For some reason, around the time of this inscription the city of Orchomenos was receiving multiple loans to support the public finances. One of the best-documented examples is the loan given by Nikarete ( THI_125 ).
As Y. Kalliontzis remarks, the city's financial position was 'not catastrophic'; the loans were always repaid. But if the loan was given by citizens of a different state and there was a dispute - as in this case - then the dispute had to resolved by inter-state arbitration procedures, similar to the arbitration between Kalymna and a family from Kos ( Syll_953 ).
The inscription was published with a French translation and commentary by Y. Kalliontzis, "Contribution à l'épigraphie et à l'histoire de la Béotie hellénistique", no. 33 ( OpenEdition ).
When the archon of the Boeotians was Dorkylos, and the archon of Orchomenos was Timon son of Sosippos, and the polemarchs were Kaphisodoros son of Damatrichos, Philomeilos son of Philles and Damoteles son of Lysidamos, and the secretary of the polemarchs was Perilaos son of Anaxion, and the public advocates were Euares son of Euchoros, Philomeilos son of Philon, Athanodoros son of Hippon, Karaichos son of Hermaios and Aristion son of Eurouphantidas, and the secretary of the public advocates was Klioxenos son of Polykritos, they recorded the judgments for the city against the Amphissans, concerning the contract in accordance with the written agreement. The city of Orchomenos has a complaint against Timokrates, son of Damokrates, and Cheirikrates, son of Archytas, 10 both from Amphissa, who claim to be the heirs of Xenophanes, son of Timokrates, from Amphissa. While the city of Orchomenos has reimbursed the money from the contract deposited with Xenophanes, son of Timokrates, from Amphissa, and the contract was annulled by Xenophanes, you have produced a false contract and claimed, in addition to the 70 minas doubled, the interest prescribed in contracts for each of the 70 minas, which amounts to 45 talents. The city of Orchomenos considers this 20 to be inconsistent with the agreements you have produced, and the sum you have claimed in addition: 47 talents and 20 minas.
The [judges] decided, after arbitrating according to the agreements and after consulting the polemarchs of the Orchomenians - Kaphisodoros son of Damatrichos, Philomeilos son of Philles - who are representing city of the Orchomenos, and the public advocates - Euares son of Euchōros, Karaïkos son of Hermaïos, Philomeilos son of Philon, Athanodoros son of Hippon and Aristion son of Euryphantidas on behalf of the Orchomenians, and Timokrates son of Damokrates and Cheirikrates [son of Archytas] on behalf of the Amphissans - concerning the lawsuit that the city brought against Timokrates [and] Cheirikrates, accusing them of having produced a false contract . . . 30 by Nion of Thebes, the son of Askondas, and Lioukos of Kalydon, the son of Diokles . . . [whatever] these men decide in perfect agreement, their judgment shall be valid in law. [Let them pay the fine] in the month of Dionysios or Prokyklios, as the Aetolians reckon, the first following the judgment; and, as the Boeotians reckon, in the month of Thyios or Pamboiōtios, the first following the judgment. If Lioukos [decides not] to arbitrate, let them {the Aetolians?} provide as arbitrator for Timokrates . . . Alexamenos of Trichonion, the former hipparch, . . . of Trichonion, the current hipparch, or Timēos . . .
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