META THN ΠΑΡΑΣΤΑΣΗ 9.3.2025, ΔΗΠΕΘΕ ΚΟΜΟΤΗΝΗΣ

TITΛΟΣ: Hellenistic military epitaphs, between tradition and innovation

Η ομιλήτρια είναι Καθηγήτρια στο Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore di Milano.

Τα επιτύμβια επιγράμματα των στρατιωτών της Ελληνιστικής εποχής εκφράζουν τις ηθικές αξίες της περιόδου και προσφέρουν μια ιδιαίτερη ματιά σε μια πολύ ταραγμένη εποχή στην περιοχή της Μεσογείου (από την κατάκτηση του Μ. Αλέξανδρου μέχρι την άνοδο της Ρωμαϊκής Αυτοκρατορίας). Δεδομένου ότι η εγκωμιαστική ποίηση με θέμα τον πόλεμο των ελληνιστικών χρόνων βασικά δεν σώζεται, η ιδεολογική μεταμόρφωση των συγχρόνων συγκρούσεων από τους αυλικούς ποιητές μαρτυρείται ελάχιστα. Ωστόσο, στα στρατιωτικά επιγράμματα καθώς και σε μερικά αναθηματικά επιγράμματα που αναφέρονται σε μεμονωμένους στρατιώτες, μπορούμε να συναντήσουμε αυθεντικές φωνές που θυμούνται και ερμηνεύουν τους πολέμους της Ελληνιστικής εποχής. Η εικονοποιΐα και το λεξιλόγιο αυτών των επιγραφικών ποιημάτων αντλούν κυρίως από τον Όμηρο και τους αρχαϊκούς επιγραμματοποιούς, ενώ κάνουν πάλι την εμφάνισή τους θεματικές που σχετίζονται με τους Περσικούς Πολέμους του πέμπτου αιώνα, τώρα προσαρμοσμένες στο νέο ιστορικό πλαίσιο. Η ομιλία παρουσιάζει ένα δείγμα έμμετρων επιγραφών από την Αίγυπτο, τη Μέση Ανατολή και την Ελλάδα.

TO ΥΛΙΚΟ ΤΗΣ ΟΜΙΛΙΑΣ (handout)

Silvia Barbantani, Università Cattolica del S.Cuore (silvia.barbantani@unicatt.it)

Hellenistic military epitaphs, between tradition and innovation

1. Introduction. Archaic and classical values: glory in war deeds.
2. Eternal fame after death in Homer.

ἄσβεστον κλέος and burial: Od. 4,584: χεῦ’ Ἀγαμέμνονι τύμβον, ἵν’ ἄσβεστον κλέος εἴη; Od. 24.80-84: ἀμφ’αὐτοῖσι δ’ἔπειτα μέγαν καὶ ἀμύμονα τύμβον/ χεύαμεν Ἀργείων ἱερὸς στρατὸς αἰχμητάων/ ἀκτῇ ἔπι προὐχούσῃ, ἐπὶ πλατεῖ Ἑλλησπόντῳ, / ὥς κεν τηλεφανὴς ἐκ ποντόφιν ἀνδράσιν εἴη/ τοῖσ’, οἳ νῦν γεγάασι καὶ οἳ μετόπισθεν ἔσονται; Il. 16.456-7: ἔνθά ἑ ταρχύσουσι κασίγνητοί τε ἔται τε/ τύμβῳ τε στήλῃ τε· τὸ γὰρ γέρας ἐστὶ θανόντων. 

ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαι: Il. 6.357-9: οἷσιν ἐπὶ Ζεὺς θῆκε κακὸν μόρον, ὡς καὶ ὀπίσσω / ἀνθρώποισι πελώμεθ’ἀοίδιμοι ἐσσομένοισι; Il. 22.305-6: μὴ μὰν ἀσπουδί γε καὶ ἀκλειῶς ἀπολοίμην,/ ἀλλὰ μέγα ῥέξας τι καὶ ἐσσομένοισι πυθέσθαι; Od. 24.93-4: ὣς σὺ μὲν οὐδὲ θανὼν ὄνομ’ ὤλεσας, ἀλλά τοι αἰεὶ / πάντας ἐπ’ ἀνθρώπους κλέος ἔσσεται ἐσθλόν, Ἀχιλλεῦ.

