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Translations of Hellenistic Inscriptions: 126


LOAN GIVEN TO ORCHOMENOS BY EUBOULOS OF ELATEIA

Greek text:   IG_7.3171
Provenance:     Orchomenos , Boeotia
Date:   230-210 B.C.
Tags:     loans+debts
Format:   see key to translations

Along with Inscription 125, this inscription shows that towards the end of the 3rd century B.C. the city of Orchomenos was accepting large loans from wealthy residents of neighbouring cities, and that repayment of these loans was not always straightforward. For the importance of rights of pasture in this context, see A.Bresson, "The Making of the Ancient Greek Economy", pp.136-7 ( Google Books ).

The translation of part C is adapted from B.F.Cook, "Greek Inscriptions", page 43 ( Google Books ). The entire inscription has been translated into French by L.Migeotte, "L'emprunt public dans les cités grecques", no. 12.


[A]   When Thynarchos was archon in Orchomenos, in the month of Theilouthios, the treasurer Anchiaros son of Eumelos along with the polemarchs and the overseers {katoptai} repaid the money owed from the contract to Euboulos of Phocis, the son of Archedamos, rescinding the contracts deposited with Euphron and Phidias and Pasikles of Timomelos of Phocis, 10 and with Dionysios of Chaironeia the son of Kaphisodoros, in accordance with the decree of the people:   16,903 drachmas.

[B]   When Thynarchos was archon in Orchomenos, in the month of Alalkomenios, the treasurer Warnon son of Polykles along with the polemarchs and the overseers {katoptai} repaid the remaining money owed from the contract to Euboulos of Phocis, the son of Archedamos, rescinding the contracts deposited with Sophilos 20 and Euphron of Phocis, and with Dionysios of Chaironeia the son of Kaphisodoros, and with Lysidamos son of Damoteles, in accordance with the decree of the people:   5,773 drachmas and 1½ obols.

[C]   When Thynarchos was archon in Orchomenos, in the month of Alalkomenios, and Menoitas son of Archelaos was archon in Elateia, in the first month; an agreement between Euboulos of Elateia and the city of Orchomenos: since Euboulos has recovered from the city 30 the whole loan according to the agreements made when Thynarchos was archon, in the month of Theilouthios, and nothing is still owed to him by the city, but he has received everything in full; and those who had the contracts have returned them to the city; therefore there shall be an additional period of four years when Euboulos has the right of free pasturage for 220 oxen and horses and 1,000 sheep and goats; 40 the period begins in the year after Thynarchos was archon in Orchomenos. Euboulos shall register every year with the treasurer and the land agent {nomōnas} the brands of the sheep and the goats and the oxen and the horses, and any that go without a brand, and the total; and he shall not register more than what is prescribed in the agreement. If anyone imposes dues for pasture on Euboulos, the city of Orchomenos 50 shall owe Euboulos 40 minas of silver each year, and it shall bear interest of 3 drachmas for every mina each month, and the city of Orchomenos shall be under bond to Euboulos . . .

inscription 127


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