Athenian Proxeny Decree - Essay Example

Athenian Proxeny Decree Introduction Proxenia is importance in the history of Athens especially its growth, decline, and restoration as a powerful empire. However, there is so much that is included and associated with the term. Today the word can be associated as a part of the making of a family where men are chosen for a wealthy groom. Cassia (1992) stresses this in a book on making a family in Athens: "Proxenia or a match making was always a delicate affair in Athenian society, especially where it concerned the Athenian aristocracy with whom the prospective suitor was attempting to establish matrimonial alliance." (Cassia, 56). In ancient Greece, the protection granted to a foreigner is also an institution of proxenia which meaning is derived from 'guest-friendship' (Hasebroek, 1965). Whatever the authorities and the Greek leaders have in mind in the granting and institution of proxenia is the concern of this paper. The researcher shall attempt to make a comprehensive discussion of what the word really means. It shall trace its origin and the significance of its institution in the history and the struggle of Athens as an imperialist empire. Specifically, this paper shall deal with the political implication of the word by answering the following questions: (1) How did proxenia help to articulate the relations between Athens and her allies (2) How do the extant proxeny decrees enhance our understanding of proxenia And (3) What specific problems of interpretation do the epigraphically attested proxeny decrees present This paper is a significant study as it shall provide the students better understanding of what proxenos means. It also provides understanding of the significance of proxeny decrees and the impact of such to the early societies of Athens and its allies. The rationale of the proxeny decrees shall be unraveled which provides the researcher rich understanding as regards to what Athens want to achieve from its allies for the good of its people and for the great elader of Athens. Most importantly this study is significant to the society as it shall be able to provide some theories that other researchers can use in conducting deeper studies not only of Athenian Proxeny decrees but on the political and cultural life of the Athenians. Proxenia in the Articulation of Athens Relations with her Allies As Athens rose to its imperialistic power it was necessary to hold on to many of its allies. It needed to make peace with different nations such that of Persia. It needed to make Sparta recognize the 30 years of peace. It needed to establish alliances to different countries in order to win several wars. Athens implemented policies that could not only reform its own cities but it also made changes on policies concerning their foreign activities however, these provoked war and affected many of its intimate allies as they were called to fight and play their roles in the battles. Athens at that point needed to have people who would be more concerned in establishing good relationship with other nations. Proxeny decrees were found out for instance to have entered into by several nations to be come allies of the Athenian empire. Athens created and imposed several proxeny decrees creating the proxenos and granting such individuals several privileges making sure that they would serve Athenian empire with utmost loyalty. Having served for the glory of the Athenian empire proxeny decrees were later established to honor and grant privileges to these foreign benefactors. Oaths of allegiance were also imposed on defeated allies. As regards to their enemies and allies that turned against the Athenian empire proxy decrees were also imposed depriving them of opportunities for better political and economic standing. Mattingly (1996) described explicitly in his book the plight of Chios that remained "autonomous" ally of the Athenian empire but when they begun to build a new wall that brought suspicions to the powerful Athenian empire, they were told to put down the wall to which they complied with a compromise that they can use the silver coin of Athens. And yet, Mattingly describes: And when they headed there the revolt against Athens in 412 B. C. their standard spread to Ephesos, Rhodes and other communities to the east. Such a measure as the coinage decree inevitably impinged on Chians interest. It should Athens carrying still further the process of control among tributary allies (Mattingly, 1996 p. 325-326). Proxeny Decrees in the Understanding of Proxenia Studies of several Proxeny decrees