL Kat TOLC I:Ef3acToLc aywva Y[VfL]VLKOV, ()tc &()Aa aC7Ttofja TOLC 
, I \..... '\..... \ ,..... 'i; VELKYJcactV, fLOVOC KaL 7TPWTOC a7TO TOV 7TaVTOC aLWVOC EC;EV 

" \ I , I , ['] 1\ ....., ..... ( I 25 pwv TYJV TELfLYJv TavTYJv, YJptCTtCEV TE T YJ V 7TOI\tV TTl aVTTl YJfLEPIf 
, , , ()' ,~ I <::1 \ I " ~ a7T EX EfLaTOC EV Tep YVfLvaCtep, fLYJoEva 7TapaIU7TWV OV fLOVOV TWV 

EVOLKOVVTWV aU' OVO~ TWV 7TapE7TtOYJfLOV(V)TWV ~EVWV CVV 7Tat 

dv EAW()EpOLC Kat TOLC TWV 7TOAELTWV OOVAO[L]C 9L[d] TO 1>LAOOO~OV 
-ry()0C' [7TapaAaf3]wv [o~] T~V apx~v T~V fLEylcTYJV [EVE ]ol$t.XT9 ~~[ya ]AO 

30 ¢'vx[l]aV" [Tav Jpo[Ov ]T~ca[ C y]<xp TOt[ c] L:Ef3acTOtC J[ 7TEJOolvYJc[ EV J 

227 

fLLii- ~fLEPCf- T~V 7TOALV, E7TtTEAWV [T ]ov AE[y]ofLEVOV 7Ta[ - - -] EV T[ 0] 
YVfLvaclep T0 [TO] V7TEp[f3]UUov TWV oa7TavYJfLuTWV Kat aOL[UA]ELFTO[V OV 1-'0] 
[V]OV 7Tap' ~fL[L]V aUd Kat EV TaLc 7TEpt$ 7TOAECtV ~aVfL[U]~Ec()aL' TOU T[E] 

fLEY{CTOV [K]aL [C]W~OVTOC [~fL]WV T~V xwpav xwCJLa]Toc 7TapaAEAEL~[fLEVYJC] 

35 TfjC KOV[LU]CEWC [E]V Til EyOO~EL, TOU OAOV E7TtCKE[v]ac()fjvat Kat KOVt[a]()fj 

va[ t] fLOVOC 7TPOEVOYJCEV 7TPocfLE{vac Kat KaTwp()wcaTO V7T~p E~[ aKtC] 
1\ <:: I " ~, ~,<:: 1<:: <:: I "<:: <:: I I [ ] XU\La oYJvapta OVCYJC TYJC E7TtCKEVYJC tC OWOEKa CTaOwvC' YJoYJ OE TO fLEY a 

AO[1>]pOV TfjC YVWfLYJC EKTdvac Kat [lc] TO BOtWTWV ;()VOC, 7TpEcf3tac [~YJ]TOV 
I I I I "'Q " ~ ~'A ~ 'n \\1 fLEVYJC 7TpOC TOV VEOV '::"EfJaCTOV EV Tep TWV xatWV Kat aVEI\I\YJVWV 

<:: I ' ''A [\ \] ~ \ \ () I , I I I 40 CVVEOptep EV pyEt, 7T0 1\1\ WV TE CVVEI\YJI\V OTWV EVCXYJfLOVWV Kat 7TPW 
, ~ 1\ I I , I "[]\ I I [] TWV EK TWV 7TOI\EWV Kat 7TaVTWV apVOVfLEVWV Kat ern Ka 1\0VfLEVWV, 7TaVT a 

, '\ I () I ['] < ~ () I , <:: 'i:: I 
EV El\aCCOVt EfLEVOC T a EaVTOV 7TpO vfLoTaTa E7TEoE~aTo TYJV 7TpEC 

f3lav tJ7TEP TOU BOtWTWV ;()VOVC, 7TpOC()Etc T0 EV[Y]EVEt TOU 1>pov~fLaTOc 

[K]at TO 
fLEyaAo¢;vxoV [KaT]d owp[ Ed]v 7TPECf3dctv' ()avfL[ ac();']c ovv E7T1. TOVTOtC Kat 

, 
a7TO 

(\ ~ , c () \, ~ n 1\ \ , "\ Q ' \ (\ 45 oOXYJc ac;LW LC EV TOLC aVEI\I\7]ctV TELfLac El\afJEv, fLapTvpovfLEVOC KaL OL 
I ~ [ ]-I..() I , \ ~ <' ,~ I I 1\ < ~ VV \ I a TYJC 7TEfL 'f' LCYJC E7TtCTOI\YJC V7T aVTWV 7TpOC TYJv 7TOI\LV YJfLwV TEI\EcaC 

27 nAPEnIt.HMOYTQN 



228 EPAMINONDAS OF ACRAEPHIA 

~" {3 , ,-"\ \ '() - "" , , , OE T7JV 7TpEC ELav JLETa TWV alV\wv E VWV Kat TO a7TOKpLjLa EVEVKWV 7Tapa 