• Eternal fame in Tyrtaeus and Simonides.

Tyrt. fr. 12,23-37 W. αὐτὸς δ’ ἐν προμάχοισι πεσὼν φίλον ὤλεσε θυμόν,   ἄστυ τε καὶ λαοὺς καὶ πατέρ’ εὐκλεΐσας, πολλὰ διὰ στέρνοιο καὶ ἀσπίδος ὀμφαλοέσσης   25   καὶ διὰ θώρηκος πρόσθεν ἐληλάμενος. τὸν δ’ ὀλοφύρονται μὲν ὁμῶς νέοι ἠδὲ γέροντες,   ἀργαλέωι δὲ πόθωι πᾶσα κέκηδε πόλις, καὶ τύμβος καὶ παῖδες ἐν ἀνθρώποις ἀρίσημοι   καὶ παίδων παῖδες καὶ γένος ἐξοπίσω·             30 οὐδέ ποτε κλέος ἐσθλὸν ἀπόλλυται οὐδ’ ὄνομ’ αὐτοῦ,   ἀλλ’ ὑπὸ γῆς περ ἐὼν γίνεται ἀθάνατος, ὅντιν’ ἀριστεύοντα μένοντά τε μαρνάμενόν τε   γῆς πέρι καὶ παίδων θοῦρος Ἄρης ὀλέσηι. εἰ δὲ φύγηι μὲν κῆρα τανηλεγέος θανάτοιο,       35   νικήσας δ’ αἰχμῆς ἀγλαὸν εὖχος ἕληι, πάντες μιν τιμῶσιν, ὁμῶς νέοι ἠδὲ παλαιοί,

moreover he that falleth in the van and loseth dear life to the glory of his city and his countrymen and his father, with many a frontwise wound through breast and breastplate and through bossy shield, he is bewailed alike by young and old, and lamented with sore regret by all the city. His grave and his children are conspicuous among men, and his children’s and his line after them; nor ever doth his name and good fame perish, but though he be underground he liveth evermore, seeing that he was doing nobly and abiding in the fight for country’s and children’s sake when fierce Ares brought him low. (Transl. J.M. Edmonds)

[Simonid.] A.P. 7.251 (for the fallen at Plataea)   Ἄσβεστον κλέος οἵδε φίλῃ περὶ πατρίδι θέντες        κυάνεον θανάτου ἀμφεβάλοντο νέφος· οὐδὲ τεθνᾶσι θανόντες, ἐπεί σφ’ἀρετὴ καθύπερθε    κυδαίνουσ’ ἀνάγει δώματος ἐξ Ἀίδεω.   Giving their dear homeland an unquenchable glory, these men shrouded themselves in the black cloud of death. And yet, though they died they are not dead, for the bravery that won them glory in the world above leads them up out of Hades. (Transl. D. Sider)

• Simonides as the « new Homer » for the « new heroes » of the Persian Wars:

Simonid. Elegy for Plataea fr. 11,13-21 West2  τοί δὲ πόλι]ν πέρσαντες ἀοίδιμον [οἴκαδ’ ἵ]κοντο                   ]ωων ἁγέμαχοι Δαναοί οἷς ἐπ‘ ἀθά]νατον κέχυται κλέος ἀν[δρὸς] ἕκητι         15     ὅς παρ‘ iοπ]λοκάμων δέξατο Πιερίδ[ων πᾶσαν ἀλη]θείην καὶ ἐπώνυμον ὁπ[λοτέρ]οισιν     ποίησ‘ ἡμ]ιθέων ὠκύμορον γενεή[ν. ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲ]ν νῦν χαῖρε, θεᾶς ἐρικυ[δέος υἱέ     κούρης εἰν]αλίου Νηρέος· αὐτὰρ ἐγώ[                   20 κικλήισκω] σ᾽ ἐπίκουρον ἐμοί, π[ολυώνυμ]ε Μοῦσα,     εἴ περ γ᾽ ἀν]θρώπων εὐχομένω[ν μέλεαι· ἔντυνο]ν καὶ τόνδ[ε μελ]ίφρονα κ[όσμον ἀο]ιδῆς     ἡμετ]έρης, ἵνα τις [μνή]σεται ὕ[στερον αὖ ἀνδρῶ]ν, οἵ Σπάρτ[ηι τε καὶ Ἑλλάδι δούλιον ἦμ]αρ   25     ἔσχον] ἀμυνόμ[ενοι μή τιν᾽ ἰδεῖν φανερ]ῶ[ς

