Imperial subscript to the Spartans

Fragment of imperial subscript to the Spartans, built into church of Agios Nikolaos at Kokkinorachi (site J4007). Ed. pr. G. Shipley and A. Spawforth, 'New imperial subscripts to the Spartans', BSA 90 (1995), 429-34; SEG 45. 282; summary at LS ii. 214 no. 6 and pl. 18 d = BSA 90, pl. 43 a; SEG 46. 398
Marble, 0.36 x 0.25 x more than 0.02.
Reign of Claudius?
Image: unpublished photograph (. . .); BSA pl. 43 b is a photograph of the squeeze).

Digitised photograph of inscription no. 6

Scanned image of squeeze of inscription no. 6

Greek Text

Translation

" [. . . S]igned. [. . .] to me and my house will be [. . .] if you ever give up (or 'desist from') the [. . .] to be of like mind and show good will, hear[. . . ] into the ancestral upbringing of the [Lakedaimonians? . . . m]anaging, to conduct civic affairs of which [. . .] do not ruin (your) reputation di[. . . engaging in st]asis. Petition. [. . .]aria. [. . .] your obligation in respect of military affairs [. . .]imos. Signed. . . .]etos for the mil[it- (?) . . .]tych[ "

The text printed in LS inadvertently omitted the ninth and tenth letters of line 2 (tau, omega; there is no iota, despite SEG 45. 282).

The author of one section (Claudius?) reproves the Spartans after a period of civil unrest, perhaps associated with the rule of the Euryclids. The document is taken by Spawforth as evidence that communication between cities and emperors by 'petition and response' was more widespread than in the post-Hadrianic era.

For the suggestion that 'Signed' in each case should be taken with what follows, see P. Gauthier, Bull. ép. 1996, no. 204.