The historical context of this decree is probably the capture of Ephesos by Prepelaos, the general of Lysimachos, early in 302 B.C. A later date, c. 294 B.C., is less likely because Prepelaos is not known to have had any dealings with Ephesos at that time; see G.M.Cohen, "The Hellenistic Settlements in Europe, the Islands, and Asia Minor", pp.178-9 ( Google Books ).
The official role of the two groups of officials mentioned in the decree, the senate {gerousia} and the committee {epikletoi}, is discussed by H.S.Lund, "Lysimachus: A Study in Early Hellenistic Kingship", page 126 ( Google Books ).
Resolved by the council and the people, as proposed by Herogeiton: as concerning these matters the appointed neopoiai and kourētes have spoken to the council and have brought a decree of the senate and the committee about the citizenship of Euphronios, it is resolved by the council: since Euphronios of Acarnania, the son of Hegemon, was previously well-disposed and zealous towards the Ephesian people, and now, when the senate and the committee sent an embassy to Prepelaos about the sacred abode and the freedom from taxes granted to the goddess, he took up the case along with the envoys so that the goddess might retain her freedom from taxes; and otherwise at all times he has been helpful both publicly to the people and also privately to any of the citizens that he met; therefore it is resolved to praise Euphronios on account of the goodwill that he shows towards the sanctuary and the city; and to grant him citizenship on equal and similar terms, both to him and to his descendants; to record his citizenship in the sanctuary of Artemis, where the other awards of citizenship are recorded; and to allot a tribe and a thousand to him, so that all may know that the Ephesian people honours the benefactors of the sanctuary and the city with due rewards.
He was allotted to the Epheseus tribe and the Argadeus 'thousand'.
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