This book collects twelve papers which make original contributions to the historical interpretation of inscribed Athenian laws and decrees, with a core focus on significant historical shapes and patterns implicit in the corpus of the age of Demosthenes. Following a synthetic Introduction, two chapters analyse locations and selectivity of inscribing, four explore the implications of the inscriptions for Athenian policy and for developing attitudes to the past, three for aspects of Athenian democracy. The volume concludes with two studies of specific inscriptions. Some of the papers have appeared elsewhere in conference proceedings and Festschriften, some are published here for the first time. The volume complements the author’s previous collection,
Inscribed Athenian Laws and Decrees 352/1-322/1 BC: Epigraphical Essays.
Stephen D. Lambert, D. Phil. (1987) in Ancient History, University of Oxford, is Reader in Ancient History at Cardiff University. He has published extensively on the history and epigraphy of ancient Athens, is editor of
Inscriptiones Graecae II³ 1, 2, and of
Attic Inscriptions Online, and author of a companion volume to this one,
Inscribed Athenian Laws and Decrees 352/1-322/1 BC: Epigraphical Essays.
''In all these essays much is clearly presented, both fundamental issues of epigraphical importance and well-chosen illustrative examples, making this book, if not a handbook per se, certainly an authoritative reference work on all the epigraphic issues herein addressed.'' Brad L. Cook in
The Classical Journal Online, 02.02.2023.
Contents
ContentsPrefaceIntroduction
Fundamentals
The Locations of Inscribed Athenian Laws and Decrees in the Age of Demosthenes*The Selective Inscribing of Laws and Decrees in Late Classical Athens*
Inscribed Laws and Decrees and Athenian Policy
What was the Point of Inscribed Honorific Decrees in Classical Athens?Some Political Shifts in Lykourgan Athens
Inscribed Laws and Decrees and the Past
Connecting with the Past in Lykourgan Athens: An Epigraphical PerspectiveInscribing the past in Fourth-Century Athens
Inscribed Laws and Decrees and Democracy
The Rule of Law in Practice in Late Classical Athens: An Epigraphical PerspectiveProposers of Inscribed Laws and Decrees and the Distribution of Political Influence in Late Classical Athens*Council and Assembly in Late Classical and Hellenistic Athens: An Epigraphical Perspective on Democracy*
Postscripts
Dedication and Decrees Commemorating Military Action in 339/8 BC (IG II2 1155)The Inscribed Version of the Decree Honouring Lykourgos of Boutadai (IG II2 457 and 3207)
All interested in the history and epigraphy of the ancient city of Athens, especially (but not only) in the fourth century BC.