EE{3aCToiJ, 7TaALV TELjLaC EAa{3Ev JLETa nvv CVV7TPEC{3EVTwV, Tel T€ KOLVOV 

IIajL{3oLwTwv CVVEOPLOV iJ7TEpa7TooEgajLEvov T~V aVT€7TaVYEATov Xapt[v] 
\ " \ \/"..",J.. I , """ , , '" \ '[ ] 50 Kat EVVOLav TELjLac E'f"I'f'LcaVTO aVTetJ Tac 7TpE7Tovcac KaL a7TECTELl\aV 7TpO C 

T~V 7T6ALV [~]jLWV v E7TLTa OE Kat at Aomat 7T6ALC Kat KWjLaL, [E]VXapLCTOV 

7Tpay[p.a] 

7TOLOvcaL Kat aVTal, ETEL[VO]V "'7J~lCjLaCLV Kat [7T ]OAELTEl~ Kat ElK6vwv ()ECEL 

- " vv • () , ~ ,- \ .1.' " - 1 , T€LjL7JcaL aVTOV V7TEpTL EjLEVOC OE TV jLEyal\0'f'VXL~ KaL apETV 7TaVTac TOVC 
\. - , , ,. \ \ \.1. \ I~ (; vv \.1. \' () A' \ 

7Tp,0 EaVTOV KaL aVTOC EaVTOV 7TpOC TO 'f'LI\OOOSOV K aL 'f'Ll\aya OV TaLC E7TC!-1) 

55 A7}[A]OLC oa7TavaLc, €Tc cpLA67TaTpLC Kat EVEpyET7JC vOjLL[n6jLEVOC v 

Ey[A€ ]Aom6 
\ "e> 1 " - - n ' ,- ()\' () 1 TOC yap 7Jo7J TpLaKovTa ET7J TOV TWV TWLWV aywvoc KaTaCTa LC aywvo E 

T7JC 7Tpo(JvjL6TaTa E7TE8E~aTo CPLAooog7}cac TO avaVEwcac{)aL T~V apxaL 

, -' - - '\ n' \ 17 1 , "() [ ] OT7JTa TOV aywvoc, TWV jLEyal\wv TWLWV KaL naLcap7JWV KTLCT'T}C avw € v 
, '\ {3 1 \' \ '() , , \ A \ (J' , Y€VOjL€VOC aval\a WV TE T7JV apX7Jv EV EWC E7TLTEI\€L Tac VCLac KaL 

\ - () -. ""' V t ""' J/ "~ , " , 60 Ta TOV €OV jLavTELa €CTLWV apxovTac KaL CVVEUpOVC KaT €TOC 7TEVTa 

[ ] \ '5:" \ \ '\ ' 'Y ,\ 1 ~ K £C jL€yaI\OjL€p€CL ot7TVOLC KaL T7JV 7TOI\LV apLCTLsWV €7TL 7T€VTaETLaV, jL7JO€ 
, • '() "..... I I (J I I ~ I jLtav V7TEp ECLV 7TOL7JcajLEVOC EV TOtC XPOVatC jL7JT€ VCLac jL7JTE Oa7Ta 

~ , v '() I ~ \ -' - - ., , - \', V7JC JL'T}OE7TOTE € v CTaVTOC OE TOV aywvoc TCfJ EKTCfJ €VLaVTCfJ TO E7Tt 

7T6,.\€oc 
... I... " 1\ \ ., "e> _ A \ 1 , , 
oLaoojLa £c TYjv jLEIV\OVCaV EOPTYjV EOWK€V 7TaCL TOLC 7TOI\ELTaLC Kat 7TapOL 

\ , , ~ ~, , ,,~., '.I. I '" 65 KOLC Kat €KTYjjLEVOLC OWOVC KaT avopa €KaCTOV KO'f'LVOV C€LTOV Kat OLVOV 
f , , I \', \,..... ""' J 

7JjLLT€av v Tac TE 7TaTpwvc 7TOjL7Tac jLEyal\ac KaL T7JV TWV CVPTWV 7TaTpwv 

0PX'T}CLV (J€OC€{3wc E7TETEAE{AE}CEV, TavpO{)VT7}cac T€ TOLC (JEoLC Kat EE 

{3 - ~, \ " \ \ " ~A , ~ 1\ -aCTOLC KpEaUOCLac KaL apLCTa KaL YI\VKLCjLOVC Kat OL7Tva OV OL€I\L7T€V 7TOLWV' 

~[7T]fTa KaTa TagLc a7TO ELKaooc jLEXPL TpLaKaooc 7TpOCE(KaA€c€)v 7TaCt 
"" , I , 

