Athens and Kydonia: Agora I 7602

by Nikolaos Papazarkadas and Peter Thoneman

Hesperia, Volume 77, Issue 1
Page(s): 73-87
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25068050
Year: 2008
VIEW ONLINE

ABSTRACT:

A Hellenistic inscription from the Athenian Agora (Agora I 7602) concerning syngeneia between Athens and Kydonia in western Crete is reedited here with full commentary. The history of Athenian relations with Kydonia is briefly reviewed. The authors propose a reconstruction of the Kydonians' arguments for mythological kinship between the two cities. Agora I 7602 appears to be the earliest firm attestation of mutually accepted syngeneia between Athens and a non-Ionian city. Indeed, it is the first known inscription recording kinship between Athens and another city on grounds other than the latter's status as a colony, at least before the Roman period.