It was very unusual for women to hold a public office in ancient Greek cities. Phile was no doubt given this honour in recognition of her exceptional generosity towards the city of Priene. Some other examples, from the first century A.D. and later, are given by S.Dmitriev, "City Government in Hellenistic and Roman Asia Minor", pp.179-182 ( Google Books ).
[Phil]ē daughter of Apollonios, the wife of Thessalos the son of Polydeukes, who was the first woman to have served as stephanephoros, dedicated from her own resources the reservoir of water and the aqueducts in the city.
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