This is the only surviving decree of the Achaean League that can be dated to the earliest years of the league in the Hellenistic period, when it consisted of just four cities. Unfortunately there are frequent gaps in the text, but one remarkable feature of what remains is the number of different officials who are mentioned - presidents, secretary, treasurer, eranestai, damosiophylakes, gerontes, polemarchs and damiorgoi. It is often unclear whether these officials belonged to the eranos associations, the individual cities, or the federal government.
The translation is taken from R. Post, "A unique federal fiscal and legal institution from Early Hellenistic Achaia" ( PDF ), which should be consulted for further information about the inscription and its context.
. . . be given from . . . the polemarchs by the guarantors appointed by the city; and that the presidents and the eranestai be able to register the . . ., the damosiophylakes, the secretary, and the treasurer as debtors. [If the polemarchs] do not receive the debt registers from the presidents and [the guarantors] appointed by the city nor from the private individuals [and the] eranestai, or if they do not repay within the number of days within which it has been written to do so, the gerousia shall [fine] them 10 talents per day until they repay, and the fine [shall be submitted] to the tri-monthly tribunal. [If the] gerontes [do not fine] the polemarchs, they themselves shall be liable for [the fine and lose their citizenship], both among the Achaians and in each city. If . . . [of?] those making lesser eranos contributions so that . . . the instalment, as they contributed from the beginning, it shall be possible [for the assembly?] of the eranestai [to do ?. . .]. They shall [inscribe] this decree . . . and they shall erect it in the sanctuary of Apollo, and the damiorgoi shall [send copies?] to [each?] city [so that all might follow] these instructions.
Attalus' home page | 20.03.26 | Any comments?