reveal that the decrees served as fair index of the importance of the Proxenos to the Athenian society and to its allies. The decrees provide a clear understanding that a Proxenos is most often a rich and wealthy citizen of an allied state or country who voluntary took up important roles equivalent to a consul in the modern society. There is no well defined tasked for a Proxenos but they fulfilled the roles of helping the citizens of other cities and states especially when they are in trouble with the authorities in his own city. This interpretation of the responsibilities of the Proxenoi is confirmed by Walbank (2008) who wrote the following: There is no exact modern equivalent to the ancient Proxenos. Although the concept of permanent official representative abroad was not known in city-state, proxenoi gradually assumed some functions that today would be performed by embassies, consulates, and trade missions (Walbank, p.132). In return to the voluntary services and the hospitality of the Proxenos, the Athenian empire provided and guaranteed protection to the Proxenos as seen in the Proxeny decrees. The generals, the resident magistrate, the Boule and prytanes are all mandated to see that no harm could ever be inflected to a Proxenos. Wall Bank (2008) explained this well in his discussion in his article. "The Proxeny and Proxenos in the Fifth Century of Athens". The Proxenos is place in short, on a par with Athenian citizens and often generals and other state-officials are instructed to ensure that he be protected, with his family from murder or other violence, and severe penalties are laid down against those who harm him, with compensation to be paid by the malefactors (Walbank, p. 136). Not only are the proxenos granted with almost the same privileges as the citizens of Athens protection of their security and honor but they are also granted other civil rights. Though there are few decrees that warrant them exemptions from taxes (ateleia), the right to own property at Athens, (enktensis), there are many Proxeny decrees that warrant the proxenos the "right for compensation for losses, or special payment, and exemption from taxes on the import of building materials. (Walbank, p. 136)." The Athenian empire praised and glorified the Proxenoi in proxeny decrees. Studying the structure of a proxeny decree, Sickinger (2002) noted that proxeny decrees related to this emphasized praise and honor to the proxenos: A proxeny decree of 349/8 begins with the words: "Since Theogenes of Naucratis is a good man to the Athenian people, and he does whatever he can, both now in the past, in private and in public for those who arrive (in Naucratis), as kind of his ancestors (IGii 206, 7-130 (Sinkinger, p. 161). Problems of Interpretation of Proxeny Decrees Historians and scholars dig into the meanings and the implications of the decrees but it is not easy to do so. There is the language and the literacy problems that must have to be taken into consideration. Some of the decrees where imposed and carried but were not properly documented. The inscriptions are not easy to read. It could have been even imposed through oral directives and were traced back later in the history of Athens. Proxeny decrees are then studied and interpreted in terms of linguistic, epigraphic, literary, numismatic, and archaeological evidences. Problems also lie in the dating of documents and in assessing the nature of the surviving element of Greeks. Proxeny decrees are interpreted to have been imposed to ensure the political stability of the Athenian empire but many find nothing much from the proxeny decrees as only honorific and euergetic and have not brought any political benefit to the people of Athens. The proxeny decrees are not seen to have any concern with administrative issues or matters of civic government. Lomas (1993) wrote: The Proxeny decrees of Velia and Rhegium and the public condolences on the death of one of their member do not reflect the nature of civic government but provide a powerful indication of the impetus towards Hellenisation and the status which could be conferred to a Greek culture (Lomas, 1993 p. 156). McLean (2002) also stressed on a study of the epigraphic decrees cautioned interpreters of the following (1) errors in the exemplar or draft; (2) errors in the act of transcribing; and (3) errors in the act of engraving. There is the problem of forgeries as well. It was in 1931 that uniform system of usage in the editing of text was formalized in a conference in Leiden. The system is known as "las leydener Klammer system' or Leiden