The Decrees of the Greek States

The many states of the ancient greek world were governed by small councils and assemblies of adult male citizens. The decisions of these bodies took the form of decrees. This book collects the evidence for decrees, many of which were inscribed on stone or metal, or appear in literary texts - either directly quoted, or indirectly reported. This evidence is used by Professor Rhodes, with Professor Lewis, to study the decision-making procedures of the Greek states, and the extent to which the citizens were actively involved in those procedures from the sixth century BC to the fourth century AD. An introductory section on Athens shows what questions can be asked and what answers can be given when there is a good supply of epigraphic material and literary texts. This is followed by the catalogue, systematically chronicling the usage of individual states throughout the Greek world with brief discussions of the interesting features in each case. The final section disusses the language of the decrees and the working of the political machinery that they reveal.