TOLC apLCTatC KaL 

70 7Tawac TOVC TWV 7ToALTWV Kat oovAovc EV7JAtKOVC Tac TE yvvaLKac TWV 

7ToAEL 
_. "- T7 '\ " '(J , , ... ,\ , \ , 

TWV 7J yvV7J aVTOV nWTLl\a 7JpLCTLCEV Kat 7Tap EVOVC Kat oovl\ac €V7JI\LKOVC' 
, 

OV 
1\ ~ \ ,~\ '[] " _, • 1 7TapEI\L7TEV OE OVOE TO!, C CK'T}VLTac KaL CVVKOCjLOVVTac T7JV EOpT7JV, 

, I 

7JpLCTLC€V 
s:- \ , , " '[ ](J' • 'S:- I " s:-'''\ \ - 1 O€ C!-VTOVC a7T € K EjLaTOC KaT LOLav, 0 jL'T}O€LC alV\oc TWV 7TpOTEPWV , , 

€7TOL7JCEV, 

jL'T}oEva TfjC Eg aVTOV cpLAav()pW7Tlac {3ovA6jLEVOC ajLOLpov Y€VEc()aL' EV T€ 

A '(J 1 - (J \ - V' \ [()] 1 , 75 TaLC YELVOjLEvaLC €WpLaLC TOV VjL€I\LKOV 7TaVTac TOVC E WjLEVOVC KaL 

63 ErrANTO~ 69 npO~EN 



JAMES H. OLIVER 229 

, \0' " - '\ ' \, , - 0 ' <I , TOUC CUVE/\ OVTac a7TO TWV 7TO/\EWV EY/\UKtCEV EV T<tJ EaTp<tJ, pt/L/LaTa 
" '\' \ \ _ < ~, \, _ I (; '\ 

TE E7TOL7JCEV /LEya/\a Kat 7TO/\VTE/\7J, wc ULCXKOVCTCX KCXL EV TCXtC 7TEpL<:, 7TO/\E 

, ~ , ,- I {} v" - \ I -'-CLV Ta UCX7TCXV7J/LCXTCX CXVTOV yEVEC CXL EV TE TTl CVVTE/\ELt;G TOV CXywvoc /LE 

Ta TO 7TCXV07J/LOV OL7TVOV [T~V] apx[~]v aVW{}EV 7TaALV 7TOLOV/LEVOC TijC OI!-7T~ 
80 v7Jc KaTa TplKAELVOV OLaOO{-tcxTcx ;OWKEV viJv O€KCX o7Jvcxplwv KCX~ KEpa 

/LLOV OLVOV 7TcxAcxLOU KCXt 87JVcXpLCX Eg dc €7Toifi7J/LCX TO AOL7TOV TfjC 8CX7TcX 

vv \ '" \ \ I 1 1\ Q I 
V7JC /LETCX OE T7JV 7TCXVTWV TOVTWV CVVTEI\ELCXV KCXTCX/-,CXLVOVTOC 

, ,...,,, .... (' ..... ,'" 1\ ~, t I or \ ~ 

CXVTOV CX7TO TOV tEpOV E7Tt T7JV 7TO/\LV 7TCXV07J/LEL V7T7JVT7Jcav at 7TOI\ELTCXL 

- ,/.. \ I " " ~, < ~, "[] \ {} I 7TCXCCXV 'f't/\OTEL/LLCXV KCXt EVXaPLCTLCXV EVOELyVV/LEVOL' a uE /L7J E K I\CX 0 

85 /LEVOC TijC ECXVTOiJ /LEycxAOcppocvv7Jc TCXVpO{}VT~CCXC L1L~ Tef; MEyLCrcp E7TL 

A 1\ A' I \ \{} I "" 
T7JC 7TO/\EWC 7TCXPCXXP7J/LCX ELCTfl!-CEV TOVC CVV~/\ OVTCXC E7Tt T7JV EUXCX 

I "{}" _ I "{}' _,~_ \~I 

PLCTLCXV' a EV E7Tt TaLC TOLOVTOLC TOVC aycx OVC TWV avopwv KCXt OVTWC 

/LEyCXAoifivxovc KCXL [cp ]LAOF[ a]TpLOCXC TCXLC 7TpOC7JKOVCCXLC TEL/LCXLC TE KCXL 

'" - AI' I -{} v~'''~' OWPECXLC 7TpOC7JKOV ECTLV KOC/LOV/LEVOVC /LapTVpLC at OL a 07J 

I "", (; _" "C::: 'A ~ I , 90 7TCXVTa EOOSEV TaLC TE apxovCL Kat CVVEOPOLC Kat T<tJ U7J/L<tJ EFCXL 

I ,\ '" ""E 1 c::: ',/..' ~ VECCXL /LEV TOV 7TpOELp7J/LEVOV CXVopcx 7TCX/LELVWVOCXV E'f' U 

\ [ , ] I", [ J " , -, I , \ 'B 7TpOC T 7J V 7TCXTPLO CX ~CX7JIfEV EKTEVEL EVVOLt;G KCXt 7TpOC TO OLW 

nov E{}VOC /LEyCXAoifivxlt;G CVVKOC/LWV KCXL T~V 7TCXTPLOCX Tfj 

R I ,/.. A C:::" \ , A ,/.., '" 

7TpEC/-'ELt;G, CTE'f'CXVWCCXL OE CXVTOV Kat XPVClf! CTE'f'aVlf! KCXt EtKO 

95 n [Xcx JAlffj' TVXTI Tfj aycx{}fj TOVC TE /LETa < TCX )iJrcx KCXTCXCTCX{}7JCO/Ltvovc 

