The water organ {hydraulis} is said to have been invented in the 3rd century B.C., and so at the time of this decree it was still a relatively new instrument, and cities would probably have been keen to attract players for their novelty value; see A.Cinalli, "Οὐ τὸ νικᾶν ἀλλὰ τὸ εὖ ἀγωνίζεσθαι : Playing to win or to show off?", paras.21-24 ( CHS Research Bulletin ).
For the date - when Kleandros was archon at Delphi - see G.Daux, "Chronologie Delphique", M3 ( cefael ).
When Kleandros son of Timon was archon, and the members of the council were Politas son of Asandros, Eukleides son of Herakleidas, Dion son of Kallias and Theoxenos son of Polyon; it was resolved by the city of Delphi in full assembly: since Antipatros of Eleutherna, the son of Breukos, a water-organist, when the city sent an embassy to him, came to Delphi and at the request of the archons and the city he performed for two days and won great approval, in a manner worthy of the god and of the city of Eleutherna and of our own city, on account of which he was crowned in the contest . . . with a bronze statue and with all the other honours, which he contributed on behalf of himself to the god; 10 for this reason, with good fortune it is resolved to praise Antipatros of Eleutherna, the son of Breukos, the water-organist, for his piety towards the god and his holiness and the good attitude which he continually displays concerning his art, and for his goodwill towards our city; and also to praise his brother Kryton of Eleutherna, the son of Breukos; and the city shall grant to them and their descendants proxeny, priority in access to the oracle, priority in receiving justice, inviolability, freedom from all taxes, and all the other honours that are held by other proxenoi and benefactors of the city. The archons shall send them the largest permissible gifts of hospitality; 20 and they and their companions shall be invited to the public hearth of the city in the prytaneion. The archons shall inscribe this decree in the most prominent place in the temple of Apollo, and they shall send a copy to the city of Eleutherna, so that they may be aware of it.
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