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A Constitution of the United States of Greece

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2009

Extract

The new historical inscription from Epidaurus has provided us with a unique piece of documentary evidence on Greek federal constitutions. In this article I propose to study the principal points of constitutional interest contained in it. I have based my text on that of Professor Wilcken and M. Kougeas; and I follow Professor Wilcken and Mr. Tarn in identifying the new document with the constitution which Demetrius Poliorcetes imposed upon his pan-Hellenic League in 303–2 B.C.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Classical Association 1923

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References

page 137 note 1 First published by its discoverer, M. Kavvadias, in 'Aρϰɑɩολοϒɩk 'Eϕημερίς, 1918–19, p. 128 sqq.

page 137 note 2 Sitzungsberichte der Berliner Ahademie, 1922, p. 122 sqq.

page 137 note 3 'Aρϰɑɩολοϒɩk 'Eϕημερίς, 1922, p. 1 sqq.

page 137 note 4 Journal of Hellenic Studies, 1922, p. 198 sqq. Mr. Tarn has answered in advance most of the arguments of Kougeas, M. and of ProfessorSwoboda, (Hermes, 1922, p. 518 sqq.)Google Scholar, who attribute the new constitution to Antigonus Doson.

Cf. also Roussel, , Revue Archéologique, 1923, pp. 117140Google Scholar.

page 137 note 5 On the foundation of this league see Plutarch, , Demetrius, ch. 25, and Diodorus 20, 102–3Google Scholar; or Beloch, , Griechische Geschichte III., pt. 1, pp 165–6Google Scholar.

page 137 note 6 Swoboda, , Griechische Staatsallertümer, p. 128Google Scholar.

page 137 note 7 E.g. in the Boeotian League of the fifth century, the Ionian League, the DelianConfederacy; probably also in the early Amphictyonie League.

page 137 note 8 The only clear instance to the contrary is furnished by th e insignificant Koɩѵòѵ M τ .

page 137 note 9 E.g. in the later Boeotian, the Arcadian, Aetolian, Achaean, Acarnanian, Epirote, and probably the Phocian Leagues; also in the later Amphictyonie League (Kahrstedt, Sparta und seine Symmachie, Appendix).

page 137 note 10 Justin IX. 5: ‘Philippus … consilium omnium ueluti unum senatum ex omnibus legit’.

page 137 note 11 Tarn, , Antigonus Gonatas, pp. 73‐6Google Scholar, 432–9. Frl. Fritze has recently ascribed this league to Ptolemy, (Die ersten Ptolemaer und Griechenland, p. 32)Google Scholar. Butthe inscription on which she bases her case (Dittenberger, , Sylloge3, 390)Google Scholar is insufficient evidence for this.

page 138 note 1 This refers, not to foreign envoys, who were protected by the ‘ius gentium,’ but to emissaries from Greek towns. Such an envoy (from Athens) is mentioned in I.G. suppl. I. 264c.

page 138 note 2 This signifies ‘arrest’ as well as ‘bind over’ (Partsch, , Griechisches Bürgschaftsrecht, pp. 66–7)Google Scholar.

page 138 note 3 In Britain and British colonies immunity from libel actions and from arrest in civil cases only is accorded to M.P.s and to witnesses before Parliament. In France and Germany qualified exemption from arrest in criminal cases is granted to M.P.s.

page 138 note 4 Phillipson, The International Law of the Greeks Romans, II., ch. 27; Vinogradoff, , Historical Jurisprudence, II., p. 154Google Scholar sqq.; Dareste, , Revue des Etudes Grecques, p. 305Google Scholar sqq.; Partsch, p. 418 sqq.

page 138 note 5 Witness the innumerable grants of σѵλɭα kα σϕαλεα in Greek inscriptions. From the third century such grants were lavished on Greek sanctuaries. See the inscriptions in Dittenberger's Sylloge, and v. Woess, Das Asylwesen Ägyptens in der Ptolmderzeit.

page 138 note 6 I here follow Wilcken against Kougeas. As W. points out, the reference to oἱ στεϕαѵῖται ϒѵες in 1. 18 makes his reading practically certain. Moreover, on the photograph published by Kavvadias the letters before the lacuna are more like TO than TP.