[aJy[wJ 
0 ' []' -, '0 1 '" - 'A [] \ A , va ET CX ~ EV TaLC E7TLTE/\EC 7JCO/LEVOLC V7T CXVTWV cxyWCLV K CX/\EtV CXV 

TOV lc [7TpO ]~8p{cx!, Kcx(}a1Tf:p KCXt TOUC aAAOVC ElJEpy€rCXC. ivcx TO< V)TWV 

OVTW cvvn:Aov/LEV< wv) ~ 7TOALC ~/LWV EvxapLcToc cpalV7JTaL 7TPOC 

TOVC ElJEpytTCXC 7TOAAol TE ~ 7JA{7]A }WTCXL yElvwv[ T JCXt TWV aycx{}wv 

,... , "\ ,..... I ..... ~" " 100 TWV ELC T7JV 7TOl\tV /LCXPTVPOV/LEVWV TWV 7TPWTWV, CT7JCCXL OE KCXt cxv 

~ I ,\"1\ "\ ~ \, ..... t ..... "'" 'A 1\' 
optCXVTCXC CXVTOVC 7J CXyCX/\/LCXTCX, EVCX /LEV EV Tlf! tEplf! TOV 7TO/\/\WVOC 

- II I \ C:::'" ,\ - 1\ ,-, A \' I < ) TOU TWLOV. TOV 0 ETEpOV E7Tt T7JC 7TO/\EWC EV TTl cxyopt;G, KCXt ELKOV CX C 

• I , 1 \' ,/.. \ 1 1 '" '0 '" - \ 0/LOLWC E7TLXPVCOVC T7JV E7TLypCX'f'7JV 7TOLOV/LEVWV T7JVOE v 07J/LOC KI!-f 

• Q ,\ 'E 1 C:::'E 1 "'" , I 7J /-,OV/\7J 7TCX/LELVWVOCXV 7TCX/LELVWVOOV CXPLCTCX 7TO/\ELTEVCCX/LE 

05 \ c::: I < ) ,. c::: \ \', ,/.. - \ .1. ,'/'' ,\ A' -1 vov KaL OLKaLOTa Ta , ELVat OE KaL EV avaypcx'f'TI TO 'f'7J'f'LC/LCX E7Tt TOV LEpOV 

- 'A I" - II I \ , \ I, ' A' - vacat TOV 7TO/\/\WVOC TOV TWLOV KCXL E7Tt 7TO/\EOC EV TTl CXyopt;G 

95 METAYTA 97 TOTON 98 :LYNTEI\OYMEN 102 EIKONE:L 105 ~IKAIOTA 

RESTORATIONS AND EMENDATIONS: 4-7 Dittenberger. 9-10 Holleaux. 11 YEVE-

8At[OLC Holleaux; oE Oliver. 12 TOU lJE{3acToiJ Holleaux; cetera Dittenberger. 
13-18 Dittenberger. 19 [afLoL]poV Oliver, [KaL]pov et cetera Dittenberger. 20 
[7TapEic avE"V 7ToA'\wv XP'l]fLeX}TWV Sa7TeXv'l][c 7Tap' Ea]uTou et [7TeXvT]a Dittenberger. 



230 EPAMINONDAS OF ACRAEPHIA 

21 Dittenberger. 22 [CE Aa/L1TpWC Dittenberger, 1T&A[t]V Holleaux. 23 Holleaux. 
28 80v[Amc Boeckh, 8t[a Dittenberger. 29 [1TapaAa,.B]wv ESE] Dittenberger; 
[JvE]S{gaTo Oliver. 30 Dittenberger. 31 Boeckh. 32 [TO] et &8t[aA]et[1T]TOV Keil, 
cetera Leake. 36-37 Leake. 38 [al]Tov Leake, ['7J]TOV Keil; cetera Leake. 40-42 
Leake. 43 EV[y]EVEt Boeckh, EV[CO]EVEt Leake; [K]at Leake. 44 [T~V] a8wp[o]v 
1Tp'c,.BEvav Leake, [Ka;'] a8wp[0]v 1TpEC,.BEVC(E)tV Boeckh, [Elc] a8wp[0]v Ditten­
berger, [KaT]a 8wp[Ea]v Oliver; Oav/L[acOE]lc Dittenberger. 46 Leake. 49-50 
Leake. 51 [1TOAet]c Kat K[ W ]/Lat et 1TpaY[/La] Boeckh; cetera Leake. 52 ETEt[VO]V 
Oliver, [~g{WCEV !f7J¢>{c]/LactV Ka[;' 1To]AE£TE{[<;C] Boeckh. 54 [1TPOYEyovoTac 
Kat] €aVTOV Boeckh. 55 Leake. 63 J<v)cTavToc Keil. 69 e[1T]tTa Oliver; 1TpOC­
<EKaAEc)Ev Wilhelm,jOAI 10 (1907) 26 dubitanter. 72-73 Leake. 75 Leake. 79 
Leake. 88 Leake. 92 Leake. 95 [Xa]AKfi Oliver; <Ta)vTa Boeckh; [&]y[w] Leake. 
96 Leake. 97 [1TpOE ]8p{a[v] Leake; TO< V)TWV Dittenberger. 98 Boeckh. 99 Leake. 
102 Leake. 105 Oliver. 

