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AHST 222 / 322 Lecture 14:
The City-States of the Hellenistic World, II.

Modern Discussions:

Terminology, people and places:
 
probouleutic proxeny / ies Ephebate
euergetism Pellana Delphi
leistai Epistates Seleucia in Pieria
Synoekisms Megalopolis Teos and Lebedus
Mykonos Epaminondas of Thebes Arcadian League
Achaean League Boeotian League Delphic Amphictiony
Aetolian League Sympoliteia Homopoliteia
Isopoliteia Commercium and  Connubium
Didyma Miletus Magnesia on the Maeander
Myus Antiochus Epiphanes Megara
Epidauros Corinth Lampsacus
Smyrna Asylia Athymbria
Epiphany Prophetes / Prophetai Stephanephoroi
Agonothetes Agoranomoi


The city of Priene offers citizenship to Antigonus Monophthalmus, Summer, 334 B.C.
Translation adapted from R.S. Bagnall & P. Derow, Greek Historical Documents: The Hellenistic Period, Scholar's Press, 1981, Document 1.

[Resolved] by the boule [and the demos], on the second of [the month] Metageitnion, at a [regular] assembly, the Prieneans being autonomous, Hippo[krates] being the prytanis : to Antigonus, son of Philippos, Macedonian, who has been a benefactor and who is zealous toward the city of the Prieneans, to give to him proxenia and citizenship and the right to own land and house, and freedom from taxation on all things pertaining to his own house, except land, and the right of import and export, both in war and in peace, free from plunder and without special treaty, and access to the magistrates and the demos of the Prieneans first after the sacred matters; and for these things to belong to him and to his descendants.



Seleucus I confirms the status of Athymbria as asylos (inviolable), c. 281 B.C.
Translation adapted from R.S. Bagnall & P. Derow, Greek Historical Documents: The Hellenistic Period, Scholar's Press, 1981, Doc. 15.

[King] Seleucus and Antiochus to Sopat[ros, greeting]. The Athymbrians [having sent] to us [as envoys] Iatrokles, Artemidoros and Timotheos concerning their [right of receiving suppliants, their inviolability (asylia), and their tax-exemption], we have [ … ] the details and have written to you that you may reply [to them at greater length]. [For our policy is always] through benefactions [to please] the citizens [of the Greek cities and by no means least] with reverence to join in increasing [the honours ] of the gods, [so that we may be the object of good-will] transmissible for all time [to those who come after] us. We are convinced that even in previous times we have given [many great] proofs of [our] personal [reverence, and] now also, [wishing] to be consistent with [our actions from the beginning], [we grant] to all the temples which [have received the right of inviolability ---].


The Aetolian League declares Magnesia on the Maeander asylos (inviolable), c. 207 B.C.
Translation adapted from S. M. Burstein, The Hellenistic Age from the Battle of Ipsos to the Death of Kleopatra VII, Cambridge University Press, 1985, Doc. 31.

The strategos being Agelaos from Naupaktos for the
second time, the hipparchos being Polemarchos from Thy-
riskaia, the secretary being Skopas from Trichone,
it was resolved by the Aitolians. Since the Magnesians, those f-
rom the Maeander, having sent as ambassador(s)
Mnasiptolemos and Hipponikos, both
renewed the friendship with the nation and
declared the good will which is held for the League
of the Aitolians by the Magnesians, it has been resolved that the friend-
ship with them be preserved and that their city
and its territory be sacred and inviolable (asylos) just as the
ambassadors request; and that it not be permitted to anyone
of the Aitolians or of those residing in Aitolia to seize
anything from the land of the Magnesians, no matter where they set out
from, either by land or by sea; but if someone
does seize (anything), the strategos then in office shall distrain upon his real property,
and from his personal property the synedroi shall levy
a fine which they shall determine because the general interest
was harmed by them. As for those exacting the penalties and effecting
restitution to those who have been wronged, they shall have full power. And they (sc. the Magnesians) shall be given
also a hieromnemonic vote among the Amphiktiones. This decree
shall be inscribed and set up in Thermos and in Delphi.