This inscription was first published in 2020 by D. Bosnakis and K. Hallof, "Alte und neue Inschriften aus Kos VI" ( PDF ). In the following year, some issues arising from the inscription were discussed by A. Coşkun, "The Chronology of the Asylia Dossier from Kos Revisited in Light of Some Recent Epigraphic Discoveries" ( PDF ).
The campaign of Kos to obtain asylia for its temple of Asklepios was already well known from many inscriptions: see for instance RC_25-28 and SEG_12.370-374. But this inscription has provided some new information, and two questions in particular arise from it.
(1) Why is there a letter from Zigēlas/Ziaēlas (F) when, as the letter itself indicates, he had already written to the people of Kos about this matter (RC_25)? Altay Coşkun suggests, basing his argument in particular on these two letters, that the Koans previously sent out delegations to some of the kings, asking for their recognition of the inviolability of their temple; and then in 242 B.C. they sent out many more delegations, to cities as well as kings, which also announced the inauguration of the Asklepieia festival and games.
(2) Who was Queen Laodike (G)? Several members of the Seleucid royal family bore this name. Laodike the first wife of Antiochos II seems the most likely identification, in which case obviously she was still alive in 242 B.C.; but Altay Coşkun has suggested that the writer was the daughter of Ziaēlas and wife of Antiochos Hierax. The proviso 'when [our affairs] come into a better state' probably refers to the Third Syrian War, the same as in another Seleucid letter to Kos ( RC_26 ).
[A] . . . the Koans for their piety towards the gods and for their goodwill towards the Macedonians . . .
[B] Decree of the Aigeans :
When Antigonos was priest; since 10 the chief theoros Aristolochos son of Zmendron and the theoros Makareus son of Aratos, on arriving here from Kos, have spoken to the city and have renewed the existing goodwill and kinship of the city of Kos towards our city and the Macedonian nation; and they have requested that the temple of Asklepios in Kos should be inviolable; therefore it was resolved by the city of Aigeai to welcome the delegation that has been sent by the Aigeans {sic!} about the sacrifice for Asklepios; and it is resolved that the temple of Asklepios shall be inviolable in the same way as the other inviolable temples; and it is resolved to praise the city of Kos for its piety towards the gods 20 and for its goodwill towards the Macedonian nation, and because they act in a manner worthy of our kinship and alliance; and that the theoroi shall be given a gift of hospitality, the same as is given to the Argives who announce the Nemean games, and this expense shall be deemed lawful. Galestes son of Amyntas was chosen to be theorodokos of the city of Kos.
[C] Decree of the Beroians :
In the forty-first year of the reign of Antigonos, when Nikanor son of Alexandros was priest, on the second day of the month of Gorpiaios; in gathered assembly; since the chief theoros Aristolochos son of Zmendron and the theoros Makareus son of Aratos, on arriving here from Kos, 30 have spoken to the citizens and have proclaimed the existing kinship and goodwill of the city of Kos towards the city of Beroia and the Macedonian nation; and they have requested that the temple of Asklepios in Kos should be inviolable; therefore it is resolved by the citizens to welcome the delegation that has been sent by the Koans about the sacrifice for Asklepios and Hygieia; and it is resolved that the temple of Asklepios in Kos shall be inviolable in the same way as the other inviolable temples; and it is resolved to praise the city of Kos for its piety towards the gods and for its goodwill towards the Macedonian nation, because the Koans act in a manner worthy of our kinship 40 and alliance; and they shall be given gifts of hospitality, the same as are customarily given to those who announce the other 'crowned' games. . . . was chosen to be theorodokos of Koans.
[D] . . .
. . . when Andron was archon . . . from the city of Kos . . .
[E] 50 Decree of the Temnians :
. . . since the Koans, who are kinsmen and friends of the people, have sent Aristion son of Herakleitos, [Parthenopaios] son of Xenodikos and Euxippos son of Nikomedes as theoroi, to announce the sacrifice for Asklepios and the musical and gymnastic games and a truce; and they urge us to decree that the temple should be inviolable, and to send a sacrifice and theoroi whenever they announce the festival of Asklepios; therefore with good fortune it is resolved, for the health and safety of the people of Temnos and of the people of Kos, to accept what has been announced by the theoroi, 60 and that the temple of Asklepios shall be inviolable; and concerning the sacrifice and the delegation, so that they may be sent lawfully to Kos, a motion shall be submitted to the council and the people by the timouchoi or by any other of the citizens who wishes to do so; and the oikonomos of the city shall give gifts of hospitality as prescribed by law to each of the theoroi; he shall ensure that they are safely escorted back; and he shall charge the expense arising from these matters to the city.
[F] These letters came from Zigēlas, sealed with the image of a horseman :
Zigelas, king of the Bithynians, to the people of Kos, greetings. Aristion, Parthenopaios and Euxippos, the theoroi from you, announced to us 70 the festival and the games and the sacrifices that are being performed by you for Asklepios, and they also spoke about the request that the temple should be inviolable. We have graciously welcomed the delegation and, as we have previously written to you, we consider that the temple is inviolable. Farewell. In the thirty-ninth year, on the twenty-seventh day of Briettios.
[G] Letter from Laodike, sealed with the image of an anchor :
Queen Laodike to the council and people of Kos, greetings. The theoroi from you - Aristion, Parthenopaios and Euxippos - announced to us the sacrifice and the games and the festival, 80 which you are performing for Asklepios, and they requested that the temple should be inviolable, and that we should join in preparing everything that contributes to its glory. We have previously acted with goodwill towards your people, and now we have welcomed , in the most benevolent manner, the announcement of the sacrifice and the festival and the games; and we consider it right that with good fortune the temple of Asklepios should be inviolable, as you request; and we will attempt, when [our affairs] come into a better state, to honour [the sanctuary] in a worthy manner, and to take care both of the people publicly and of each citizen individually . . . and the theoroi [will report] to you concerning these matters . . . [Farewell.]
[H] Decrees . . . :
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