I recently worked on a fascinating inscribed dossier of decrees from Hellenistic Telos (the modern-day lovely island of Tilos). The dossier describes an instance of political strife in the city followed by reconciliation overseen by arbitrators from the nearby island of Kos. The article has been accepted for publication at the Journal of Hellenic Studies. Here I provide a copy of the Inscriptiones Graecae text of the inscription along with my working translation. (Do not reproduce without permission.)
IG XII 4 132
Face A
[ἔδοξε τῶι δάμωι, γνώ]μα πρυτανίων· ἐπειδὴ vac. fr. a
[ὁ δᾶμος δηλόμενος δι]αλυθῆμεν ποτὶ τοὺς δια–
[φερομένους ἐψαφίξ]α̣το ἐπιτράψαι Κώιοις ὑπὲρ
[ὧν διεφέροντο ποτ᾿ ἀλλ]άλους πάντων, ὅπως ὁμο–
[νοιεῦντες ἐν δαμοκρα]τίαι πολιτεύωνται, ὁ δὲ δᾶ– 5
[μος ὁ Κώιων μεμναμένο]ς τᾶς εὐνοίας ἐψαφίξατο
[ἐξαποστεῖλαι ποτὶ τὰ]ς διαλύσεις ἄνδρας κα– vac.
[λοὺς καὶ ἀγαθοὺς –3–4–]γόραν Μίκωνος, Ἀριστω–
[– – – – –c.15– – – – –, Χά]ρμιππον Χαρμύλου,
– – – – – – –c.20– – – – – –ν̣α Ξενοδίκου, τοὶ δὲ̣ 10
[ἐξαπεσταλμένοι διαλλακτα]ὶ διέλυσαν καλῶς
[καὶ δικαίως τὸν δᾶμον vacat ], δεδόχθαι τᾶι ἐκ–
[κλησίαι· ἐπαινέσαι μὲν τὸν δᾶμο]ν̣ τὸν Κώιων
[καὶ στεφανῶσαι στεφάνωι χρυσέωι ἀπὸ] δραχμᾶ[ν]
[χιλιᾶν, ἐπαινέσαι δὲ καὶ τοὺς ἄνδρας ἐπὶ] τῶι δ[ι]– 15
[καίως διαλῦσαι τὸν δᾶμον τὸν Τηλίων – – – – –]
lacuna vv. fere 20
[– – – – – – – τῶν διαφ]ερομένων π̣[οτὶ τὸν δᾶμον τὸν] fr. b
[Τηλίω]ν, ὅπως ὁμονοιεῦντες ἐν δαμοκρατίαι π̣[ολιτεύ]–
[ωνται] ἐλεύθεροι καὶ αὐτόνομοι ὄντες, τυχἀγαθᾶι, κ̣[ατὰ τά]–
[δε διέλ]υσαν τὸν δᾶμον καὶ τοὺς διαφερομένους Τηλί̣[ων] 40
[ποτὶ] τ̣ὸν δᾶμον· ὑπὲρ μὲν τᾶν δικᾶν τᾶν ἱερᾶν καὶ τᾶν
[δαμο]σιᾶν, ἃς ὀφλόντες ἐν τοῖς δικαστηρίοις ἀντέλεγον
[μὴ δικ]αίως ὀφλῆκεν, ἀπομισθῶσαι τὸς ταμίας αὐτοῖς τῶγ
[χρη]μάτων ὧν ὦφλον τοῖς μὲν τὰς ἱερὰς δίκας ὀφλοῦ–
[σι]ν̣ τὰς ποτὶ τὸ Ἀθάναιον καὶ Κλεισιμβροτίδαι τὰν περὶ τὸ 45
[Δ]αμάτριον, καὶ Φιλτυλίωι παρασχεῖν ἐς τὰν ἑκατόμβαν τὰν
θ̣υομέναν ἐπὶ μονάρχου Θεαγόρα ταῦρον κριὸν οἶν θήλειαν·
τῶν δὲ τὰς δαμοσίας δίκας ὀφλόντων Ἀρισταγόραν μὲν
[Ἀ]ριστοφίλου ἀποτετείκεν τὸ ἀργύριον ὃ ἐνδειχθεὶς κατέ–
[β]α̣λε, ο<ὗ> ἔγδεια ἐγένετο πωληθέντων τῶν κτημάτων ποτὶ 50
[τ]ὰ̣ν καταδίκαν, Ἀριστόθεμιν δὲ Ἀριστοφίλου ἀποτεῖσαι δρα–
[χ]μὰς πεντακισχιλίας, Νικαγόραν δὲ Νικάνακτος ἀποτεῖσα̣[ι]
[τᾶ]ι πόλει δραχμ〚μ〛ὰς χιλίας πεντακοσίας· ἀποδόντω δὲ ἐμ μη–
[ν]ὶ Καρνείωι ἐπὶ Θεαγόρα· ποτὶ δὲ τὰ λοιπὰ χρήματα τὰ ἐκ τᾶν κα–
τ̣αδικᾶν ἀπομισθωσάντω τοὶ ταμίαι Ἀριστοθέμι καὶ Νικαγόρα[ι] 55
[κ]α̣ὶ Ἀρισταγόραι τὸν βωμὸν τοῦ Ἀσκλαπιοῦ ἐ̣π̣ι̣σ̣κευάξαι καὶ ἐξαλε[ῖ]–
[ψαι· συ]ν̣τελεσάντων δὲ τῶν μὲν τὰς ἱερὰς δίκας ὀφλόντων τὰν
[ἑκατόμβ]α̣ν, Ἀριστοθέμιος δὲ καὶ Νικαγόρα καὶ Ἀρισταγόρα{ι} τὸμ βω–
[μὸν κατὰ τ]ὰ γεγραμμένα, ἀπολελύσθαι αὐτὸς τᾶν δικᾶν καὶ
[τὰς γραφὰς] ἀ̣ναιρῆσθαι, καὶ μὴ ἦ̣μεν ἔγκλημα περὶ τᾶν δικᾶν 60
[τᾶν τε ἱερᾶν καὶ] τᾶ̣ν δαμοσιᾶν τᾶν δικασθεισᾶν μήτε τοῖς
