RO 40 Decrees regulating the export of ochre from Keos

Decrees regulating the export of ochre from Keos

RO 40 Date: mid-iv BC

[. .].Ε[- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -] [.] ἐξαγον[τ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - τὰ τ]- ε μέρη ὁ ἄ̣γ[ων - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -] ντι καὶ ἐὰ[ν - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -] (5)[Κ]αρθ̣αιεῦσι [ἐ]ψ[η]φισ[. . . . . . . . . ¹⁷ . . . . . . . . · καλέσαι δὲ τοὺς Ἀθηναίους ἐπὶ ξένια εἰς τὸ] πρυτανεῖον. [ὅ]πως δ’ ἂ[ν . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ⁵⁰ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . γ]- έγραπται, ἐπ̣[ι]μεληθῆν[αι . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ⁴⁵ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ὅτι] ἂν δύνωνται ἀγαθὸν [- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -]. Θεογένης εἶπεν· δεδόχθαι τ̣ῆι βο[υλῆι καὶ τῶι δήμωι τῶι Κορησίων· περὶ ὧν λέγουσι οἱ παρ’ Ἀθη]- (10)ναίων, εἶναι τῆς μίλτου τὴν ἐξ[αγωγὴν Ἀθήναζε . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ³⁰ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . κ]- αθάπερ πρότερον ἦν. ὅπως δ’ ἂν κύρια ἦι [τ]ὰ ψηφίσματα [τὰ πρότερον γεγενημένα Ἀθηναίων κ]- αὶ Κορησίων τὰ περὶ τῆς μίλτου, ἐξάγειν ἐμ πλοίωι ὧι [ἂν Ἀθηναῖοι ἀποδείξωσιν, ἐν ἄλλωι] δὲ πλοίωι μηδενί, ναῦλλον δὲ τελεῖν ὀβολὸν τοῦ [ταλάντου ἑκάστου τοῖς ναυκλήροις το]- [ὺ]ς ἐργαζομένους· ἐὰν δέ τις ἐν ἄλλωι πλοίωι ἐξάγ[ηι, ἔνοχον εἶναι . . . . . . . . ¹⁶ . . . . . . . .]. (15)[ἀ]ναγράψαι δὲ τόδε τὸ ψήφισμα ἐς στήληι λιθίνηι κα[ὶ καταθεῖναι . . . . . . . . ¹⁵ . . . . . . . τ]- [ο]ῦ Ἀπόλλωνος, καὶ τὸν νόμον καθάπερ πρότερον εἶχ[ε κυρίον εἶναι. τὴν δὲ ἔνδειξιν εἶν]- αι πρὸς τοὺς ἀστυνόμους, τοὺς δὲ ἀστυνόμους δοῦνα[ι τὴν ψῆφον περὶ αὐτῆς τριάκοντα ἡ]- μερῶν εἰς τὸ δικαστήριον· τῶι δὲ φήναντι ἢ ἐνδείξαντ[ι . . . . . . . . . ¹⁸ . . . . . . . . . τῶν ἡμι]- σ[έ]ων· ἐὰν δὲ δοῦλος ἦι ὁ ἐνδείξας, ἐὰμ μὲν τῶν ἐξαγόν[των ἦι, ἐλεύθερος ἔστω