Many new readings by the writer merely confirm previous restora­
tions like Boeckh's splendid reconstruction of line 28, or alter spellings, 
but more important are: EE,.BacTov 7TaAtV in 48, tJ7TEpa7ToDEgap.Evov for 
Boeckh's v[7TOfLtP.V7]CKOP.]EVOV in 49, al AOt7Tat for a[AAat in 51, V7TEPTdJE­

P.EVOC for Leake's V7TEp[ E{JaAAETo] in 53, 7TpO EaVTOV Kat aVToc in 54 
(where Boeckh had caught the right meaning), oivov I ~fLtTEav in 65 

for Leake's ~p.t[vav] which had made its way into LSJ, e[1T]tTa in 69, 
KWTtAa in 71, TfjC Eg aVTOV for TfjC EavTov in 74, ptp.p.aTa for Leake's 
[7T€]p.fLaTa in 76, vvv D€Ka for Leake's [E]vDEKa in 80, V7T~vT'1}cav for 
[ & ]7T~vT'1}cav in 83, OVTWC in 87, ElKOI V£ [xa ]AKiJ for elKO [v I L ')'pa1TTiJ] in 95, 
aVTovc for aVTOV in 101, Kat DtKaLoTa<Ta) in 105. Lines 29, 44, and 52 
offer new solutions to old problems. 

In the text as now revised dittography occurs in lines 66 and 99. 

Omissions occur in lines 27, 63, 69, 95, 97,98, and 105, without counting 
the cases of iotacism where epsilon is dropped in the words Odc (23), 
EVEDEtgaTo (29), 7TpEc{JEta (37, 43), 7TPEC{JEVCELV (44), &gLW(}EtC (45), E7TELTa 

(51, 69), KaTacTa(}Etc (56), DEL7TVOV (61, 68, 79), TagEtC (69), p.apTvpELc(}aL 

(89), Elc (37, 97), 7ToAELC (51). 
LINE 21: The word ElcTtacE may have run over to line 22, though 

Robert has Holleaux make 7TaA[L]v the first word. 
LINE 26: EX(}€fLaToc. See line 73. A. Wilhelm, JOAI 10 (1907) 26, 

compares the Eretrian decree, SIC3 7l4, T~V TE (}vctav TWL rEpP.EL 
\ ~ , '\' , '\ I \ rp I \ CVVTEI\WV EKal\ECEV EK 7Tpo,),pafLp.aTOC TOVC TE 7TOI\LTac Kat wp.aLWV TOVC 

E7TLD'1}p.ovvTac. The phrase is DLa 7Tpo')'pap.p.aToc in an honorary decree 
at Panamara published by Deschamps and Cousin, BCH 15 (1891) 



JAMES H. OLIVER 231 

196-99, which has some interesting similarities with our own inscrip­
tion. 

LINE 27: 7TCl.P€7TLerfJpm5<v)TWV. Examples of loss of nu before a dental 
were, as Robert noted, collected by A. Wilhelm,jOAI 24 (1929) 189. 

LINE 31: Perhaps a reference to the 7TafLfuxxoc aydw of a pancratiast. 
LINES 33-37: The dike held back the Copaic Lake from the wheat 

lands of the Acraephians. Pausanias 9.23.5 does not mention it. See 
below on Inscription C. 

LINE 42: E7T€8I.gCl.TO. The same verb occurs in Inscription Cline 50, 
and in SIG3 800 of A.D. 42. 

LINE 44: The restoration [KCl.T}X 8wp[€a]v is imposed by the parallels 
in Inscription A lines 13,64, and 76, even if <TOU) must be supplied be­
fore it (section now lost). He financed the whole Boeotian contingent. 

LINE 49: 117T€pCl.7To8€gcf/L€vov. The word turned up at or near Mylasa 
in a mutilated inscription of an honorary decree for a benefactor, 
published by E. Hula and E. Szanto, SBWien 132.2 (1895) 12, cited in 
LSj. Certain people were described as oi V7T€PCl.7T08€gcfJL€v[Ot]. But the 
inscription from Acraephia is the first to give a complete context. 

LINE 53: The hanging participles need not reflect the loss of a main 
verb. A good parallel for the first phrase will be found three genera­
tions earlier inIG TI2 1043 lines 65--66, tJ7T€pn I [BI.JL€vOV T ]€ TfjL JL€YCl.AOrPVXtCl.L. 

LINE 56: For the past history of the Ptoia see M. Feyel, Contribution 
a r epigraphie beotienne (PublFacLettStrasbourg 95 [1942]) ch. VII, and 
Poly be et l'histoire de Beotie (BEFAR 152 [1942]) 254--56; S. Lauffer, RE 23 
(1959) 1547-53. 

