WAR IN THE HELLENISTIC WORLD

BETWEEN CIVIC DUTIES AND OLIGARCHIC ASPIRATIONS
(Reynolds 1982: no. 28; first century); and Theokritos and Amphalkes
of Tegea were lauded for their courage in fighting the Spartans after they
had seized the city walls (218 BC; IG V.2 16; Walbank 1957: 552). Men
like Kallias of Athens (Shear 1978), the general Epichares who saved the
coastal population of Attika and their agricultural products during the
Chremonidean War (ca. 268–262 BC; SEG XXIV 154; Austin 1981: no. 50),
Diokles and Leodamas of Kos (see below), Sotas of Priene, who saved his
city during the Galatian invasion (I.Priene 17, ca. 278 BC), Stasias of Perge,
and Apollodoros of Berenike (see below), are known from honorary decrees
of their communities.
The case of Kallias of Sphettos, a prominent Athenian from a wealthy
family who served for a long time as an officer of Ptolemy I and II, is one
of the best documented examples. An honorary decree describes, among
his many and different contributions to the safety and well-being of his
fellow citizens, his military achievements during the revolt of the Athenians
against Demetrios the Besieger in 287 BC, when Kallias was stationed with
Ptolemaic mercenaries on the island of Andros (SEG XXVIII 60; Austin
1981: no. 44):
At the time of the uprising of the people against those who were occupying
the city, when the people expelled the soldiers from the city, but the fort on
the Mouseion hill was still occupied, and war raged in the countryside because
of the soldiers from Piraeus, and Demetrios was coming with his army from
the Peloponnese against the city, Kallias, on hearing of the danger theatening
the city, selected a thousand of soldiers who were posted with him at Andros,
gave them their wages and food rations, and immediately came to the rescue of
the people in the city, acting in accordance with the goodwill of king Ptolemy
[I] towards the people; and leading out into the countryside the soldiers who
were following him, he protected the gathering of the corn, making every
effort to ensure that as much corn as possible should be brought into the city.
And when Demetrios arrived, encamped around the city and besieged it,
Kallias in defense of the people attacked with his soldiers and was wounded,
but refused to avoid any risk at any time for the sake of the people’s safety.
(lines 12–32)
Not blind patriotism, but the qualities of a leader distinguish Kallias: initiative
in the mobilization of troops, strategic thinking in the collection of corn,
heroism and self-sacrifice in battle. These – along with foresight (pronoein,
pronoia) – are typical qualities in many other honorary decrees of a similar
character.
The career of Diokles of Kos, described in an honorary decree of his district
(Halasarna; SEG XLVIII 1104; ca. 200 BC) was perhaps more intense than
that of other statesmen, since he lived in a period in which his island was
under attack from Cretan pirates and then from Philip V (ca. 209–200 BC),
but his activities are nevertheless not unusual:
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