καὶ τὰ τρί]- (20)τ̣α μέρη ἔστω αὐτῶι, ἐὰν δὲ ἄλλου τινὸς ἦι, ἐλεύθερος ἔστ[ω καὶ . . . . . . . . . ¹⁷ . . . . . . . . . εἶν]- αι [δὲ] καὶ ἔφεσιν Ἀθ̣ήναζε καὶ τῶι φήναντι καὶ τῶι ἐνδεί[ξαντι· ἐὰν δέ τι ἄλλο ψηφίζωντα]- ι Ἀθηναῖοι περὶ φυλακῆς τῆς μίλτου, κύρια εἶναι κατακομι[σθέντα τὰ ἐψηφισμένα. τε]- λεῖν δὲ τὴμ πεντηκοστὴν τοῖς πεντηκοστολόγοις τοὺς ἐ[ργαζομένους. καλέσαι δὲ] [κ]αὶ ἐπὶ ξένια εἰς τὸ πρυτανείον τοὺς Ἀθηναίους εἰς αὔριον. vacat (25)[ἔδ]οξεν τῆι βουλῆι καὶ τῶι δήμωι τῶι Ἰολιητῶν· περὶ [ὧν οἱ παρ’ Ἀθηναίων λέγουσι, δεδό]- [χθ]α̣ι τῆι βουλῆι καὶ τῶι δήμωι τῶι Ἰολιητῶν εἶναι τὴ[ν ἐξαγωγὴν τῆς μίλτου Ἀθήναζ]- ε̣, ἄλλοσε δὲ μηδαμῆι, ἀπὸ τῆσδε τῆς ἡμέρας· ἐὰν δέ τι[ς ἄλλοσε ἐξάγηι, δημόσια εἶναι τ]- ὸ πλοῖον καὶ τὰ χρήματα τὰ ἐν τῶι πλοίωι· τῶι δὲ φήν[αντι ἢ ἐνδείξαντι εἶναι τὰ ἡ]- μίσεα· ἐὰν δὲ δοῦλος ἦι ὁ μηνύσας, ἐλεύθερος ἔσ[τω καὶ . . . . . . . . . . ¹⁹ . . . . . . . . . τῶν χρημ]- (30)άτων μετέστω αὐτῶι. τὸν δὲ ἐξάγοντα ἐκ Κέω μίλτον ἐξ[άγειν ἐμ πλοίωι ὧι ἂν Ἀθηναῖοι ἀποδ]- είξωσιν· ἐὰν δέ τις ἐν ἄλλωι ἐξάγηι πλοίωι, ἔνοχον [εἶναι . . . . . . . ¹⁴ . . . . . . . . ἐὰν δέ τι ἄλ]- λο ψηφίζωνται Ἀθηναίοι περὶ φυλακὴς τῆς μίλ[του . . . . . . . . . . . ²¹ . . . . . . . . . . , κύρια εἶ]- ναι ἃ ἂν Ἀθηναῖοι ψηφίζωνται. ἀτέλειαν δὲ εἶναι [. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ²⁹ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]- ίου ἀπὸ τοῦ μηνὸς τοῦ Ἑρμαιῶνος. καλέσαι δὲ τοὺ[ς Ἀθηναίους ἐπὶ ξένια εἰς τὸ πρυτανεῖ]- (35)ον. τὴν δὲ ἔνδειξιν εἶναι Ἀθήνησι μὲν πρὸς τοὺς [ἕνδεκα, ἐν Ἰουλίδι δὲ εἰσαγωγέας εἶν]- αι τοὺς προστάτας· ὁπόσοι δ’ ἂν δόξωσιν ἐξάγειν [παρὰ τὸν νόμον, τῶν χρημάτων τὰ μὲν ἡ]- μίσεα εἶναι τοῦ δήμου τοῦ Ἰολιητῶν, τὰ δ’ ἡμίσεα [τοῦ φήναντος. ἀναγράψαι δὲ τόδε τὸ ψ]- ήφισμα τ̣ὴ̣μ βουλὴν καὶ καταθεῖν[α]ι ἐν τῶι λιμ[ένι]. vacat οἵδε ἡιρέθησαν· Ἄνδρων ἐκ Κεραμ̣έων, Λυσια[. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ³⁴ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] (40)Φλυεύς, Εὐφρόσυνος Παιανιεύς.

