It has been suggested that Scipio Africanus was sent as an envoy to the east in 193 B.C., and he visited Delos on the way, which would then form the context of this decree; but this hypothesis is rejected by J.D.Grainger, "The Roman War of Antiochos the Great,", page 156 n.48 ( Google Books ). An inventory of the temples of Delos, dated 179 B.C., mentions 'a gold laurel crown with the inscription Publius Cornelius son of Publius Roman consul, weight: 100 drachmas' ( IDelos_442B, line 102 ).
It was resolved by the council and people, as proposed by Antilakos son of Simides; since Publius Cornelius Scipio of Rome, the son of Publius, who is a proxenos and benefactor of the temple and the Delians, has taken every care concerning the temple and the Delians; it is resolved by the council and the people to crown Publius Cornelius Scipio of Rome, the son of Publius, with a sacred wreath of laurel at the Apollonia; the sacred herald shall make the following announcement in the theatre, when the contest of boys' choruses takes place: "The people of Delos crowns Publius Cornelius Scipio of Rome with a sacred wreath of laurel on account of his virtue and his piety concerning the temple and his goodwill towards the people of Delos." Lysanias son of Kaibon put it to the vote.
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