LINE 60: The formula apXOVT€C KCl.i, CVV€8pOL occurs already in IG 
VII 4127, which M. Guarducci, RivFC 61, N.S. 11 (1933) 234--35, dates 
between 205 and 201 B.C. 

LINE 63: The participle occurs in Inscription Cline 50, TOU yap 
, , , -€VCTCl.VTOC €VLCl.VTOV. 

LINES 63--64: The word 8Lcf80JLCl., which occurs on inscriptions at 
Didyma, Cibyra and Beroea and on a papyrus, is explained by L. 
Robert, Hellenica 11-12 (1960) 470-74, as meaning "distribution either 
of cash or in kind." 

LINE 66: ~JLtT€Cl.V. The same phrase, oivov I h€JLtT€LCl.V, occurs in the 
regulations for the cults of Asclepius and Apollo at Epidaurus in the 
late fifth century B.C. in IG IV2 (1).40 and 41 (= E. J. and L. Edelstein, 
Asclepius [Baltimore 1945] 561 and 562; F. Sokolowski, Lois sacrees des 
cites grecques [Paris 1969] 60). At Epidaurus Asclepius, doubtless also 



232 EPAMINONDAS OF ACRAEPHIA 

Apollo, was to receive a medimnus of barley, a half medimnus of wheat 
and a hemiteia of wine. The Edelsteins translate hemiteia as "one twelfth 
medimnus" of wine, but the medimnus was not a liquid measure. 
Hiller von Gaertringen, SlG3 998, and Sokolowski in his index treat 
the word as ~/LLc€tav. Mabel Lang, "Numerical Notation on Greek 
Vases," Hesperia 25 (1956) 1-24, has nothing that suggests a feminine 
noun as a likely measure of wine to accompany at Epidaurus and 
Acraephia a basket of grain. Certainly a kotyle will not do, and we are 
thrown back on Hiller von Gaertringen's /Lotpa. The old phrase has 
continued in use and surely refers to a jug of half size. 

LINE 66: r~v rwv cvprwv 'mxrpwv OPXTJCLV, the dance of the trailing 
costumes. See S. Lauffer, RE 23 (1959) 155l. 

LINE 68: On yAVKtC/Lotk, 'sweet wine', see A. Wilhelm, JOAl 
10 (1907) 27. 

LINES 70-71: This example of the entertainment of slaves does not 
seem to have been known to W. L. Westermann, The Slave Systems 
of AntiqUity (Philadelphia 1955). 

LINE 76: pL/L/Lara (not [m!]/L/Lara). That these were missilia ph. Fabia 
recognized in his good article in the Dictionnaire des Antiquites 3 (1904) 
1934b, though he had a problem in the word 7TE/L/Lara, which was 
Leake's strangely unchallenged restoration. The whole word is clear. 
The miss ilia differ from congiaria and other liberalitates by their random 
character. The big spender throws them out to the populace. Feyel 
anticipated this reading and passed it on to L. Robert, who in ArchEph 
1969, 34-39, published a rich commentary on lines 75-78. 

LINE 80: For dining rooms connected with sanctuaries see the 
sanctuary of Demeter and Kore at Corinth, to be published by Nancy 
Bookidis. 

LINE 81: Diocletian's Edict contains prices of wine, vini veteris primi 
gustus 24 denarii an Italian pint, vini veteris sequentis gustus 16 denarii 
an Italian pint, vini rustici 8 denarii an Italian pint. 

LINE 83: 7TavSTJ/L€' il7T~vTT}cav ol 7ToA€trat. The best parallel for the 
royal reception accorded to Epaminondas is the reception for Herodes 
Atticus recorded in lG II2 3606. For the later history of the hypantesis 
see Ernst H. Kantorowicz, "The King's Advent and the Enigmatic 
Panels in the Doors of Santa Sabina," ArtB 26 (1944) 204-31. The whole 
population dressed in white would have waited for Epaminondas 
outside the gate along the road down from the Ptoion and would 
have strewn wild flowers in his path as he arrived. 



OUVER PLATE 2 

Figure 1. CHCl~OI OF 51' GEORGE .\T AKRAIPH:"JIO:'-: 

Figure 2. INSCRIPTION B [IG VII 2712J, SylALL I'RAG:\IE;\;T 



PLATE 3 OUVER 

I:-<SCRIPTIOC-: B [IG VII 2712J, LARGE FRAG:\IEC-:T 



JAMES H. OLIVER 233 

LINES 85-86: The sacrifices to Zeus Megistos were sacrifices to the 

chief god of Acraephia, Zeus Sote,r, on the acropolis of Acraephia (L. 
Robert, BCH 59 [1935] 442 n.5). 

LINES 89-90: DL' & D~ I 7T<XVTa. So also Inscriptions Cline 65 and D line 
46, and IG IV 2 81. 

LINES 98-99: Examples of the formula Tot5Twv OVTW CVVT€AovJL€v< wv) 

will be found in IG IP Pars Quarta p.64, but the usual Athenian ver­
sion of the formula tva . .. ~ 7T6t.LC ~JLCJV €VXapLCTOC c/>alv'Y}Tat runs 
07TWC (Xv 0 DijJLoC c/>alv'Y}TaL xapLTac cboDLDot,c TOLC El)€PYETa£c aut simile. 
See, however, OGI267 at Pergamum, tva c/>av€poc ~£ 0 DijJL[OC] a7TaCLV 

, I " €VXapLCTOC wv. 

