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Texts and documents

This section provides a selection of literary, epigraphic, papyrological, and numismatic sources related to citizenship in the Greek world.

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149-100 BCE, 349-300 BCE, Epigraphic source, lexicon on citizenship, non-citizens

Quintus Tullius and His Greek Freedmen – ID 1802 (c. 100 BC)

The inscription records the dedication of a statue to Quintus Tullius by three of his freedmen: Heracleon, Aristarchus, and Alexander (on these individuals, see Ferrary–Hasenohr–Le Dinahet 2002, 218, nos. 4–7;...

400-450 BCE, citizenship legislation, Epigraphic source, granting of citizenship, land and citizenship, land redistributions

SEG 47 1427. Law of Himera (500-490 BCE)

The tablet from Himera contains an early archaic law establishing the formation, in Himera, of two new tribes composed of citizens originating from the mother city of Zancle. Citizen recruitment...

449-400 BCE, lexicon on citizenship, Literary source

Soph. Ant. vv. 78–79, 192–193, 905–908 (ed. Lloyd-Jones – Wilson). The politai of Thebes in the Antigone (442–441 BCE)

In the selected passages, the expression bia politōn occurs twice, denoting in both cases the violation of the will of the citizens through the burial of Polyneices. Here politōn is...

149-100 BCE, citizenship and federal states, Literary source, public offices

Strabo, 14.3.3. Working of the Lycian koinon (100 BC)

The structure of the Lycian confederation is known not only from epigraphic and numismatic documentation, but also from a well-known passage in Strabo (14.3.3), who praises its good governance and...

549-500 BCE, Epigraphic source, honorific decree

Syll.³ 4 (Nomima I.32). Honorary Decree Granting Ateleia from Cyzicus (525-500 BC)

An inscription from Cyzicus dating to the Archaic period and concerning the granting of fiscal privileges to Manes, the sons of Aisepos and their descendants for commendable actions towards the...

249-200 BCE, citizenship and federal states, dual citizenship, Epigraphic source

Syll.³ 622A (= IG IX2 1 178) + Syll.³ 622B (= IC II V 19). Decree of the Aetolian Koinon and Letter of the Kosmoi of (V)Axos. Late 3rd century BC

This inscription from Delphi consists of a decree from the Aetolian confederation (A1) and a letter sent by the kosmoi of the Cretan city of (V)Axos to the authorities of...

349-300 BCE, Athenian citizenship, business partnerships, civic groups, Literary source, non-citizens

The Athenian Citizen and the Outsider – The δίκηἐμπορική (dikē emporikē) ([Dem.] 32.1; 33.1; 34.42; 35.3) – second half of the 4th century BC

The four passages presented here outline, in broad terms, the text of the law regulating commercial suits (dikai emporikai). From passage (a) it appears that the law allowed merchants and...

449-400 BCE, Athenian citizenship, granting of citizenship, Literary source, religious institutions and citizenship

Thucydides 2.29.1-7. Granting of Athenian Citizenship to the Thracian Sadokos (431 BC)

At the beginning of the Peloponnesian War, in the summer of 431, the Athenians entered into an alliance with the Thracians. The symmachia with King Sitalkes, son of the powerful...

449-400 BCE, Athenian citizenship, granting of citizenship, Literary source, religious institutions and citizenship

Thucydides 3.55.3. Granting of Athenian citizenship to the Plataeans

Thucydides is the first author to report a rare case of Athenian citizenship being granted to an entire community, that of the Plataeans. The event is reported in the section...