In this dissertation Athenian inscriptions, granted during the fifth and fourth centuries down to the death of Alexander the Great, are analyzed. The evidence includes grants of citizenship, proxenia, epimeleia, enktesis, ateleia, and isoteleia to deserving foreigners. During the fifth century, Athens used these grants, particularly the proxenia, as one means to keep her predominant position in Greece. Other honors were also used for this purpose, such as the offer of protection, and to some degree citizenship honors. In their domestic affairs, Athenians used enktesis, ateleia, and isoteleia as rewards, especially for resident aliens. According to epigraphic evidence, the ateleia and isoteleia decrees show no increase during the fourth century, while the greatest number of proxeny decrees were passed from 353 to 323 B.C. Although honorary decrees were awarded liberally during this time, there was no steady increase from the fifth century down to 323 B.C. During the period from 399 to 354, the number of extant honorary decrees is rather small. Particular attention is paid to an analysis of the development of each honor, the identification of the individuals involved, and their relation to the Athenian people.

There is no exact parallel for the ancient office of the proxeny: the closest analogy is found in the modern consulate. Proxenoi were citizens of one state appointed by a second state to serve its interests in their home-state; in return for these services they received various honours and privileges. These were enumerated in the decrees appointing the proxenoi, or in subsequent decrees passed after a period of service. At Athens it appears that the inscription of such decrees, usually at public expense, upon marble stelai that were then set up on the Akropolis, was itself a privilege not granted to every proxenos. There is some evidence that, in the fifth century at least, these stelai were erected near the Erechtheion. One hundred and fourteen fragments have survived from the fifth century; this study contains critical editions of the sixty-nine proxeny-decrees that they comprise, including the first publication of four fragments, together with a survey of the privileges therein enumerated. Since it is seldom possible to date these documents upon other criteria, an analysis of the changes that occurred in Attic letter-shapes during the fifth century forms a major part of the study. Also included are photographs of all but five of the fragments studied, many of which have never before been photographed. / Arts, Faculty of / Classical, Near Eastern and Religious Studies, Department of / Graduate