Boeotia probably became independent from Demetrios I after his retreat in 287 B.C., but the history of the region at this time has to be patched together from hints in various sources; for a helpful summary, see C.Habicht, "Athens from Alexander to Antony", page 129 ( Google Books ). This inscription shows that the Boeotians controlled the area around the city of Oropos, but it breaks off just before listing Boeotian activities abroad; a possible context has been suggested by D.Knoepfler in "The Epigraphy and History of Boeotia", pp.68-94 ( Google Books ). The translation is adapted from S.Colvin, "A Historical Greek Reader: Mycenaean to the Koiné", page 103 ( Google Books ).
God. With good fortune. When Philokomos was archon of the Boeotians; and Theognetidas was archon of the Orchomenians, and Timasitheos son of Aristomachos was hipparch, and the commanders were Saukleas . . ., Aristion son of Hermaios and Pythodoros son of ...ikleas; and Eumeilos was commander of the Chaironeians. An agreement between the cavalry of Orchomenos and that of Chaironeia pertaining to military expeditions. The previous expeditions 10 under the archonship of Theognetidas at Orchomenos and Philokomos in Boeotia are released from duty: the expeditions constituted under the archonship of Theognetidas at Orchomenos and Philokomos in Boeotia are hereby inaugurated. First to exercise outside of Boeotia shall be the squadron of Saukleas; second that of Pythodoros; third that of the Chaironeians of Eumeilos, fourth that of Aristion. And within 20 Boeotia, first shall be that of Aristion, second that of Pythodoros, third that of the Chaironeians of Eumeilos, fourth that of Saukleas. In the case that some of the squadrons spend an equal amount of time on exercise, the hipparch is to draw lots {for extra service} among those squadrons which have spent an equal amount of time on exercise. One should account separately exercises in Boeotia and exercises outside Boeotia, and the accounting should be for the time that they are drawing their daily allowance.
30 When Theognetidas was archon, and Timasitheos was hipparch, the cavalry exercised in Boeotia:
Attalus' home page | 20.12.16 | Any comments?