system. Here the letter forms, the bars, the punctuations, the abbreviations and the whole of the structure of the inscriptions are studied and a systematic and uniform interpretation of meaning was established. However the epigraphic Athenian decrees are interpreted in today world, whatever meaning and interpretations do present historian draw from the inscriptions, the most important thing for a student of history is to realize that a state such as Athens, in the struggle for more power can utilize or manipulate other countries by alluring other people with some benefits and privileges so that they can be guaranteed of their loyalty and allegiance. The Athenian decrees exist to prove that in the history of mankind many suffered and struggled against the oppression and brutality of the Athenian empire yet many also embraced what the empire offered to those who were willing to become there allies. References: Cassia, P. S. 1992 The making of a Greek family and exchange in 19th century Athens. USA: Cambridge University Press. Retrieved, October 2, 2008 from http://books.google.com/booksid=pdAIGiDkcqUC&pg= PA56&lpg=PA56&dq= Proxenia%3 B+Athens&source=web&ots=oDJqGU1unH&sig=xMD6qOx-aOBMpv McH7PHy9bWrak&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result &resnum=6&ct=result#PPP1,M1 Hasebroek, J. 1965. Trade and politics and ancient Greece. USA: Biblo and Janssen Publisher. http://books.google.com/booksid=743zWquWmesC&pg=PA129&lpg=PA129&dq=origin+of+proxenia&source=web&ots=07uk0TS3nN&sig=aTI_lRDwhJcG8cvoyGN0nm7aCmw&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result#PPA133,M1 Mclean, B. H. (2002) Introduction to Greek Epigraphy of the Hellenistic and Roman periods from Alexander the great to the Reign of Constantine (323 B. C. - A. D. 372). Retrieved from http://books.google.com/booksid=x2AD3M77TgMC&pg=PA7&lpg=PA7&dq= difficulties+in+the+interpretation+of+proxeny+decrees&source=web&ots=MOtwi0fzpu&sig=6bFsJeBnp1WbheI7LOUeTvHEEPk&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPA16,M1 Mattingly, H. B. (1996). The Athenian Empire Restored: Epigraphic and Historical Studies. University of Michigan. Retrieved, October 8, 2008 from http://books.google.com/booksid=JL90xz8K-yYC Lomas, K. (1993). Rome and western Greeks 350B. C. -200 A. D. Conquest and Acculturation in South Italy. Retrieved, October 8, 2008 from http://books.google.com/booksid=JESafOW01PQC&pg=PA150&lpg=PA150&dq=problems+of+interpretation+of+proxeny+decrees&source=web&ots=K7BJ6CcZNQ&sig=g1gVI6ta3jTnP1c0UpyuuWUYckc&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result#PPA156,M1 Meiggs, R. A note on Athenian imperialism. In Low, P. (2008, ed). The Athenian Empire. Edinburgh University Press. p. 139-156. Retrieved, October 6, 2008 from http://books.google.com/booksid=C7ons7lgrGoC&pg=PA135&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=0_0&sig=ACfU3U2zEfrq SKISygmcCAp4XssuvcMzUg#PPA132,M1 Meiggs, R. The growth of Athenian imperialism. In Low, P. (2008, ed). The Athenian Empire. Edinburgh University Press. p. 58-80. Retrieved, October 6, 2008 from http://books.google.com/booksid=C7ons7lgrGoC&pg=PA135&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=0_0&sig=ACfU3U2zEfrq SKISygmcCAp4XssuvcMzUg#PPA132,M1 Potts, S. Power made public: Athenian displays of power and Agean diplomacy in the fifth and fourth century B. C. Power Made Public. Retrieved October 2, 2008 from http://www.cliohres.net/books/1/09_Potts.pdf Sickinger, J. P. Literacy, orality, legislative procedure. In Worthington, (2002 ed.) Epea and Grammata; Oral and Written Communication in Ancient Greece. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/booksid=jA0iVsUNIXAC&pg=PA160&lpg=PA160&dq=athenian+proxeny+decree%3B+on+establishing+allies&source=web&ots=ucoXUeEwhd&sig=8tS3VorwOgRsg8P3CjmsfufNKS8&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPA161,M1 Walbank, M. The Proxeny and Proxenos of the fifth century in Athens. In Low, P. (2008, ed). The Athenian Empire. Edinburgh University Press. P. 132-139. Retrieved, October 6, 2008 from http://books.google.com/booksid=C7ons7lgrGoC&pg=PA135&source =gbs_toc_r&cad=0_0&sig=ACfU3U2zEfrqSKISygmcCAp4XssuvcMzUg#PPA132,M1 Question: Discuss the origin and significance of the institution of proxenia at Athens. In your discussion you should address the following questions: - How did proxenia help to articulate the relations between Athens and her allies - How do the extant proxeny decrees enhance our understanding of proxenia - What specific problems of interpretation do the epigraphically attested proxeny decrees present Read More