page 139 note 1 The ποκληϒοί (Swoboda, pp. 361–2).

page 139 note 2 Marshall, , The Second Athenian Confederacy, p. 22Google Scholar and n. 7.

page 139 note 3 Contrast the βουλή at Athens, which sat permanently, but got hopelessly congested. [Xenophon], ‘Aθηѵαίωѵ II оλιτεία, ch. 3, §§ 2–5.

page 139 note 4 Kaerst, , Rheinisches Museum, 1897, p. 526Google Scholar sqq.

page 139 note 5 Kaerst, loc. cit.

page 139 note 6 Swoboda, pp. 357, 388–394.

page 139 note 7 Presumably the governor of Corinth, as Wilcken (p. 145) suggests.

page 139 note 8 Swoboda, pp. 366, 404.

page 139 note 9 Diodorus, 16. 89. 3; 17. 4. 9; 17. 73. 5.

page 139 note 10 Polybius, 29. 24. 10; Livy, 32. 19. 6.

page 139 note 11 Demetrius' parliament probably had fewer permanently, but got hopelessly congested. M.P.s than that of Philip's more extensive federation. In Philip's συѵέδριοѵ the whole of Thessaly had only ten representatives (DS.3 260b; Wilhelm, Sitzungsberichte der Wiener Akademie, philosophisch-historische Klasse, pt. 6, p. 1 sqq.). Its total membership, therefore, was probably not far over one hundred.

page 140 note 1 E. g. the Athenian confederacies at Athens; Antigonus' Kσιѵòѵ τѵ Nησιωτѵ at Delos; the Boeotian League at Thebes; the Kσιѵòѵ τѵ Nησιωτѵ at Larisa; the Arcadian League at Megalopolis. (The famous meeting of the Areadians at Tegea in 363 was a very special`case.)

page 140 note 2 Swoboda, pp. 356–7, 392‐3. Cf. also the Concilium Asiae under the Roman Empire, which met in turn at all the chief cities of the province.

page 140 note 3 It has been suggested that on a certain day in June the House of Commons should sit at Epsom.

page 140 note 4 This arrangement also obtained in the Aetolian and Achaean Leagues.

page 140 note 5 Kaerst, p. 530.

page 140 note 6 As in the United Provinces of the Netherlands, and in Switzerland before 1848.

page 141 note 1 The only clear instance to the contrary is the Amphictyonic League. For the Boeotian League, see the opposite arguments of Walker, (Hdltniua Oxyrhynchia, pp. 140–1)Google Scholar and Bonner, (Classical Philology, 1915, p. 381sqq.)Google Scholar Antigonus Doson's pan-Hellenic League is probably another case in point, but the evidence is not conclusive. (Polybius, V. 105. 2, seemingly contradicts IV. 26, 2 and IV. 30. 2).

page 141 note 2 Modern instances of nobbled συѵέδρια late German monarchy and the League of Nations Council.

page 141 note 3 Six hundred and sixty in the Boeotian League (Hellenica Oxyrhynchia, col. 12). The numbers in of the Achaean and Aetolian σύѵοδοριɩ were probably large (Swoboda, pp. 360, 390–1). In the Achaean League of Aratus' day, as Freeman aptly remarked, power nevertheless was concentrated n i the hands of the richer members, who had more leisure to attend.

page 141 note 4 For other instances in Greece, see Swoboda, p. 118, n. 4. The most detailed of ancient quorum prescriptions are contained in the Lex Coloniae Iuliae Genetivae.

page 141 note 5 So in U.S.A., Germany and Switzerland, In Australia it is one-third.

page 141 note 6 I here follow Kougeas, whose restoration fits the context perfectly.

page 141 note 7 Swoboda, pp. 130–1; Cardinali, , Il regno di Pergamo, pp. 262–3Google Scholar.

