WAR IN THE HELLENISTIC WORLD

THE MEMORY OF WAR
the dedications listed in the “Lindian Chronicle” as well as of the miracles
of Athena Lindia narrated in the same inscription (I.Lindos 2; Higgbie
2003). This stele was set up in the sanctuary of Athena Lindia in 99 BC in
order to re-establish the memory of various personalities who had adorned
the sanctuary with dedications that no longer existed. This is hardly surprising,
since most of them had allegedly been made by protagonists of ancient
myths (including Kadmos, Minos, Herakles, Menelaos, and Helena). The
dedications listed in this text were primarily dedications of war booty. The
following entries give an impression of the content of this text: “those who
participated in a campaign in Lykia together with Kleoboulos dedicated
eight shields and a gold crown for the statue, as narrated by Timotheos
in the first book of his Chronicle and by Polyzalos in the fourth book of
his Histories” (XXIII); “the Lindians made the golden crown and the necklaces
and the largest part of the decoration, which the [cult] statue used to
have, from the war booty from Crete, as a tithe, as Xenagoras states in the
thirtieth book of his Chronicle” (XXXIV); and “the people dedicated a
shield in accordance with an oracle that predicted that the war, which had
broken out at that time against Ptolemy Philadelphos, would come to an
end when the dedication is made to Athena; and it was fulfilled, as stated by
Timokritos in the fourth book of his Chronicle.” “The following text was
inscribed on the shield: ‘The Rhodian people to Athena Lindia in accordance
to an oracle’” (XXXVII).
Two of the three miracles that are preserved in this inscription are connected
with important wars: the siege of Rhodes by the Persian Datis (494
or 490 BC) and the siege by Demetrios Poliorketes (305–304 BC). The aim
of the inscription was to increase the sanctuary’s fame, and consequently
local glory (lines 2–4: “the sanctuary of Athena Lindia is extremely old and
revered, and it has been adorned with many and beautiful dedications from
the oldest times because of the manifestation of the goddess’ power; it has,
however, occured, that the oldest of the dedications have been destroyed,
together with their inscriptions, due to time”).
The best known specimen of monumental historiography is the “Parian
Chronicle,” a list of important events in Greek myth and history from
Kekrops, running to ca. 264 BC (IG XII.5 444; FgrHist 239). The anonymous
author of this text, which was probably set up in a gymnasium, was
primarily interested in wars (Chaniotis 1988: 165). Here are some of the
entries for 322–318 BC:
[9] From the Lamian War fought by the Athenians against Antipater, and
from the sea battle fought and won by the Macedonians against the Athenians
at Amorgos, 59 years; and Kephisodotos was archon in Athens. [10] From the
time when Antipatros captured Athens, and Ophellas was sent by Ptolemy
to take over Kyrene, 58 years; and Philotas was archon in Athens. [11] From
the time when Antigonos crossed to Asia, and Alexander was laid to rest in
Memphis, and Perdikkas invaded Egypt and was killed, and Krateros and
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