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Translated text

References:

RO 40 (Translated text) (AIO)

IG XII 5 1277

IG II² 1128 (PHI)

SEG 68.47

IALD II 101

Translation by: Stephen Lambert, Robin Osborne

Images: Krateros - (1)
Ohio - (1)

Monument type: Stele

Inscription type: Decree

Original location: [Acropolis]

Findspot: Acropolis (EM 7570)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This inscription, which cannot be dated precisely, documents the enforcement by Athens of a monopoly on the supply of ochre (miltos, sometimes translated “ruddle”) from Keos, illuminating the economic aspects of Athenian imperialism under the Second Athenian League. On the political background of Athenian relations with this island (modern Kea), which lies close to the south-eastern coast of Attica, see RO 39 with notes. Missing from the top of the inscription is an Athenian decree, which must have provided for the inscription of the decrees of the Kean cities and for the election of (perhaps) envoys to Keos to take some kind of follow-up action (ll. 39-40, unless these are the envoys who negotiated the arrangements specified in the Kean decrees). Of the four cities of Keos, there is no decree of Poiessa. There may have been one in the missing top section, but Poiessan territory lacks sources of ochre, and Poiessa tended to operate somewhat independently of the other cities (cf. RO 22 ll. 82 and 119-22), so it may be that it was not included here. Ochre from Keos was the best according to Theophrastos, On Stones 8.51-5, and yellow and purple as well as red ochre were available there (E. Photos-Jones et al., ABSA 92, 1997, 359-72). A similar emphasis on securing supply is observable in Athens’ regulation of the grain supply (compare the law requiring Athens-based grain merchants to supply only to Athens, Dem. 34.37, 35.51, Lyk. 1.27, cf. RO 26 with notes) and by preventing export elsewhere there may also have been an intention to reduce demand and so lower prices for Athenian buyers at the expense of Kean producers. We do not know whether there was an official ochre price fixed by the Athenians (as in some circumstances there was for grain), though it is a possible corollary of the arrangements documented here. Though the essentials of the measures taken to impose the monopoly by the different cities are the same, they differ in some details, presumably reflecting differing local circumstances and legal frameworks. It is notable that the inscription documents one in an ongoing series of measures relating to this trade. There were pre-existing decrees on the subject, at least as regards Koresia (ll. 11-12, a law is referred to at l. 16); Athenian envoys had patently "encouraged" the Keans to take the measures recorded here (they are invited to hospitality by the Keans at ll. 5, 24, 34); and now perhaps a further group of Athenian envoys is to be sent (ll. 39-40, if these are not the envoys mentioned in the Kean decrees). [2] Ochre (miltos) was a mineral (red ochre was iron oxide mixed with clay and sand) used to colour e.g. pottery, building stones, ropes (Ar. Acharnians 21-22, Assemblywomen 378-79), triremes (Hdt. 3.58) and for medical purposes (Dioskorides, De Mat. Med. 5.96, 126 sect. 5). The Eleusinian accounts of 329/8 document expenditure on miltos of 14 dr. 3½ ob., 7 dr. and 2 dr. 3 ob. in three separate prytanies, the price varying between 3 dr. and 3½ dr./stater (just over 100 g). The one supplier recorded is non-Athenian. The red ochre from Orkos in north-east Keos (close to the border between Ioulis and Karthaia) had especially good staining power. Ochre was available in Attica from the mines of Laurion, but it seems from this inscription that it was not of sufficient quantity or quality to meet Athenian demand. [3] Phasis (exposure) and endeixis (reporting) are terms used for the laying of incriminating information before authorities; phasis normally relates to objects, endeixis to persons. R. Osborne in V. Hunter and J. Edmondson, Law and Social Status in Classical Athens (2001), 75-92, shows that, at Athens, the offer of freedom to slave informers was limited to religious offences. Here, however, freedom and material incentives are offered to slaves for reporting on breaches of these commercial regulations, including by their masters, a measure potentially highly subversive of the normal social order, and (assuming that this arrangement was effectively imposed by Athens) indicative of the extent to which Athens was prepared to go to pursue its advantage in allied cities. [4] At Athens a 2% tax (pentekoste) was levied on imports and exports (P. Fawcett, Hesp. 85, 2016, 159-64). Since the tax is levied here on the producers it seems likely that what is at issue is an equivalent tax payable on exports from Koresia, rather than the tax payable on imports to Athens. It is notable that this cost is to be loaded onto Kean producers rather than the (perhaps usually Athens-based) shippers. If ll. 33-34 also relate to the export tax, it would seem that Ioulis adopted a different approach, granting its producers freedom from the tax (and thereby a competitive advantage over Koresian producers?).

Added: 12 Jul 2017
Updated: 30 Jan 2024
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