page 141 note 8 Tarn, p. 203. πρόεδροɩ also occur in the Athenian colonies of Imbros (I.G. XII. 8. 45) and Samothrace (I.G. XII.8. 159). Among nonAttic states they appear to be confined to Stym-phalus (I.G. V. 2.357), Aegiale (I.G. XII. 7.515), and Magnesia-on-Maeander (Inschrijten von Magnesia, passim). In I.G. XI. 2. 15,1. 21, we read πρόεδροɩ in Aetolia; but ‘αποκλητοɩ’ not ‘πρόεδροɩ’ was the official name of the Aetolian chairmen.

page 141 note 9 E.g. the Achaean and Aetolian Leagues.

page 141 note 10 E.g. the Boeotian, Thessalian, and Arcadian Leagues. In modern federal parliaments elective and official chairmen divide the field almost equally.

page 141 note 11 Wilcken (p. 145) suggests that Demetrius was the έπɩστάτης. But 1. 36 of the inscription suggests that he or his agent only took the chair in war-time.

page 142 note 1 E.g. in the Delian Confederacy, which numbered at least 290 constituents. In the Boeotian League the smaller towns were attributed as συѵτελεȋς to the larger ones.

page 142 note 2 Swoboda, , Klio, 1912, pp. 2022Google Scholar.

page 142 note 3 Some cantons of S.W. Arcadia receive separate mention in DS.3 183. But all of them were eventually incorporated by Megalopolis.

page 142 note 4 In fr. 3β 1. 21, the Achaeans figure as a corporate ěθνος θѵος. Probably all the Central Greek ěθνη θѵη of Philip's League, as enumerated in DS.3 260, recurred in Demetrius' federation, and no doubt Antigonus' Kοɩѵѵ тѵ Nησɩωтѵ appeared as one unit. Wilhelm (loc. cit.) suggests that in Philip's League small constituents were grouped together ad hoc. But in such case one would not expect such microscopic states as the Oɩтαῖoɩ and the 'Aϒραῖoɩ to have separate representation.

page 142 note 5 So in U.S.A., Switzerland, and Australia.

page 142 ntoe 6 E.g. among the Arcadians, Achaeans, and Aetolians. In the Boeotian League each of the constituencies returned the same number of members.

page 142 note 7 DS.3 260b.

page 142 note 8 ɩσοψηϕɩα was the rule in the Delian Confederacy, the Amphictyonic League, and in the èκκλησíαι κκλησίαɩ of other leagues; probably also the Achaean League's Council (Swoboda, p. 398). In the Koɩѵόѵ тѵ θεσσάλωѵ voting was by indi viduals (I.G. IX. 2. 261).

page 143 note 1 I here follow Kougeas in the main. ѵτɩϒροϕα recurs in Inschr. v. Magnesia, 67, l. 5, and in I.G. XII. 3. 248, 1. 22 (following upon ѵτɩϒροϕα in 1. 3).

In 11. 25–6 Wilcken reads περ ὡѵ dѵ βονλεύεσθαɩѵ κοɩνή δόξη αὐτοῖς τε καί τοίς ϒραμματεσɩ. Such dual control of the agenda paper is attested for the Roman era, e.g. at Ephesus (DS. 3 742) and in Thessaly (I.G. IX. 1. 261, l. 11), but seems out of keeping with earlier Greek practice.

In l. 24 Kougeas reads δύο ϒραμματεῖς. But the lacuna will take Ƭoὺς without overcrowding. ρϰεῖα (government offices or, more specially, archives) are mentioned at Aegiale {I.G. XII. 7. 396. 399. 478), Arcesine (ib. 53), Epidaurus Limera (I.G. V. 1. 931), Laodiceia, (Inschr. v. Magn. 59)Google Scholar, Magnesia (ib. 293, 304), Messene (I.G. V. I. 1432), Miletus (Kawerau u. Rehm, Das Delphinion, Nos. 143, 146, 149), Minoa (I.G. XII. 7. 240), Pergamum (Inschriften v. Pergamon, 18, 1. 9), Pheneus (I.G. V. I. 30), Sparta (ib. 18), Thessaly (I.G. IX. 2. 1099). [Also at Lebedus and Teos (DS. 3 344. l. 34); at Hierapytna, Priansus and Lyttus (Michel, Rccueil 16, 1. 34; 29, 1. 4).]