[And so] the valiant Danaans, [best of warr]iors, sacked the much-sung-of city, and came [home;] [and they] are bathed in fame that cannot die, by grace [of one who from the dark-]tressed Muses had the tru[th entire,] and made the heroes’ short-lived race a theme familiar to younger men. But] now farewell, [thou son] of goddess glorious, [daughter] of Nereus of the sea, while I [now summon] thee, i[llustriou]s Muse, to my support, [if thou hast any thought] for men who pray: [fit ou]t, as is thy wont, this [grat]eful song-a[rray] [of mi]ne, so that rem[embrance is preserved] of those who held the line for Spart[a and for Greece,] [that none should see] the da[y of slavery.] (Transl. M.West)

Simonid. fr. 531 PMG τῶν ἐν Θερμοπύλαις θανόντων /εὐκλεὴς μὲν ἁ τύχα, καλὸς δ’ ὁ πότμος,/ βωμὸς δ’ ὁ τάφος, πρὸ γόων δὲ μνᾶστις, ὁ δ’ οἶκτος ἔπαινος·/ ἐντάφιον δὲ τοιοῦτον οὔτ’ εὐρὼς / οὔθ’ ὁ πανδαμάτωρ ἀμαυρώσει  χρόνος.   5/ ἀνδρῶν ἀγαθῶν ὅδε σηκὸς οἰκέταν εὐδοξίαν /Ἑλλάδος εἵλετο· μαρτυρεῖ δὲ καὶ Λεωνίδας, / Σπάρτας βασιλεύς, ἀρετᾶς μέγαν λελοιπὼς /κόσμον ἀέναόν τε κλέος.

The dead at Thermopylae: glorious is their fortune, fairtheir fate, their tomb an altar, instead of laments fame, their pity acclaim. Such a shroud mould and time which conquer all will not obliterate. This burial place of good men choose for its dweller the glory of Greece. Leonidas himself testifies to this, king of Sparta, who left a great ornament of courage and eternal glory (Transl. A.D. Morrison)

D) Simonides: δουλοσύνη threatened by Persians vs. ἐλευθερία of Greece

A.P. 6.50: Τόνδε ποθ’Ἕλληνες ῥώμῃ χερὸς ἔργῳ Ἄρηος,/ εὐτόλμῳ ψυχῆς λήματι πειθόμενοι,/ Πέρσας ἐξελάσαντες, ἐλεύθερον Ἑλλάδι κόσμον /  ἱδρύσαντο Διὸς βωμὸν Ἐλευθερίου.	The Greeks once, with the strength of Victory and the action of Ares, trusting in the daring will of their soul, after driving out the Persians, set up this as an altar of Zeus Eleutherios, for all of free (eleutheria) Greece in common.(D. Sider, adapted)
A.P. 6.250: Ἀκμᾶς ἑστακυῖαν ἐπὶ ξυροῦ Ἑλλάδα πᾶσαν/ ταῖς αὑτῶν ψυχαῖς κείμεθα ῥυσάμενοι /[δουλοσύνης· Πέρσαις δὲ περὶ φρεσὶ πήματα πάντα /ἥψαμεν ἀργαλέης μνήματα ναυμαχίης. /ὀστέα δ’ ἧμιν ἔχει Σαλαμίς· πατρὶς δὲ Κόρινθος  5/ ἀντ’εὐεργεσίης μνῆμ’ἐπέθηκε τόδε].	We lie here, having at the cost of our lives saved all of Greece from slavery when it stood on the razor’s edge. We imposed every possible anguish in the Persians’ minds, as reminders of a painful sea-battle. Salamis holds our bones; our homeland Corinth erected this memorial for the good that we did. (D. Sider)
A.P.7.253:Εἰ τὸ καλῶς θνῄσκειν ἀρετῆς μέρος ἐστὶ μέγιστον,/ ἡμῖν ἐκ πάντων τοῦτ’ἀπένειμε τύχη·/ Ἑλλάδι γὰρ σπεύδοντες ἐλευθερίην περιθεῖναι /κείμεθ’ἀγηράτῳ χρώμενοι εὐλογίῃ.	If to die nobly is the greatest part of valor, this is what Fortune allotted to us out of all men. For because of our zeal to crown Greece with freedom, we lie here enjoying praise that will never grow old.
A.P. 7.257: παῖδες Ἀθηναίων Περσῶν στρατὸν ἐξολέσαντες /ἤρκεσαν ἀργαλέην πατρίδι δουλοσύνην.	When the sons of the Athenians destroyed the army of the Persians they kept harsh slavery away from their fatherland.
A.P. 7.512: Τῶνδε δι’ ἀνθρώπων ἀρετὰν οὐχ ἵκετο καπνὸς/ αἰθέρα δαιομένας εὐρυχόρου Τεγέας,/οἳ βούλοντο πόλιν μὲν ἐλευθερίᾳ τεθαλυῖαν/παισὶ λιπεῖν, αὐτοὶ δ’ ἐν προμάχοισι θανεῖν.	Thanks to these men’s bravery,smoke from a burning prosperous Tegea did not reach the sky, they who wished to leave the city flourishing in freedom for their children, themselves willing to die on the front lines.

