Decree honoring Diophantos

Inscription honoring the emperor Zeno

Civic Oath of Chersonesos

Decree honoring Syriskos the historian

Base of statue for Agasikles

Proxeny decree for an ambassador from Mithridates Eupator

Decree honoring ambassadors from Herakleia

Base of statue for Aristonos

Treaty of alliance with the king Pharnakes I

List of those who won sport competitions

Inscription about the tax on prostitution

Fragment of a decree about the fortress of Napites

Inscription about construction of a city gate

Dedication to the goddess Nemesis

Inscription regarding the liberation of Kalos Limen

Decree honoring the emperor Marcus Aurelius

Decree honoring Gaius Julius Satyrus

Proxeny for a citizen of Sinope

Epitaph in verse on stele for Xanthos

Inscription on the stele set up by doctor

Epitaph in verse on stele for Oinanthe

Short epitaphs

 
Decree honoring the ambassador from the Pontic king Mithridates Eupator to Chersonesos

Originally published, with the commentary, by Solomonik

The three fragments of a marble slab were discovered in different areas of Chersonesos in 1891, 1913, and 1914.

The monument dates to the second half of the 2nd century B.C.

Text:

"Nomophilakes (...) and (...) who stands at the head of the government, proposed: whereas so-and-so son of Kephalas, of Amisos, being sent by the king Mithridates Eupator to our city as ambassador, displays himself well-disposed in every thing, arranges all the things related to his embassy in the best was, and makes his stay worthy and good for both the king and our people, be it resolved by the council and the people to praise him for this and give him and his heirs the proxeny, citizenship right, the right of entry and departure, without confiscation or treaty, for them themselves and their property; for the symmnamones to write this resolution on a white marble slab and set up in (...), and for the treasurers of the sacred funds to provide the expense arising in these connections. These things were resolved by the council and the people, on the ... (day) of the month (...)"

Commentary:

This decree honored an unknown by name ambassador from the king Mithridates Eupator, who arrived to Chresonesos, with the aim to make negotiations with its citizens, shortly before the wars of Diophantos, when the Pontic king Mithridates sent to the Crimea the army headed by his general Diophantos in order to help Chersonesos in its wars with the Scythian state and, simultaneously, to strengthen his own positions in the Crimea.

A person originated from Amisos, one of two capitals of the Pontic kingdom during the reign of Mithridates Eupator, stood at the head of the embassy. The cities of Amisos and Sinope housed the king's palaces, temples, and other structures. Many of Mithridates' most close collaborators, who held high positions in military or civil service, were born in these very cities. For example, general Diophantos originated from Sinope.

Amisos was a city on the south Black Sea coast and one of the capitals of the Pontic kingdom.

Nomophylakes, literally 'those who guard the law', were the officials responsible for keeping documents of state (laws), and supervised over the people's assemblies and meetings of the council. Their functions might also be similar with that of present court officers: British bailiffs and U.S. marshals.

Proxeny was diplomatic relation of a special kind: the stranger was awarded, for his special merits, with certain honorable rights in the Geek polis (city-state), including the right of free-of-taxation trade, free entry and departure, etc. Proxenos was the one who represented officially the interests of another state and its citizens in his native state.

Symmnamones were the officials responsible for religious ceremonies and giving awards to the citizens.


Translation by © N. Khrapunov.


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