Epigraphical Approaches to the Post-Classical Polis

Fourth Century BC to Second Century AD

Edited by Paraskevi Martzavou and Nikolaos Papazarkadas

Oxford Studies in Ancient Documents

Contains unpublished inscriptions
Is broad in its geographical scope on the postclassical polis
Includes 27 illustrations
Contains an introdcution by the editors

Epigraphical Approaches to the Post-Classical Polis

Fourth Century BC to Second Century AD

Edited by Paraskevi Martzavou and Nikolaos Papazarkadas

Oxford Studies in Ancient Documents

Description

This volume richly illustrates the multiple ways in which epigraphy enables historical analysis of the postclassical polis (city-state) across a world of geographically dispersed poleis: from the Black Sea and Asia Minor to Sicily via the Aegean and mainland Greece. The collection of 16 papers looks at themes such as the modes of interaction between polis and ruling powers, the construction of ethnic and social identity, interstate and civil conflict and its resolution, social economics, institutional processes and privileges, polis representations, ethics, and, not least, religious phenomena. The contributions range from "hard epigraphy" to sophisticated conceptual studies of aspects of the postclassical polis, and approach the inscriptions both as textual objects and as artefacts.

The aim of this volume is to identify the postclassical polis both as a reality and as a constructed concept, not only a monolithic block, but a result of tension in the exercise of different kinds of powers. All the individual contributions of this collective volume show that the postclassical polis, both as a reality and as a representation, is the result of negotiations, ancient and modern; but they also illustrate how much of our understanding of the polis is built on patient, painstaking work on the inscriptions.

Epigraphical Approaches to the Post-Classical Polis

Fourth Century BC to Second Century AD

Edited by Paraskevi Martzavou and Nikolaos Papazarkadas

Oxford Studies in Ancient Documents

Preface
List of Contributors
List of Illustrations
Abbreviations
Table of Contents
Introduction: Epigraphy and the Polis P. Martzavou and N. Papazarkadas
POLEIS AND RULING POWERS
1. Observations on the Pistiros Inscription, M. B Hatzopoulos
2. Alexander, Priene, and Naulochon, P. Thonemann
3. Sicilian Identity in the Hellenistic and Roman Periods, J. Prag
POLEIS IN CONFLICT
4. An Arbitration Concerning Lampsakos and Parion, A. P. Matthaiou
5. Local Courts of Chersonesus Taurica in the Roman Age, G. Kantor
THE SOCIAL ECONOMICS OF THE POLEIS
6. Public Subscriptions and Loans as Social Capital in the Hellenistic City: Reciprocity, Performance, Commemoration, A. Chaniotis
7. The Ideology of Public Subscriptions, A. Ellis-Evans
POLEIS OF HONOUR
8. Romulus and Remus at Chios Revisited: a Re-examination of SEG XXX 1073, I. Salvo
9. The Victor's Return and the Categories of Games, W. Slater
10. The History of Hellenistic Honorific Statues, J. Ma
11. The Epigraphy of Honours at Siphnos: New Evidence, N. Papazarkadas
INSTITUTIONS, ETHICS, RELIGION
12. Two Overlooked Attic Inscriptions, G. Malouchou
13. Who Were the Neoi? N. Kennell
14. Philosophy of education and the Later Hellenistic Polis, B. Gray
15. Thessalian Perceptions of the Ruler Cult: 'Archegetai' and 'Ktistai' from Demetrias, S. Kravaritou
16. Fresh Light on the Institutions and Religious Life of Thespiai: Six New Inscriptions from the Thespiai Survey, A. Schachter and F. Marchand
Bibliography
Index

Epigraphical Approaches to the Post-Classical Polis

Fourth Century BC to Second Century AD

Edited by Paraskevi Martzavou and Nikolaos Papazarkadas

Oxford Studies in Ancient Documents

Author Information

Paraskevi Martzavou is a postdoctoral Research Associate in Epigraphy as part of the Greek Emotions project in Oxford. After working as an archaeologist, she has specialized in the epigraphy, institutions, and religious history of the Hellenistic and Roman world.

Nikolaos Papazarkadas is Assistant Professor of Classics at the University of California at Berkeley. He specializes in Greek Epigraphy and has published extensively on inscriptions from Athens and the Cyclades.

Contributors:

Paraskevi Martzavou (Oxford University)
Nikolaos Papazarkadas (University of California, Berkeley)
Miltiades B. Hatzopoulos (Centre for the Study of Greek and Roman Antiquity, Athens)
Peter Thonemann (Oxford University)
Jonathan Prag (Oxford University)
Angelos P. Matthaiou (Greek Epigraphic Society, Athens)
Georgy Kantor (Oxford University)
Angelos Chaniotis (Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton)
Aneurin Ellis-Evans (Oxford University)
Irene Salvo (Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa)
William Slater (McMaster University)
John Ma (Oxford University)
Georgia Malouchou (Archaeological Society, Athens)
Nigel Kennell (American School of Classical Studies, Athens)
Ben Gray (Oxford University)
Sophia Kravaritou (Archaeological Institute for Thessalian Studies, Volos)
Albert Schacther (McGill University)
Fabienne Marchand (Warwick University)

Epigraphical Approaches to the Post-Classical Polis

Fourth Century BC to Second Century AD

Edited by Paraskevi Martzavou and Nikolaos Papazarkadas

Oxford Studies in Ancient Documents

Reviews and Awards

"The book is a handsome and high-powered contribution to epigraphic studies and stands as a glowing tribute to the Oxford Epigraphy Seminar, from whence the papers are predominantly drawn... The volume authoritatively demonstrates the vitality and diversity of current epigraphy, and re-emphasizes the centrality of inscriptions to our picture of the post-Classical polis." --Sam Gartland, Journal of Hellenic Studies

"[T]he discussion above should also make it clear that all the contributions to this work are of a uniformly high quality. Nearly all of the inscriptions discussed in this volume include accurate translations into English, and this is supplemented in many cases by relatively clear photographs as well. Most of the studies approach the epigraphical texts of the postclassical polis from a synthetic perspective, which is welcome and clearly demonstrates that epigraphy has a more significant contribution to make to historical studies beyond individual texts shedding light on isolated moments in history... [T]his is a well-edited volume which must convince even skeptical readers of the valuable contribution epigraphical studies can make to the investigation of the postclassical polis". --Danielle Kellogg, Classical World

"[The volume] maintains a focused, coherent, and sustained argument that rewards a complete reading. Its focus on the continued vitality of the polis in the Hellenistic and Roman periods is well articulated while key themes and issues, outlined with admirable clarity in the introduction, reappear and are elucidated from different perspectives in the individual essays. The volume, in short, amply transcends the sum of its parts. It offers a sustained analysis of the 'post-Classical' polis, argues strongly and persuasively for the importance of epigraphy in future work, and points new directions forward in the study of the polis. The volume is excellently edited and produced. There are copious maps, high-quality images of relevant inscriptions, a full bibliography, and very useful appendices ('General' and 'Index locorum'). It will be of interest and importance to those who study Greek history and epigraphy of the Hellenistic and Roman periods." --S. Wallace, Mnemosyne