• Military glory and fame in the Hellenistic period: epitaphs for citizens of the poleis.

• The fallen soldiers gain immortal glory and are honored by their city.

Teleutia: Atrax, Thessalia, ca. 350-300 BC; W. Peek,  ZPE 14 (1974) 26, III; SEG 25.668.
vv. 1-2: σῆς ἀρετῆς μνημεῖα Τελευτία ἐνθάδε φρουροὶ   στῆσαν ἀποφθιμένωι μνῆμα τόδ’ ἀθάνατον· […]	As a memory of your valor, Teleutia, here the members of the garrison/ erected to you, deceased, this immortal monument of remembrance./[…]
Neon: Oreos/Histiaia, Euboea; 3rd BC; GVI 1504.
πολλά σε ἔπαινος ἐπευκλέϊσεν νεότητος ἐν ἀκμῇ    παῖδα μὲν ὄντα Νέ<ω>ν κοσμιότητι τρόπων, ἥβῃ δ’ αὐξηθέντα νόμων πατρίων θεραπείᾳ,      ἐν συνόδ̣<οις> ὅ<τ’> Ἄρης ἀντιπάλους συνάγοι, ἱππομαχο<ῦ>ντα· ἀρετῇ γὰρ ἐτόλμησας στεφανῶσαι  5     πατρίδα καὶ προγόνους· μνῆμα δὲ σῆς ἀρετῆς στ[ῆσε] πατὴρ Θεο[κ]<λ>ῆς, ἀειμνήστοισ[ι] δὲ ἐπαίνοις      κόσμησε ἥδε πόλις καὶ κατὰ γῆς φθίμενον.			Praise gave you plenty of fame in the bloom of youth/ when you were still a child, Neon, for the grace of your manners; /when you grew up as a young man in the respect of the laws of the fore-fathers,/in the clash when Ares gathers the adversaries/ you fought on horseback: with your valor you dared to crown / your homeland and your ancestors. Memory of your valor/ built your father Theokles; with eternal eulogies/this city adorned (you) even dead below ground.
Nikasichoros: Opous, Locris, after 229 BC; Posid. Dubia Fernández-Galiano nr. 33; IG IX,1 270
πατρὸς ἀριζήλοιο Πολυκρίτου υἷα σὺν ἵππῳ       δέρκεο, Βοιωτῶν ἀρχὸν ἀεθλοφόρων· δὶς γὰρ ἐνὶ πτολέμοις ἁγήσατο τὰν ἀσάλευτον       νίκαν ἐκ πατέρων τηλόθεν ἀρνύμενος, 5 καὶ τρίτον ἱππήων· Ὀπόεντα δὲ πολλάκι τάνδε         καὶ χερὶ καὶ βουλᾶι θῆκε ὀνομαστοτέραν. ἐν δὲ ἀρχαῖς ἀχάλινος ὑπ’ ἀργύρου ἔπλετο πάσαις,        ἀστῶν εὐνομίας θέσμια παρθεμένων· τῷ καὶ ἀείμναστον Νικασιχόρῳ κλέος ἔσται, 10    πίστις ἐπεὶ πάντων κοίρανος ἁγνοτάτα.		Watch the son of the noble Polykritos, mounted on horseback, leader of the victorious Boeotians;/ twice in war he guided them, preserving, far away, the unshaken victory inherited from his fathers, / and a third time as a commander of cavalry. Often he made this city, Opous, more renowned with the work of his hand and of his mind./ In all his appointments he was never bridled by the greed of money, for his fellow citizens laid the foundations of Good Government./Therefore the glory of Nikasichoros will be eternal, since loyalty is the purest leader of all.