[ὀφλοῦσιν ἐπιφέρειν] μηθένα μηθὲν μήτ᾿ ἄλλωι μηδενὶ ποτ[ι]–
[– – – παρευρέσει μη]δ̣εμιᾶι· τὰν δὲ δίκαν τᾶς ὁδοῦ ἃν ἐξι̣[δια]–
[ξαμένους – – – – Ἀριστο]μένη καὶ Ἀρισταγόραν Ἀναξισ[τρά]–
[του ἐζαμίωσαν τοὶ – – – – – – – – – –] ἄρχοντος δ̣ι̣αφεροντ[. .] 65
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Face B
[. .]ν̣ δικαν ἐς ὅρκον συνκεχωρημέν[ων καὶ τῶν διαφερο]– fr. a
μένων ὑπὲρ τὰς δαμοσίας δίκα[ς φαμένων ἀδίκως ἐζαμιῶσ]–
θαι καὶ τῶν δικαστᾶν τὰν ψᾶφον [ἐνεικάντων περὶ ἑκάστας]
δίκας ἔγνωμες τὸ ἀργύριον, ὃ ἔχει – – – – – – – – – – – –
ΤΑΣ, ἀποδόμεν Ἀριστομένει ἄτοκ[ον τὸς ἱεραπόλος· ὑπὲρ δὲ] 70
τ̣ᾶν ζαμιωσιᾶν, ἃς ζαμιωθ̣έ̣ν[τες – – – – – – – – – – – ἐν κοι]–
νῶι ἀναγεγραμμένοι ἐντὶ καὶ ὁμ̣[ολογούμενοι ὀφλεῖν, ἀπομισ]–
θ̣ωσάντω τοὶ ταμίαι καὶ τοὶ ἱ̣ερ̣α̣π[όλοι ἐκ Ἀριστοθέμιος καὶ Νι]–
[κ]αγόρα καὶ Ἀρισταγόρα συντελέ̣σ̣α̣[ι τὸν βωμόν· συντελεσθέν]–
των δὲ καὶ τούτων κατὰ τὰ γεγρα[μμένα ἀπολελύσθαι αὐ]– 75
τὸς τᾶν ζαμιωσιᾶν καὶ τᾶς ἀνα[γραφᾶς τᾶς ἐν κοινῶι καὶ]
τῶν ἄλλων πάντων, ὧν ἐνεκάλε[σεν αὐτοῖς ἁ πόλις, καὶ]
τ̣ὰ̣ς̣ π̣ράξε̣[ι]ς τὰς πεπραγμένας [κατ᾿ αὐτῶν ἀναιρῆσθαι]·
τὰν δὲ πόλιν πριαμέναν τὰς γᾶ[ς τὰς δαμευθείσας, ἃς ἀπέ]–
δοντο τοὶ πράκτορες τοῖς ἰδιώτα[ις – – – – – – – –, ἀπο]– 80
δόμεν τοῖς τε τὰς ἱερὰς δίκας ὀφ[λοῦσι – – – – – – – – αὐ]–
τοῖς ἢ τοῖς κλαρονόμοις ἐν τῶι μη[νὶ – – – – – – ἐπὶ Θεαγό]–
ρα καὶ τοῖς τὰς δαμοσία{ι}ς, οἷς γέγ[ραπται ἐν τᾶι διαλύσει],
ἀπομισθῶσαι τὸς ταμίας τὸν β[ωμὸν τοῦ Ἀσκλαπιοῦ ἐπισκευά]–
[ξα]ι· κατὰ ταὐτὰ δὲ ἀποδ̣[όμεν τοῖς ἰδιώταις, οἳ τὰς γᾶς τὰς] 85
[δαμευθ]είσας ἐκαρπε̣[ύοντο, τὰν τιμάν, ἃν ὑπὲρ τᾶν γᾶν κατέ]–
[βαλον – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –]
lacuna vv. fere 20
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – τ̣ο̣ὶ βασιλεῖς̣ ὑ̣π̣[ό]μ̣ν̣α̣[μα] fr. b
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –ο̣ν τὸ χρέος διαλῦσαι, παρὰ μὲν τᾶ[ς]
[πόλιος κομιζέ]σθω ὁ πριάμενος, ὅσον τᾶι πόλι κατέβαλε· τὸ δὲ χρέος ὁ 110
[δᾶμος δι]αλυέτω τὸ ἀρχαῖον παρὰ τοῦ ἐξ ἀρχᾶς ὀφείλοντος κα[ὶ]
[τὸ κ]τ̣ῆ̣μα κομιζομένου· ὅσσα δὲ γέγραπται ἀποδόμεν τὰν πόλ[ιν]
[κ]τήματα ἀποδόντω τοὶ ταμίαι καὶ τοὶ ἱεραπόλοι τοὶ ἐν ἑκάστοις
τ̣οῖς χρόνοις γινόμενοι· αἰ δέ κα μὴ ἀποδῶντι, ὀφειλόντω ἕκαστο[ς]
[τ]ῶν ταμιᾶν καὶ τῶν ἱεραπόλων πεντακισχιλίας δραχμὰς ἱερὰ[ς] 115
[τ]οῦ Διὸς τοῦ Πολιέως καὶ τᾶς Ἀθάνας τᾶς Πολιάδος καὶ τῶι ἰδιώτα[ι]
δ̣ιπλοῦν ὅ κα μὴ ἀποδῶι· ἁ δὲ πρᾶξις ἔστω <τῶ>ι ἰδιώται καθάπερ ἐκ δί–
[κ]ας· τοὶ δὲ τὰς γραφὰς ἀνελόντες καὶ τοὶ πρυτάνιες τοὶ προθέν–
τ̣ες τὰς διαλύσεις καὶ τοὶ πράκτορες καὶ τοὶ ταμίαι καὶ τοὶ ἱεραπόλοι 120
[κ]αὶ τοὶ ἄλλοι τοὶ διοικεῦντές τι τῶν γεγραμμένων μὴ εὔντω ὑπό–
δικοι· αἰ δέ τίς κα ποῆι παρὰ τὰ γεγραμμένα ἢ εὔθυναν γράφηται ἢ τᾶ[ι]
[δ]ιαλύσει μὴ ἐμμένηι ἢ ἄλλο τι ἔγκλημα ἐπιφέρηι τοῖς ἄρχουσιν ἢ
τοῖς ἰδιώταις ὅσσα ἐς τὰν διάλυσιν καθῖκε, ἀποτεισάτω μυρίας δρα–