page 143 note 2 This right was also exercised by the πρυτάѵεɩς at Ptolemais (Dittenberger, , Orientis Graeci In scriptiones, 48)Google Scholar and by the εύκοσμοɩ of the Iobacchae at Athens (DS. 3 1109, 1. 65 sqq.).

page 143 note 3 The formula ‘ό ϒραμματεύς’ is almost untversal (Kougeas, ad loc.; Schönfelder, , Die städtischen und Bundcsbiamttn des griechischen Ftstlandes, pp. 143–5)Google Scholar.

page 143 note 4 I.G. V. 1. 48 and 115, VII. 21 and 1806, XII. I. 49 and 50, XII. 5. 733, XIV. 209; Dittenb. O.G.I. 511; Kawerau-Rehm, No. 147. For the multiplicity of ϒραμματεῖς at Athens, see Brillant, Les Secrétaires athéniens.

page 143 note 5 DS. 3 344, 588, 952; Dittenb. O.G.I. 229, 234, 315; I.G. II. 443, 551; VII. 1. 2711; XII. 1. 599, 653; XII. 2. 823, 830, 840; XII. 3. 323; XII. 7. 32, 228

page 143 note 6 Wilcken, p. 143.

page 144 note 1 Wilcken, p. 144; Swoboda, , Hermes, 1922 p. 534Google Scholar.

page 144 note 2 Full references are given in Swoboda, Griechische Volksbeschlüsse, chs. 7.9; and Cardinali, , Il regno di Pergamo, pp. 255262Google Scholar.

At Miletus, as in League, Demetrius', such proposals had to be made in writing (Abhandlungen der Berliner Akademie, 1911, p. 68Google Scholar sqq.).

For the common informer, cf. Michel, Eecueil 16, 1. 47.

page 144 note 3 On the judicial functions of the βουλή, see Aristotle, ‘A θηѵαίωѵ IIоλɩτεία ch. 45; and Cloché, Revue des Études Grecques, 1920, p. 1 sqq. For other πόλεɩς cf. Swoboda, pp. 134–5.

page 144 note 4 E.g. in the Arcadian League (Swoboda, p. 224), the Aetolian League (ib., pp. 360–1), the Achaean Achaean League (ib., p. 397), and Philip's League (Aeschines, III. 160; DS. 3 283, 1. 11). The case of the Second Athenian Confederacy is not quite clear (see Marshall, pp. 35–7).

For modern instances cf. the Senate of U.S.A. and of France.

page 144 note 5 Fr. α 21: άποτεῖσαɩ.

page 144 note 6 Cf. the formula 'λέξαѵôροσ Φɩλίππου καί οί Ἓλληѵες (Plutarch, Alexander, ch. 16).

page 144 note 7 Cf. Kaerst, , Geschichte des Hillenismus, I., p. 279Google Scholar; Wilcken, , Sitzungsberichte der Münchener Ahademie, philosophisch-historischeKlasse, 1917, sqq.). pt. Io, p. 27Google Scholar.

Except that their functions were military and not judicial, the position of the kings in reference to the confederates recalls that of the mediaeval Italian podestá.

page 144 note 8 Herodotus, III. 80; Aeschines, III. 22. Swoboda (p. 49) hardly succeeds in proving the same of oligarchies.

paage 144 note 9 Certainly in the Boeotian and Leagues (Swoboda, pp. 281, 402–3).

page 144 note 10 The same rule obtained at Athens ('AθIIoλ. 48, § 4). It may have been common to all Greek democracies.

page 145 note 1 Diod. 16. 89. Similar powers were vested in the σϒρατηϒοɭ of Pergamum, who were royal nominees (Cardinali, p. 231 sqq.). On the other hand, at Aegina the Attalids were content to give their governor a mere power of veto (Ditt. O.G.I. 329, 1. 53).