2.2. The glory « sung » by poets and stones.

A) Anyte, A.P. 7.724,3-4: ἀλλὰ καλόν τοι ὕπερθεν ἔπος τόδε  πέτρος ἀείδει,/ὡς ἔθανες πρὸ φίλας μαρνάμενος πατρίδος.		[…] But the stone above you sings this beautiful verse, how you died fighting for your beloved country.
B) Thrasymachos: Knossos, 2nd BC ; GVI 1513 = IC I viii 33
οὐδὲ θανὼν ἀρετᾶς ὄνυμ’ ὤλεσας, ἀλλά σε φάμα     κυδαίνουσ’ ἀνάγει δώματος ἐξ Ἀΐδα, Θαρσύμαχε· τρανὲς δὲ καὶ ὀψιγόνων τις ἀείσει    μνωόμενος κείνας θού[ριδ]ος ἱπποσύνας,       Ἐρταίων ὅτε μοῦνος ἐπ’ ἠ[νε]μόεντος Ἐλαίου     οὐλαμὸν ἱππείας ῥήξαο φοιλόπιδ<ο>ς, ἄξια μὲν γενέταο Λεοντίου, ἄξια δ’ ἐσθλῶν     ἔργα μεγαυχήτων μηδόμενος προγόνων. […]	You have not lost the glory of your valor, not even after your death, but the fame which honors you brings you up from Hades’ chambers, Thrasymachos. Someone of the later generations will sing about you, recalling that impetuous chivalry, when near windy Elaion you, alone among the Cretans, broke a squadron during the battle of the cavalry, in your effort to accomplish deeds worthy of your father Leontios, and of your brave, much extolled ancestors. […] (Transl. A.Chaniotis, adapted)

2.3 Tyrtaic allusions and references.

A) Timokritos: Thyrreion, Akarnania, 3rd BC., GVI 749; Posid. Dubia Fernanadez-Galiano nr. 32
τὸμ Μούσαις, ὦ ξεῖνε, τετιμένον ἐνθάδε κρύπτει     Τιμόκριτογ κόλπωι κυδιάνειρα κόνις· Αἰτωλῶν γὰρ παισὶ πάτρας ὕπερ εἰς ἔριν ἐλθὼν     ὡγαθὸς ἢ νικᾶν ἤθελε ἢ τεθνάναι. πίπτει δ’ ἐμ προμάχοισι λιπὼμ πατρὶ μυρίον ἄλγος,   5      ἀλλὰ τὰ παιδείας οὐκ ἀπέκρυπτε καλά· Τυρταίου δὲ Λάκαιναν ἐνὶ στέρνοισι φυλάσσων      ῥῆσιν τὰν ἀρετὰν εἵλετο πρόσθε βίου.		Stranger, here the dust conceals in its bosom Timokritos, honored by the Muses./ When he went to war against the sons of the Aetolians to defend his homeland, the brave chose to win or to die./ He falls in the first ranks leaving infinite grief to his father, but he did not keep secret his excellent education;/ holding in his heart the Spartan saying of Tyrtaeus, he preferred valor to life.   Cf. Tyrt. fr 10,13-14 West: θυμῷ γῆς πέρι τῆσδε μαχώμεθα καὶ περὶ παίδων/ θνῄσκωμεν ψυχέων μηκέτι φειδόμενοι.
B) Meletus of Messene: Priene, 3rd BC, SGO I 03/01/05
[‘Antim‹xou m’ ¤sayre]Ýw Mess®nion önta M¡lhton,  [poll‹kiw eÞw d°rin] dor‹tvn ¤lyñnta sçn ÷ploiw:   Žntip‹lvn d’ oédeÜw k]aux®setai ¤n doròw aÞxm°i   [¤ntropalizom¡noi]o ßdeÝn s‹kow Žmf’ Êmoisin:   [ŽllŒ…  ]rw ¤xyrÇn stŒw dissŒ trñpaia         5   [³geiraw progñnvn d’ ]jia drÇn ¦yanon.	You see me, the Messenian Meletus [son of….], / who often went armed into the clash of the spears./ None of the enemies will boast / of having seen, in heat of the battle, the shield on my shoulder while I was running away,/ [but….] standing firm against the enemy troops, two trophies / [I erected; ] I died accomplishing deeds worthy [of the ancestors].
C) Chairippos: Athens, 287/6 BC; IG II² 5227a, GVI 40
τλῆτε νέοι, πόδα θέντες ἐναντία δυσμενέεσσιν    θνήισκειν, αἰδόμενοι πατρίδα καὶ γο[ν]έας· καὶ γάρ σοι, Χαίριππε, καταφθιμένωι μ[έ]γα κῦδος    εἰκόνα δημοσίαι τε εἵσατο σῆμα πόλις, ἡνίκα Μουνιχίας ὑπὸ τείχεσι δούλιον ἦμαρ    5    [ῥ]υόμενος πρὸ φίλης πνεῦμα ἔλιπες πατρίδος.	Young men, endure to plant your feet opposite to the enemy and die. Thus show how you honor your homeland and your parents.And to you, Chairippos, who died, the city at public expenses dedicated a statue, great honor, because under the walls of Mounichia you left your life for your country, saving it from slavery. (Transl. Lattimore)  Cf. Tyrtaeus fr. 11 West