[χ]μὰς ἱερὰς τοῦ Διὸς τοῦ Πολιέως καὶ τᾶς Ἀθάνας τᾶς Πολιάδος καὶ τὸ
[ἔ]γκλημα τὸ ἐπενιχθὲν ἄκυρον ἔστω· ὅπως δὲ Τήλιοι καὶ εἰς τὸν ἐπίλοι– 125
[π]ον χρόνον ὁμονοεῦντες διατελῶντι, ὀμοσάντω τοὶ γεγενημέ–
[ν]οι ἀπό τε ὀκτωκαίδεκα ἐτέων πάντες θεὸς τὸς ὁρκίος [κ]ατὰ ἱερῶν νε[ο]–
[κ]αύτων τὸν ὅρκον τόνδε· »ἐμμενέω ἐν τῶι πολιτεύματι τῶι καθεστακό–
τι καὶ διαφυλαξέω τὰν δαμοκρατίαν καὶ οὐ μνασικακησέω περὶ τῶν
[ἐν τᾶι κ]ρίσ[ει] γενομένων οὐδὲ πραξέω παρὰ τὰν διάλυσιν τάνδε οὐδὲν 130
[οὐδὲ] ὅπλα ἐναντία θησεῦμαι τῶι δάμωι οὐδὲ τὰν ἄκραν καταλαμψεῦντι
συμβουλευσέω οὐδὲ ἄλλωι ἐπιβουλεύοντι οὐδὲ καταλύοντι τὸν δᾶ–
μον εἰδὼς ἐπιτραψέω· αἰ δέ κα αἴσθωμαί τινα νεωτερίζοντα ἢ συλ–
λόγους συνάγοντα ἐπὶ καταλύσει τοῦ δάμου, δηλωσέω τοῖς ἄρχου–
σιν· εὐορκεῦντι μέμ μοι ἦμεν πολλὰ ἀγαθά, ἐφιορκεῦντι δὲ τὰ ἐναν– 135
τία«. ὀμοσάντω δὲ καὶ τοὶ ἀπόδαμοι ἀφ᾿ οὗ κά παραγέν[ω]νται ἐν ἁμέραις
[ἑ]ξήκοντα· αἰ δέ τίς κα μὴ ὀμόσηι, χιλίας δραχμὰς ἀποτεισάτω ἱερὰς
[τ]οῦ Διὸς τοῦ Πολιέως καὶ τᾶς Ἀθάνας τᾶς Πολιάδος. – ἔδοξε τῶι
[δ]άμωι, γνώμα πρυτανίων· ἀγαθᾶι τύχαι, χρῆσθαι τᾶι διαλύσει καθὰ
[τ]οὶ διαλλακταὶ τοὶ Κῶιοι διέγραψαν· δόμεν δὲ καὶ ξένια τοῖς διαλλα– 140
[κτ]α̣[ῖς], δόντω δὲ ταμίαι.
Translation:
Face A:
Decided by the demos. On the motion of the prytaneis. Since the demos, wishing to be reconciled with those at odds [with it], voted to hand over to the Koans for arbitration all matters concerning which they were at odds with each other, in order that (5) they might conduct their political life in a democracy, being of one mind; and the demos of the Koans, with good will in mind, voted to send for the reconciliation agreements men who were noble and good— -goras the son of Mikon, Aristo- the son of ?, Charmippos the son of Charmylos, ? the son of ?, (10) and –n the son of Xenodikos—who, having been sent out as mediators, reconciled the demos finely and justly; be it decreed by the assembly: to praise the demos of the Koans and to crown it with a golden crown worth (15) 1,000 drachmas, and to praise the men [sent] to reconcile justly the demos of the Telians
[gap of about twenty lines]
…of those at odds with the demos of the Telians, in order that they might conduct their political life in a democracy, being of one mind, free, and autonomous, with good fortune, on these terms (40) they reconciled the demos and those of the Telians at odds with the demos: concerning the cases, both the sacred and the public ones, which, having lost them in the lawcourts, [the defendants] were protesting that they had lost unjustly, the treasurers are to contract with them, for the amount of the money they owed: on the one hand, with those who lost the sacred cases (45) concerning the sanctuary of Athena, and with Kleisimbrotidas who lost the [case] regarding the sanctuary of Demeter, and with Philtylios, so