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Decree by the city Stratonikeia for judge Amynamenos from Assos
Greek, East Greek
Hellenistic Period
after 166 B.C.
Findspot: Anatolia (Turkey), Troad, Assos (Behramkale), Underneath the altar of the Byzantine apse...
Medium/Technique
Marble
Dimensions
12.7 x 53.4 cm (5 x 21 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of the Archaeological Institute of America
Accession Number84.52
CollectionsAncient Greece and Rome
ClassificationsInscriptions
DescriptionLong inscription in small letters. Gray color; top missing. Inscription:
"(the people of Assos have sent)... Amynamenos, the son of Bresikles, a man virtuous, good and worthy of his homeland and of the trust put in him, who had also come to our city in his willingness to act according to the choice of the homeland. Some of the cases he judged fairly and justly and according to the laws, and others he settled, acting justly toward all those who had disagreements; in all other matters during his time as a judge, he handled everything in a way worthy of his fellow-citizens, who had sent him here, and worthy of our people, while preserving the reputation of his home-country in all things; once his assignment as judge had been finished, he resided (among us) with all decency and as is proper for a virtuous and good man; (the people have sent Amynamenos) in order that the people may appear at all times mindful of good men by giving worthy gratitude in return.
Translation: To good Fortune: the people of Assos shall be praised and crowned with a golden crown, because they sent a virtuous and good man to both of our cities. And, the judge Amynamenos, the son of Bresikles, shall be praised, and to him and his descendants citizenship shall be bestowed on fair and equal terms with our fellow-citizens; and he shall be assigned by lot to a tribe and people, and he shall be crowned with a golden crown. And the judges of the contest shall make the announcement regarding these crowns during the music contest which is celebrated in honor of Roma in such a way: "The people of Stratonikeia crown the people of Assos and the judge sent, Amynamenos, son of Bresikles, with golden crowns because of their virtue and their judgement and their goodwill toward the people." In order that the Assians learn about the people's thankfulness, an envoy shall be elected, and the one elected shall travel to Assos and standing before the Council and the Assembly, he shall announce the honors which our people had conferred upon them and the just ruling of the judge and exhort those who are of goodwill and friends of our people to increase their friendship even more, in the knowledge that the Stratonikeians will keep their goodwill toward the Assians. He shall also call on them to have the honors announced yearly among them when the contests are held and that a visible location be made known in which a stone stele will be placed on which the decision is written. The treasurers shall give the payment for this stele to the envoy, the cost not exceeding 30 drachmae. Pythion, the son of Enpedion, was chosen."
"(the people of Assos have sent)... Amynamenos, the son of Bresikles, a man virtuous, good and worthy of his homeland and of the trust put in him, who had also come to our city in his willingness to act according to the choice of the homeland. Some of the cases he judged fairly and justly and according to the laws, and others he settled, acting justly toward all those who had disagreements; in all other matters during his time as a judge, he handled everything in a way worthy of his fellow-citizens, who had sent him here, and worthy of our people, while preserving the reputation of his home-country in all things; once his assignment as judge had been finished, he resided (among us) with all decency and as is proper for a virtuous and good man; (the people have sent Amynamenos) in order that the people may appear at all times mindful of good men by giving worthy gratitude in return.
Translation: To good Fortune: the people of Assos shall be praised and crowned with a golden crown, because they sent a virtuous and good man to both of our cities. And, the judge Amynamenos, the son of Bresikles, shall be praised, and to him and his descendants citizenship shall be bestowed on fair and equal terms with our fellow-citizens; and he shall be assigned by lot to a tribe and people, and he shall be crowned with a golden crown. And the judges of the contest shall make the announcement regarding these crowns during the music contest which is celebrated in honor of Roma in such a way: "The people of Stratonikeia crown the people of Assos and the judge sent, Amynamenos, son of Bresikles, with golden crowns because of their virtue and their judgement and their goodwill toward the people." In order that the Assians learn about the people's thankfulness, an envoy shall be elected, and the one elected shall travel to Assos and standing before the Council and the Assembly, he shall announce the honors which our people had conferred upon them and the just ruling of the judge and exhort those who are of goodwill and friends of our people to increase their friendship even more, in the knowledge that the Stratonikeians will keep their goodwill toward the Assians. He shall also call on them to have the honors announced yearly among them when the contests are held and that a visible location be made known in which a stone stele will be placed on which the decision is written. The treasurers shall give the payment for this stele to the envoy, the cost not exceeding 30 drachmae. Pythion, the son of Enpedion, was chosen."
Provenance1881/1882, excavated from beneath the altar in the temple in antis, western end of the Agora, Assos (Behramkale), Turkey, by the Archaeological Institute of America [see note]; 1884, gift of the Archaeological Institute of America to the MFA. (Accession Date: January 15, 1884)
NOTE: Found underneath the altar of the Byzantine apse that was built upon the foundation of the temple in antis at the western end of the Agora. The stone was not used as part of the pavement, but was thrown in with the debris to raise the level of the floor of the apse.
NOTE: Found underneath the altar of the Byzantine apse that was built upon the foundation of the temple in antis at the western end of the Agora. The stone was not used as part of the pavement, but was thrown in with the debris to raise the level of the floor of the apse.