Ammonios, a scribe: Alexandria, El Wardyān. 2nd– 1st BC, Bernand IMEGR 64; SEG XV 853.

vv. 9-16: σοὶ δὲ κλέος με[γ]ακυδὲς ἐπήρατο· πατρίδα σῴζων                      κάτθα[ν]ες, ἀντιπάλων ἀντίος ἱστάμενος,             10                   καὶ δορὸ[ς] οὐκ ᾔσχυνας ἀριζάλοιο τίναγμα,                        ψυχὰν δὲ στρατιᾶς ἄμμιγα συγκατέθου·                  τοὔνεκά σ’ ἡρώεσσι τετιμένον, οὐχὶ θανόντα                        κεκλόμεθ’ ἀλλὰ θεοῖς ἶσα καταχθονίοις                   ἁγνοτάταις <σ>πονδαῖσι ποθινοτάταισί τε λοιβαῖς  15                        κλῄζομεν, ἀρχαίοις ὡς πάρος ἐστίν ἔθος·

You died for the salvation of your homeland, standing against the enemies, and you did not fear the clash of the flashing spear, but you lost your breath in the heart of the army. This is why you are honored among the heroes and we do not call you “dead”, but we invoke you like the gods of the Underworld with very pure libations and offerings full of regret, according to the ancient custom of our ancestors.

• Celebration of the Hellenistic Kings.

• Theocritus as “New Simonides” for Hiero of Siracuse: Id. 16. 42-59: ἄμναστοι δὲ τὰ πολλὰ καὶ ὄλβια τῆνα λιπόντες/ δειλοῖς ἐν νεκύεσσι μακροὺς αἰῶνας ἔκειντο,/εἰ μὴ θεῖος ἀοιδὸς ὁ Κήιος αἰόλα φωνέων/ βάρβιτον ἐς πολύχορδον ἐν ἀνδράσι θῆκ’ ὀνομαστούς/ὁπλοτέροις· τιμᾶς δὲ καὶ ὠκέες ἔλλαχον ἵπποι,/ οἵ σφισιν ἐξ ἱερῶν στεφανηφόροι ἦλθον ἀγώνων./ τίς δ’ ἂν ἀριστῆας Λυκίων ποτέ, τίς κομόωντας/ Πριαμίδας ἢ θῆλυν ἀπὸ χροιᾶς Κύκνον ἔγνω,/εἰ μὴ φυλόπιδας προτέρων ὕμνησαν ἀοιδοί; 50/ οὐδ’Ὀδυσεὺς ἑκατόν τε καὶ εἴκοσι μῆνας ἀλαθείς/πάντας ἐπ’ἀνθρώπους, Ἀίδαν τ’εἰς ἔσχατον ἐλθών/ ζωός, καὶ σπήλυγγα φυγὼν ὀλοοῖο Κύκλωπος,/ δηναιὸν κλέος ἔσχεν, ἐσιγάθη δ’ ἂν ὑφορβός/ Εὔμαιος καὶ βουσὶ Φιλοίτιος ἀμφ’ἀγελαίαις 55/ ἔργον ἔχων αὐτός τε περίσπλαγχνος Λαέρτης,/ εἰ μή σφεας ὤνασαν Ἰάονος ἀνδρὸς ἀοιδαί. / Ἐκ Μοισᾶν ἀγαθὸν κλέος ἔρχεται ἀνθρώποισι,/ χρήματα δὲ ζώοντες ἀμαλδύνουσι θανόντων/… 73-5:ἔσσεται οὗτος ἀνὴρ ὃς ἐμεῦ κεχρήσετ’ἀοιδοῦ, /ῥέξας ἢ Ἀχιλεὺς ὅσσον μέγας ἢ βαρὺς Αἴας/ἐν πεδίῳ Σιμόεντος, ὅθι Φρυγὸς ἠρίον Ἴλου.

