WAR IN THE HELLENISTIC WORLD

THE DISCOURSE OF WAR
In a similar manner, the public decrees in praise of individuals focus on
their behavior during war. Let us take the case of Kallias of Sphettos (see
chapter 2, section 5; Austin 1981: no. 44). The setting in which his services
are praised is dramatically described: “the fort on the Mouseion was still
occupied, and war raged in the countryside . . . and Demetrios was coming
with his army from the Peloponnese against the city.” The introduction of
the honorary decree for Agathokles of Histria (first half of the second
century BC) is very similar as regards the dramatic description of the situation:
“the city was in a state of confusion and a large number of Thracian
pirates were attacking the land and the city, and the harvest was imminent
and the citizens were in distress . . . a heavier attack of the Thracians fell on
the advance guards and they retreated across the river through fear and the
land was unprotected” (SEG XXIV 1095; Austin 1981: no. 98). Indirectly,
the proposer of this decree was comparing the behavior of others – the
confusion of the citizens, the fear of the soldiers – with Agathokles’ brave
attitude. He was not paralyzed, but took the initiative and ingnored danger,
“showing himself zealous in all the crises faced by the city.” “Without
avoiding any danger” is a formulaic expression frequently used in such
decrees (e.g., Robert 1925: 426), opposing the attitude of the masses. A
third example, this time not concerning bravery, but generosity, comes from
Arsinoe in Kyrenaika (late second or early first century BC). The city honored
Aleximachos (the “one who protects in battle”), son of Sosistratos (the
“one who saves the army”), one of the city’s magnates (SEG XXVI 1817).
During a dangerous situation caused by war, Aleximachos made a voluntary
donation for the protection of the city, and when the war against the
Libyans had caused corn shortages and the prices were going up, he did not
remain indifferent towards the sufferings (thlipsis) of his fellow citizens, but
with his contributions enabled the city to purchase cheap grain. Another
case of a citizen whose generous behavior is explicitly compared to the lack
of solidarity shown by others, is that of Protogenes in Olbia (Black Sea;
IOSPE I 2 32; Austin 1981: no. 97). Among his numerous contributions,
the decree in his honor highlights his behavior during a grain shortage:
because of the danger that was threatening the people, the people thought
it necessary to build a sufficient stock of grain, and invited those who had
grain to do this; he was the first to come forward and promise 2,000 medimnoi
at ten medimnoi for a gold coin [i.e., half the price], and whereas the others
collected the price on the spot he himself showed indulgence for a year and
did not charge for a year.
Protogenes repeated this service a second time, when a barbarian attack
was threatening the city and “no one would volunteer for all or parts of the
demands of the people.” Protogenes volunteered to cover all the expenses
for the fortification of the city.
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