that they provide a bull, a ram, and a sheep for the hecatomb that is to be sacrificed during Theagoras’ tenure as monarch; on the other hand, of those who lost the public cases, Aristagoras the son of Aristophilos has paid the money which, having been indicted, he deposited, (50) of which there remained a negative balance after his possessions were sold to pay the damages; but Aristothemis the son of Aristophilos is to pay 5,000 drachmas, and Nikagoras the son of Nikanax is to pay to the city 1,500 drachmas. They are to pay it in the month of Karneios, during Theagoras’ tenure as monarch. As for the remaining money of the damages determined, (55) let the treasurers contract with Aristothemis and Nikagoras and Aristagoras to restore and whitewash the altar of Asklepios [sc. for that amount]. When those who lost the sacred cases have contributed the hecatomb, and when Aristothemis and Nikagoras and Aristagoras have [finished] the altar according to what has been written, they are to be acquitted of the charges and (60) the indictments are to be annulled, and there is to be no accusation concerning the cases, both sacred and public, that were decided, nor is anyone to bring any charge against those who lost the cases or against anyone else concerning…according to any pretense. The case concerning the road, which the…fined…Aristomenes and Aristagoras the son of Anaxistratos for appropriating for themselves…(65) the magistrate, at odds…
Face B:
Those…a case when they agreed to an oath, and when those at odds concerning the public cases were claiming that they were fined unjustly, and the judges cast a ballot concerning each case, we decided: the money, which [x] has…(70) the hierapoloi are to pay back to Aristomenes without interest. Concerning the fines, having incurred which…they were registered in public and were in agreement that they owed, let the treasurers and the hierapoloi contract with them [based on the amounts owed] from Aristothemis and Nikagoras and Aristagoras to perform the altar task. These things having been completed (75) according to what has been written, they are to be released from the fines and the public registering and all the other things with which the city charged them, and the exactions carried out against them are to be annulled. The polis, purchasing the lands that were confiscated, which (80) the exaction officials gave to private citizens…is to give them back both to those who lost the sacred cases…to themselves or to their heirs in the month of…during Theagoras’ tenure as monarch, and as for those who lost the public [cases], the treasurers are to contract with them according to the terms written in the reconciliation to restore the altar of Asklepios. On the same terms they are to pay to the private citizens, who were enjoying the use of the confiscated lands, the price which they paid for the land…
