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Sylloge Inscriptionum Graecarum: 609


A LETTER OF ACILIUS TO THE CITY OF DELPHI

Greek text:   Sylloge_609
Date:     190 B.C.
Tags:     arbitration ,   autonomy ,   Roman_letters
Format:   see key to translations

M'.Acilius Glabrio, the Roman consul of 191 B.C., took steps to reduce Aetolian influence over Delphi; he confiscated many properties belonging to the Aetolians and to the neighbouring city of Amphissa, and handed them over to the city and temple of Delphi. Already this letter acknowledges that there were legal challenges to the decisions of Acilius, and territorial disputes continued in this region for many years afterwards; see S.L.Ager, "Interstate Arbitrations in the Greek World, 337-90 B.C.", pp. 245-247 ( Google Books ).


. . . being a lodging for our citizens . [And do you take care that] all this shall be inscribed on a stone stele and placed in the [temple. If anyone disputes possession] of the other properties or their produce or the buildings or the [contents, saying] that they own them, concerning those which were established with our consent, the decisions [shall remain valid; and] after appointing a tribunal in order to determine correctly, [you] should settle [the others] . . . It was reported to me, that secret distributions [and sales] have been made from these properties to some persons, [without referring payment] to the state. See to it then, that not even one such incident occurs [again. Concerning] the affairs of the temple, if the Thessalians or some others send envoys, we will attempt [in (?) Rome on] my own account to take care of it, so that you may permanently possess the ancestral rights that you have had since the earliest times, [preserving the] autonomy of both the city and the temple.

{followed by 610}

inscription 610


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