DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4326#0088
50 APHRODISIAS.
" [Marcus Antonius imperator, consul] elect for the second [and third time] one of the Three
appointed to administer the affairs of the republic, sends greeting to the archon, senate and people
of the Plarasenses and Aphrodisienses, If you are in good health it is well: I am in health, together
with the army. Solon son of Demetrius, your delegate, who has most carefully attended to the
affairs of your State, has not only expressed his satisfaction at the arrangements which have been
made, but has intreated us to send to you transcripts of the preliminary resolution made in your
favor, as well as of the decree, of the oath, and of the law. In consequence, fully approving the
conduct of Solon I have taken him more into my favor, and have made him one of my familiar
acquaintance, I have given him a share of that affection to which he is entided, and have thought
him worthy of my esteem. I congratulate you on the possession of such a citizen. The copy
of the beneficial acts passed in your favor is transcribed below, and I desire that you will enter
them in your public documents."
" The letters of Csesar [rooL^txra KxicoL^oo] # # # .**—These two last words appear to have
been the heading of a copy of the original letter of Julius Caesar, which was followed probably by
the ixixqipLz or confirmation by the Triumvirate of the decision contained in the letters of Caesar.
Both these documents are wanting. Then followed the Soytiz or decree of the Senate, which
established the act of the Triumviri; of this the subjoined is a translation of all that remains : it
was evidently followed by the two other documents mentioned in the letter of Antony, namely
the o^kiov or oath of fidelity, taken by the Aphrodisienses, and the vq\xoq or law enacted by the
Romans in their favour; these also are entirely lost.
" [The Consuls have reported, It is the pleasure of the Senate in respect to what Caius Caesar
adjudged for the Plarasenses and the Aphrodisienses that as to all their] rights and goods they
shall be free ; that the city of the Plarasenses and Aphrodisienses shall enjoy its own jurisdiction
and [its own statutes,] that they shall give no bail, and that an avowal of these things with an
order shall be made accordingly; moreover, that whatever rewards, honors, or benevolences, the
Triumviri who were appointed to administer the public affairs have by their own private judg-
ment granted or conferred, or shall grant or confer upon the Plarasenses and Aphrodisienses, shall
be valid. It is the further pleasure of the Senate, that the people of the Plarasenses and Aphro-
disienses shall possess freedom and immunity in all things, and in the same manner as any other
state enjoying the best rights and laws, and which receives freedom and immunity from the
Roman people as their friend and ally. The inclosure of the Goddess Aphrodite in the city of
the Plarasenses and Aphrodisienses shall be held sacred by the same right, and by the same re-
ligious character, as that of the Ephesian Goddess in Ephesus ; all within the sacred circuit,
whether inclosure or other holy place, shall be an asylum.* And in order that the city and the
* [To Se] tejuevoc 0E<ie 'A</>poSiT7)<; ev ttoXei U\apa<jiu)v koI 'AQao- Chishull restores the last lacuna by teooe, Boeckh by aXXoc,
<Wu&)v Ispov E[ffT(u]TauTw SiKaiuf TavTy Ti <WiSai|uovta, w Sucat'w Ka\ but there is space enough for both these words. We learn
•p oW [iSatjuovio to 8iag 'E(pt]<Tiag kaAv kv 'Ei^'aw' kvk\w te eke/vov from Strabo, (p. 641) that the boundaries of the asylum
tou ispov e'/te rifuvot; «&■[« aXAoe i«f>t>e] roVoe asuXoc iar<*. of Diana at Ephesus had been frequently changed, that
" [Marcus Antonius imperator, consul] elect for the second [and third time] one of the Three
appointed to administer the affairs of the republic, sends greeting to the archon, senate and people
of the Plarasenses and Aphrodisienses, If you are in good health it is well: I am in health, together
with the army. Solon son of Demetrius, your delegate, who has most carefully attended to the
affairs of your State, has not only expressed his satisfaction at the arrangements which have been
made, but has intreated us to send to you transcripts of the preliminary resolution made in your
favor, as well as of the decree, of the oath, and of the law. In consequence, fully approving the
conduct of Solon I have taken him more into my favor, and have made him one of my familiar
acquaintance, I have given him a share of that affection to which he is entided, and have thought
him worthy of my esteem. I congratulate you on the possession of such a citizen. The copy
of the beneficial acts passed in your favor is transcribed below, and I desire that you will enter
them in your public documents."
" The letters of Csesar [rooL^txra KxicoL^oo] # # # .**—These two last words appear to have
been the heading of a copy of the original letter of Julius Caesar, which was followed probably by
the ixixqipLz or confirmation by the Triumvirate of the decision contained in the letters of Caesar.
Both these documents are wanting. Then followed the Soytiz or decree of the Senate, which
established the act of the Triumviri; of this the subjoined is a translation of all that remains : it
was evidently followed by the two other documents mentioned in the letter of Antony, namely
the o^kiov or oath of fidelity, taken by the Aphrodisienses, and the vq\xoq or law enacted by the
Romans in their favour; these also are entirely lost.
" [The Consuls have reported, It is the pleasure of the Senate in respect to what Caius Caesar
adjudged for the Plarasenses and the Aphrodisienses that as to all their] rights and goods they
shall be free ; that the city of the Plarasenses and Aphrodisienses shall enjoy its own jurisdiction
and [its own statutes,] that they shall give no bail, and that an avowal of these things with an
order shall be made accordingly; moreover, that whatever rewards, honors, or benevolences, the
Triumviri who were appointed to administer the public affairs have by their own private judg-
ment granted or conferred, or shall grant or confer upon the Plarasenses and Aphrodisienses, shall
be valid. It is the further pleasure of the Senate, that the people of the Plarasenses and Aphro-
disienses shall possess freedom and immunity in all things, and in the same manner as any other
state enjoying the best rights and laws, and which receives freedom and immunity from the
Roman people as their friend and ally. The inclosure of the Goddess Aphrodite in the city of
the Plarasenses and Aphrodisienses shall be held sacred by the same right, and by the same re-
ligious character, as that of the Ephesian Goddess in Ephesus ; all within the sacred circuit,
whether inclosure or other holy place, shall be an asylum.* And in order that the city and the
* [To Se] tejuevoc 0E<ie 'A</>poSiT7)<; ev ttoXei U\apa<jiu)v koI 'AQao- Chishull restores the last lacuna by teooe, Boeckh by aXXoc,
<Wu&)v Ispov E[ffT(u]TauTw SiKaiuf TavTy Ti <WiSai|uovta, w Sucat'w Ka\ but there is space enough for both these words. We learn
•p oW [iSatjuovio to 8iag 'E(pt]<Tiag kaAv kv 'Ei^'aw' kvk\w te eke/vov from Strabo, (p. 641) that the boundaries of the asylum
tou ispov e'/te rifuvot; «&■[« aXAoe i«f>t>e] roVoe asuXoc iar<*. of Diana at Ephesus had been frequently changed, that