The Kalindoia Inscription
Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 12:42 pm
Hi all
It is known that inscriptive evidence of Alexander is scarse due to the fact that did not survive to the modern age or are yet to be found. I believe that this particular inscrpition (see link: http://s1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg6 ... scription/ ) "The Kalindoia inscription" is not so known to the public, thus I thought I might post it here.
It was found in the ancient city of Kalindoia area (Halkidiki)- see the map in the album). The first half of it was given to the State by civilians who found it in 1982 and by a very lucky coincidence, the lower part was found in an excavation (1983). Today we have the entire incrpition that dates back to 334 BC to 303 BC. According to the text the priest Agathanor dedicated the stele that carries the inscription to Apollo, Kalindoia's main diety with the names of 30, in total, priests of Asclepios, of which six are mentioned before and the remaining 23 after his own name (line 16).
The catalogue's starting date is the year 334/333 BCE, thus when King Alexander the Great bestowed the city of Kalindoia upon the Macedonians, together with the nearby areas, i.e, Thamiskia, Kamakaea and Tripoatis or incorporated the city into the Macedonian Kingdom.
Agathnanor, son of Agathon who
was priest in the Asclepios temple
dedicated to Apollo (this stele)
These are the names of the priests
from when King Alexander gave
to the Macedonians Kalindoia and the
areas near it (meaning) Thamiskia,
Kamakaea, Tripoatis: Sivras, son
of Irodoros, Troilos son of Antigonos,
Kalias son of Apollonios, Ikotas son of
Girtos, Igisipos son of Nikoxenos,
Likourgos son of Nikanor, Agathanor
son of Agathon, Menelaus son of
Menandros, Antigonos son of Menandros,
Antimenon son of Menandros,
Kratipos son of Evritios, Gilis son of
Evritios, Kanun son of Assa(...)mikos,
Kertimas son of Krithon, Filotas son
of Leonidas, Ptolemmas son of M(...),
Mias son of Filiskos, Amerias son
of Kidias, Pason son of Skitis, Filagros
son of Menander, Gidias son of Krithon,
Filoksenos son of E(...), Perdikas son
of Amadiskos, Nikanor son of
Nikanor, Nikanor son of Sosos,
Badis son of Astion, Antifanes son
of Sos(...), Parmenion son of
Al(...), Glaukias son of Davrias,
Arpalos son Fa(...)
A few observations: One can easy udnerstand that some names are not Greek due to the mixes of the tribes in that area (Kanun for example) .
Now a question: Alexander gives Kalidnoia to Macedonia just before he crosses Ellispondos. Obviously the taking of the city must have been completed without any blooshed because I cannot recall any battles or sieges happening at the time. Can any of you help me to place this action of Alexander (did he maybe give these areas to his friends?) into a more solid historical context?
Best regards to all
Pauline
It is known that inscriptive evidence of Alexander is scarse due to the fact that did not survive to the modern age or are yet to be found. I believe that this particular inscrpition (see link: http://s1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg6 ... scription/ ) "The Kalindoia inscription" is not so known to the public, thus I thought I might post it here.
It was found in the ancient city of Kalindoia area (Halkidiki)- see the map in the album). The first half of it was given to the State by civilians who found it in 1982 and by a very lucky coincidence, the lower part was found in an excavation (1983). Today we have the entire incrpition that dates back to 334 BC to 303 BC. According to the text the priest Agathanor dedicated the stele that carries the inscription to Apollo, Kalindoia's main diety with the names of 30, in total, priests of Asclepios, of which six are mentioned before and the remaining 23 after his own name (line 16).
The catalogue's starting date is the year 334/333 BCE, thus when King Alexander the Great bestowed the city of Kalindoia upon the Macedonians, together with the nearby areas, i.e, Thamiskia, Kamakaea and Tripoatis or incorporated the city into the Macedonian Kingdom.
Agathnanor, son of Agathon who
was priest in the Asclepios temple
dedicated to Apollo (this stele)
These are the names of the priests
from when King Alexander gave
to the Macedonians Kalindoia and the
areas near it (meaning) Thamiskia,
Kamakaea, Tripoatis: Sivras, son
of Irodoros, Troilos son of Antigonos,
Kalias son of Apollonios, Ikotas son of
Girtos, Igisipos son of Nikoxenos,
Likourgos son of Nikanor, Agathanor
son of Agathon, Menelaus son of
Menandros, Antigonos son of Menandros,
Antimenon son of Menandros,
Kratipos son of Evritios, Gilis son of
Evritios, Kanun son of Assa(...)mikos,
Kertimas son of Krithon, Filotas son
of Leonidas, Ptolemmas son of M(...),
Mias son of Filiskos, Amerias son
of Kidias, Pason son of Skitis, Filagros
son of Menander, Gidias son of Krithon,
Filoksenos son of E(...), Perdikas son
of Amadiskos, Nikanor son of
Nikanor, Nikanor son of Sosos,
Badis son of Astion, Antifanes son
of Sos(...), Parmenion son of
Al(...), Glaukias son of Davrias,
Arpalos son Fa(...)
A few observations: One can easy udnerstand that some names are not Greek due to the mixes of the tribes in that area (Kanun for example) .
Now a question: Alexander gives Kalidnoia to Macedonia just before he crosses Ellispondos. Obviously the taking of the city must have been completed without any blooshed because I cannot recall any battles or sieges happening at the time. Can any of you help me to place this action of Alexander (did he maybe give these areas to his friends?) into a more solid historical context?
Best regards to all
Pauline