This inscription provides a glimpse of the commercial activities which must have taken place in most major Greek sanctuaries. The regulations are particularly concerned with restricting the activities of four classes of persons. One of these classes, the suppliants, is discussed in detail by F.S. Naiden, "Ancient Supplication", pp.188-191 ( Google Books ).
The translation is adapted from I. Arnaoutoglou, "Ancient Greek Laws", no. 46, pp.52-53. There is another English translation by E. Lupu, NGSL, no. 18, pp.285-297 ( Google Books ).
[In the year of . . . as demiourgos] on the eleventh day of the month ...ion, [in the customary assembly for?] the elections in the [theatre, when . . . was epistates]. The neopoiai, having [revised] the charter of the retailers' [stalls in the sanctuary in line] with the decree, proposed as follows, and the assembly has approved:
Four [stalls for retailers shall be leased in the] sanctuary of Hera; in each of them the [lessee will remain throughout] the year and [not more than one] person shall have right to the tenancy; [no more than one person] shall trade next to these positions . . . nor soldier nor unemployed person nor suppliant nor . . . in any way or means except [the lessees. Anyone else who] trades next to these positions shall pay a fine of . . . drachmas.
The lessees are not permitted to transfer [the stall] to an unemployed person or to a suppliant in any way or by [any] method . . . to any of these people, he shall pay to the goddess . . . [sacred] drachmas, [and the fine] shall be exacted by the neopoiai and the treasurer [of the sacred funds].
[The lessees] shall not accept anything from a slave, [a suppliant], a soldier or an unemployed person and they shall not buy . . . produced in the [countryside] nor anything else by any other means [or method], except if some of the landowners or . . . sell some of their produce.
The lessees shall not provide shelter in the stalls to the slaves who stay in the temple, [or provide them with work] or food, or accept from them anything on whatever [pretext]; and if any of those responsible . . . [does? any] of the prohibited things, he shall be liable [to pay . . . drachmas to the goddess].
If a citizen accuses a lessee [or a lessee accuses a citizen], lawsuits shall be submitted to the neopoiai up to . . . [and the] neopoiai shall bring the lawsuits submitted . . . [before the] court, . . . days after they were submitted . . . concerning the submission they shall act according to the . . . the fee prescribed by law shall be paid to the court . . . the lawsuit, and the penalty [shall be paid] by the defeated party.
If the neopoiai fine [someone unjustly] for something [that is prohibited] within the sanctuary, and the person who is fined objects, the [submitted] objections are to be brought before the civil court [by] the exetastai in a similar way.
[The fee] shall be paid by the lessees to the treasurer of the sacred funds every [year without] dispute, and without any discount.
The lessees . . . to the treasurer of the sacred funds will be free of tax . . . in the sanctuary.
The temple servants {hieroi paideis} are not allowed to trade.
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