This is the first known treaty between a Macedonian king and a Cretan city, if the date of inscription 53 is correct. Although the full terms of the treaty have not survived, it is likely that Demetrios II wanted to recruit Cretan mercenaries to fight in the 'Demetrian War', which was starting on the Greek mainland around this time; see the Cambridge Ancient History, volume 7.1, page 447 ( Google Books ).
With [good] fortune. In the third year of the reign of king Demetrios son of Antigonos, [when] the Aithaleis, . . . son of Aristonymos [and his colleagues], were kosmoi [at Gortyn]; after Paithemidas son of . . . [and] . . . son of Eurybotas came as envoys to king Demetrios [son of Antigonos] from the Gortynians and their [allies concerning] an alliance, and Ly..ēates son of Pr... went as envoy from [king Demetrios] to the Gortynians and their allies; [the Gortynians and] their allies and king Demetrios [son of Antigonos] agreed a treaty [on] these terms: there shall be friendship and alliance [for all] time between king Demetrios and [the Gortynians and the other] allies . . .
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