[gap of about twenty lines]
…the kings…the memorandum…to settle the debt, on the one hand let the buyer take from the polis (110) however much he paid to the polis. Let the demos discharge the debt, that is, the principal arising from the person who initially went into debt and [now?] conveys the property back. As many properties as have been recorded for the city to hand over, let the treasurers and the hierapoloi hand them over in their respective periods [of office]. If they should not hand them over, each (115) of the treasurers and the hierapoloi are to owe 5,000 drachmas sacred to Zeus Polieus and Athena Polias, and to the private citizen double whatever they did not hand over. Let the exaction be in the hands of the private citizen as in a legal trial. As for those annulling the indictments, and the prytaneis who moved (120) the reconciliation agreements, and the exaction officials, and the treasurers, and the hierapoloi, and the other [officials] who administer any aspect of what has been written, let them not be liable to indictment. Should anyone act contrary to what has been written or accuse someone during his review of office or not abide by the reconciliation or bring any other charge against the magistrates or private citizens concerning all such things as pertain to the reconciliation, let him pay 10,000 drachmas sacred to Zeus Polieus and Athena Polias, (125) and let the charge brought be invalid. Also, in order that the Telians for all time remain in a state of likemindedness, let all those eighteen years old and older swear this oath by the gods of oaths over freshly burnt victims: ‘I will remain in the established constitution, and I will guard the democracy, and I will not recall past wrongs regarding the things that (130) transpired during the judgment, and I will not do anything contrary to this reconciliation, nor will I bear arms against the demos, nor will I conspire with someone seizing the acropolis, nor will I knowingly acquiesce to anyone plotting against or putting down the demos. If I should learn of someone plotting revolution or convening meetings for the purpose of putting down the demos, I will denounce him to the magistrates. (135) May there be many good things for me if I remain true to my oath, but the opposite if I swear falsely.’ Those currently outside of the city are to swear within sixty days of the time when they arrive. If someone does not swear, he is to pay 1,000 drachmas sacred to Zeus Polieus and Athena Polias—Decided by the demos. On the motion of the prytaneis. With good fortune: to make use of the reconciliation (140) as the Koan mediators drafted. And also to give gifts of hospitality to the mediators, and let the treasurers give them.