InDS. 3 390 the ѵησɭαρϰος of Ptolemy II. brings a matter before the Κοɩѵѵ τ'wѵ ησɩωτŴѵ. But he does so by δɩάϒραμμα, and the subsequent discussion is in the hands of another official. Presumably the ѵησίαρϰος did not preside.

page 145 note 2 The only clear instances of federal officers resident in the constituent towns are the άρϰοѵτες of the Delian Confederacy.

page 145 note 3 Aristotle, Politics, II. 12, 1274b. For fines in other federations cf. Hellen Oxyrh., col. 12 (Boeotia); Gr. Dialeht-Inschriften, 5043; and Bulletin it Correspondance Hellénique, 1889, p. 48 (Cretan towns in Antigonus Doson's League).

For other instances of ξωμoσɭαɩ, see Wilhelm, , Österreichische Jahreshefte, 1909, pp. 139141Google Scholar.

page 145 note 4 This procedure was actually provided for in Philip's League ([Dem.] 17, § 6). Instances of actual executions in Greek federations are exceedingly numerous.

page 146 note 1 Wilcken, p. 141.

page 146 note 2 The penalty in the fifth-century Boeotian League was one drachma (Hellen. Oxyrh., col. 12). Allowing for the altered value of money, this tallies with the two drachmae of our document.

page 146 note 3 E.g. the maritime confederacies of Athens; the Peloponnesian and Achaean Leagues. DS. 3 421 (treaty between Aetolia and Achaea, c. 272 B.C.) furnishes an instance to the contrary. The fragment of an inscription published by Wilhelm (p. 44) is too scanty to permit any sure inference in regard to Philip's League.

page 146 note 4 Plutarch, Phocion, ch. 16; DS.3 283/

page 146 note 5 Plutarch, Pericles, ch. 17.

page 146 note 6 [Dem.] 17, §§ 19–20.

page 146 note 7 On the evils of piracy, especially in the third and second centuries, see ProfessorOrmerod, in Liverpool Annals, vol. 8, pp. 105124Google Scholar; also DS. 3 581–2; I.G. II. 5. 141 and 59b, XII. 3. 1206 and 1291, XII. 5. 663 and 860.

page 146 note 8 The είσϕοραɭ of which Ptolemy II. relieved the Nησŵίταɩ (DS. 3 390) were probably imposed by Demetrius, but only after the collapse of his pan-Hellenic League.

page 146 note 9 E.g. the Peloponnesian League (I.G. V. I. I), the Boeotian League (Hellen. Oxyrh., col. 12), in regard to Philip's League. (Griechische Dialekt- Inschriften, 304a). Of modern federations, Australia and U.S.A. have the right of almost unlimited taxation.

page 147 note 1 DS. 3 390 (grant by Ptolemy II. to the Nησŵίταɩ); DS. 3 222 (petition of the Ionian League to Antiochus I.); Polyb. IV. 25. 7 (grant by Antigonus Doson).

page 147 note 2 Diod. 18. 56.

page 147 note 3 DS. 3 323: Eretria receives back τoὐς πατρɭους ѵóμoʋς (c. 308 B.C.).

Page 147 note 4 Plutarch, Demetrius, ch. 10; Diodorus, 20,46: Athens recovers τήѵ πάτρɩοѵ πολɩτείαѵ (307 B.C.); DS. 3 173, l. 63.

page 147 note 5 [Dem.] 17. §§ 15.16; DS. 3 260a.

page 147 note 6 [Dem.] 17, §16; Diod. 18. 55. For the unsettlement caused by ѵεωτερɩσμοɭ, cf. DS. 3 317 (Sicyon), 364 (Ephesus); Ditt.O.G.I. 8 (Eresus).

page 147 note 7 E.g. in the Second Athenian Confederacy (DS. 3 147); in Philip's League ([Dem. 17, § 8]); in Antigonus Doson's League (Polyb. 4. 25. 7).

page 147 note 8 Diod. 20. 102–3.

page 147 note 9 DS. 3 283 (Chios), and especially DS. 3 306 (Tegea).

page 147 note 10 For similar voluntary revisions, cf. DS. 3 581, 1. 86; Michel, Recueil 16, 1. 75; 28, 1. 43; I.G. IX. 1. 98.

page 147 note 11 Cf. the procedure of Antigonus I. at Teos (DS. 3 344).

page 147 note 12 DS. 3 260a.