LINE 99: ~'Y}'\{'Y}t.}wTCd. Compare IG II2 1043 line 60, ylVWVT(XL DE Kat 

€T€PO£ TWV oJLolwv ~'Y}t.wTal; and IG II2 1343 line 41. 
L 101 ' C;:-' "'" ',\ Th ' , INE : avopLavTac aVTOVC 'Y) aya JLaTa. e pronoun aVTOVC contrasts 

the public corporations with the agonothetae. The latter are not in­
volved in this expense. The difference between aVDpLaVT€C and aya,\­

JLaTa need have been nothing more than a difference of material. At 
Teos a benefactor was to be honored with both a bronze eXvDpLac and 
a marble aya,\JLa (CIG 3085). The apparent indecision disturbed Keil, 
but local conditions may have recommended giving the magistrates 
a free hand to choose the material which they could more con­
veniently or inexpensively order, perhaps after consultation with the 
benefactor. After all he probably paid for them himself. 

LINES 105-06: Much the same ending on Inscription D. 

New Translation of Inscription B 
-[line 21] times at which he entertained all the city, and again after 

sacrificing a bull to Hermes and Heracles and the Augusti at the 
festival of these gods an athletic contest, where he set shields as 
prizes for the victors, as first and only man in all history to have 
excogitated this honor. And he entertained the city at breakfast on 
the same day in the gymnasium after publishing a proclamation; he 
did not omit anyone not only of the local residents but even of the 
visiting strangers along with free children and the slaves of citizens 
because of his customary love of good repute. 

When he undertook the chief magistracy he displayed greatness 
of soul. For he sacrificed a bull to the Augusti and on one day feasted 



234 EPAMINONDAS OF ACRAEPHIA 

the city, accomplishing the so-called pa--- feat in the gymnasium, so 
that the surpassing and uninterrupted flow of his expenditures was 
a subject of wonder not only here among us but in the surrounding 
cities. The plastering of the very great dike which protects our land 
had been neglected in letting the contract; all by himself, facing the 
situation, he planned and accomplished the task of having the whole 
thing repaired and plastered, the repairs on twelve stades of its length 
costing more than six thousand denarii. 

But now he extended the magnanimity of his inclination to the 
Boeotian League as well. In the synedrion of the Achaeans and 
Panhellenes at Argos a search was on for an embassy to the new 
Augustus; many of the first rank and dignity who had come together 
from the various cities were refusing to go and challenging others to 
take part; he subordinated all his own business and wholeheartedly 
undertook the embassy in behalf of the Boeotian League and to the 
nobility of his proud intention he added the magnanimity of a 
promise to pay for the embassy. Admired for all this and deemed 
worthy of approval, he received honors among the Panhellenes and 
recognition also in the epistle sent by them to our city. 

When he had completed the embassy along with the other repre­
sentatives of leagues and had brought back the emperor's reply, 
again he received honors along with his fellow-ambassadors, and the 
Pamboeotian synedrion, which had been overjoyed to accept the 
spontaneously offered favor and goodwill, voted him the suitable 
honors and sent a despatch to our city. And then also the rest of the 
cities and villages, they too doing something nice, hastened to honor 
him with decrees and citizenship and a placing of portraits. 

Surpassing in his magnanimity and general excellence all those 
before him and even surpassing himself in respect to the love of 
honor and the pleasure of doing good, rating with his successive ex­
penditures as uniquely patriotic and beneficent-For when he was 
appointed agonothete, after the contest of the Ptoia had been omitted 
for thirty years, he most eagerly took it upon himself in the hope of 
renewing creditably the ancient splendor of the contest, and he 
became all over again founder of the Great Ptoia and Caesarea. Im­
mediately upon assuming the office he carried out the sacrifices and 
the oracles of the god. Feasting magistrates and councillors five times 
with magnificent annual banquets and supplying the city with a 
breakfast for a stretch of five years, he never once put off a sacrifice 



JAMES H. OLIVER 235 

or expenditure. In the sixth year at the beginning of the contest, he 
gave the town distribution for the coming festival, giving all the 
citizens and incolce and alien property holders a basket of grain and 
a half-jug of wine each. He carried out the great ancestral processions 
and the ancestral dance of the trailing costumes, and sacrificing a bull 
to the gods and Augusti he continuously offered gifts of ITleat, break­

fasts, sweet wine and banquets. Then in groups from the twentieth 
to the thirtieth he invited to all the breakfasts also sons of the citizens 
and male slaves of age, while his wife Kotila entertained at breakfast 
the wives of the citizens and also maidens and female slaves of age. 
He did not leave out even the stall keepers and those who helped in 
arrangements for the festival. He entertained them at breakfast 
privately after a proclamation, which no one else had done, none of 
his predecessors, for he did not wish anyone to be without a share in 
the favors that came from him. 

At the spectacles of the thymelic contest which took place he treated 
with a sweet wine collation in the theatre all the local spectators and 
those who had come from the other cities, and he tossed out great 
and valuable presents, so that his expenditures became the talk of 
even the surrounding cities. 

Assuming the office all over again, with the carrying out of the 
games after the banquet for the whole demos he now gave distribu­
tions of ten denarii to be spent on each dining room, and a jar of old 
wine and six denarii for what they ate with their bread as the rest of 
the expenditure on each. After the consummation of all these festivi­
ties, when he came down from the sanctuary to the city the citizens 
en masse met him with a demonstration of full honor and gratitude. 
He did not forget his greatness of soul but in the city sacrificed a bull 
to Zeus the Greatest and at once invited those who had come to­
gether to the feast of thanksgiving. 

Wherefore after such acts it is right that good men of such mag­
nanimity and patriotism receive recognition in the form of honors 
and grants. For all these reasons the archons, councillors and demos 
decided to praise the aforesaid man Epaminondas for the intense 
goodwill he has had for his ancestral city and magnanimity toward 
the Boeotian League, for with the embassy he was helping also his 
ancestral city; secondly, to honor him with a gold crown and a bronze 
portrait, to good fortune; and thirdly, that those who shall afterwards 
be appointed agonothetae at the games to be carried out by them call 



236 EPAMINONDAS OF ACRAEPHIA 

him on each occasion to a front seat like the other benefactors, so that 
with these things being so accomplished our city may appear grate­
ful to its benefactors and many may become emulators of his good 
deeds when the previous good deeds for the city receive recognition; 
and fourthly, to set up, themselves, portraits in bronze or marble, 
one at the sanctuary of Apollo Ptous, the other in the city in the agora, 
and likewise gilded portraits with the following inscription, "The 
demos and council (honored) Epaminondas son of Epaminondas, for 
an excellent and most just performance as citizen and public official"; 
and fifthly, that there be an engraved copy of this decree at the 
sanctuary of Apollo Ptous and in the city in the agora. 

Inscription C, Contemporary Honors 
for other Benefactors 

For their general similarity in the matter of benefactions to im­
poverished Acraephia and honors to benefactors, the Acraephian 
decrees for Empedon, Demetrius and Pamphilus, SEC XV 330, pub­
lished by L. Robert, BCH 59 (1935) 438-52 (= Opera minora selecta I 
[Amsterdam 1969] 279-93), are the most interesting parallels for 
Inscription B; they were engraved together on a stele which dates 
from the reign of Claudius. Inscription C was found near Akraiphnion 
and is reported to be now in the museum at Thebes. 

The decrees honor men who, in a time of terrible difficulty when 
the land was lost, EV Til TfjC xwpac a7TwAEtCf, aided the city financially. 
Robert aptly cites SIC 3 800, the decree of Lycosura which mentions 
the depression of A.D. 42 following a crop failure (acpoptac Kap7TC7w 

YEVO fl-EVac ) . 
The loss of land, says Kahrstedt,2 was much more than a crop 

failure at Acraephia. He notes the absence of the name of Epaminon­
das, who was still alive in A.D. 67. The wealth of Epaminondas lay 
partly under water, and he thinks that the repair of the dike had 
come too late. "The Copaic basin, the eastern half of which was dry 
land in the Hellenistic Period, had formed the northeast bay in any 
case before Pausanias (9.24.1)." What happened once to Copae, he 
infers, now happened to Acraephia. The catastrophe did not touch 
the meadows of Apollo Ptous but swallowed the wheatlands of the 
citizens. Acraephia continued in existence but never recovered. 

2 U. Kahrstedt, Das wirtschaftliche Gesicht Griechenlands in der Kaiserzeit (Bern 1954) 90f. 



JAMES H. OLNER 237 

Inscription D , Nero and Epaminondas 
In the year that Nero visited Greece, Epaminondas had for life the 

title "priest of the (divi) Augusti and of Nero Claudius Caesar Augus­
tus." When Nero at the Isthmian Games on 28 November 67 pro­
claimed freedom and immunity for Greece, Epaminondas proposed 
an Acraephian decree in honor of Zeus Eleutherius Nero. The inscrip­
tion containing Nero's edict and speech and the decree of Epamin­
ondas was formerly built into the church of St George at Akraiphnion 
but is now in the museum at Thebes. It is completely preserved. 
H., 1.21 m.; w., 0.34 m.; th., 0.34 m. Height of letters, 0.011 m. 

M. Holleaux, BCH 12 (1888) 510-28, and Discours pro nonce par 
Neron d Corinthe en rendant aux grecs la liberte (Lyons 1889); W. Ditten­
berger, IG VII 2713 and SIG2 376; H. Dessau, ILS 8794; F. Hiller von 
Gaertringen, SIG3 814; [M. P. Charlesworth, Documents Illustrating the 
Reigns of Claudius and Nero (Cambridge 1939) Nero 2; Smallwood, 
op.cit. (p.221) 64]. 

AMERICAN SCHOOL OF CLASSICAL STUDIES AT ATHENS 

April, 1971