• Theocritus as “New Homer” for Ptolemy II, heir of Alexander and Herakles: Id. 17: ἥρωες, τοὶ πρόσθεν ἀφ᾽ ἡμιθέων ἐγένοντο, 5 ῥέξαντες καλὰ ἔργα σοφῶν ἐκύρησαν ἀοιδῶν:/αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ Πτολεμαῖον ἐπιστάμενος καλὰ εἰπεῖν / ὑμνήσαιμ᾽: ὕμνοι δὲ καὶ ἀθανάτων γέρας αὐτῶν./… Ἐκ πατέρων οἷος μὲν ἔην τελέσαι μέγα ἔργον/Λαγείδας Πτολεμαῖος, ὅτε φρεσὶν ἐγκατάθοιτο/ βουλάν, ἃν οὐκ ἄλλος ἀνὴρ οἷός τε νοῆσαι. 15/τῆνον καὶ μακάρεσσι πατὴρ ὁμότιμον ἔθηκεν/ ἀθανάτοις, καί οἱ χρύσεος θρόνος ἐν Διὸς οἴκῳ/ δέδμηται· παρὰ δ’ αὐτὸν Ἀλέξανδρος φίλα εἰδώς/ ἑδριάει, Πέρσαισι βαρὺς θεὸς αἰολομίτρας./ἀντία δ’ Ἡρακλῆος ἕδρα κενταυροφόνοιο(20)/ ἵδρυται στερεοῖο τετυγμένα ἐξ ἀδάμαντος·/ ἔνθα σὺν ἄλλοισιν θαλίας ἔχει Οὐρανίδῃσι,/χαίρων υἱωνῶν περιώσιον υἱωνοῖσιν,/ ὅττι σφεων Κρονίδης μελέων ἐξείλετο γῆρας,/ἀθάνατοι δὲ καλεῦνται ἑοὶ νέποδες γεγαῶτες. 25/ἄμφω γὰρ πρόγονός σφιν ὁ καρτερὸς Ἡρακλείδας,/ἀμφότεροι δ’ ἀριθμεῦνται ἐς ἔσχατον Ἡρακλῆα./τῷ καὶ ἐπεὶ δαίτηθεν ἴοι κεκορημένος ἤδη /Νέκταρος  εὐόδμοιο φίλας ἐς δῶμ’ ἀλόχοιο,/ τῷ μὲν τόξον ἔδωκεν ὑπωλένιόν τε φαρέτραν 30/τῷ δὲ σιδάρειον σκύταλον κεχαραγμένον ὄζοις·/οἳ δ’εἰς ἀμβρόσιον θάλαμον λευκοσφύρου Ἥβας/ ὅπλα καὶ αὐτὸν ἄγουσι γενειήταν Διὸς υἱόν.  
• Ptolemy II as a New Apollo against the Galatians: Callimachus Hymn to Delos, 162-188: ἀλλά ἑ παιδὸς ἔρυκεν ἔπος τόδε· ‘μὴ σύ γε, μῆτερ,/τῇ με τέκοις. οὔτ’οὖν ἐπιμέμφομαι οὐδὲ μεγαίρω /νῆσον, ἐπεὶ λιπαρή τε καὶ εὔβοτος, εἴ νύ τις ἄλλη·/ἀλλά οἱ ἐκ Μοιρέων τις ὀφειλόμενος θεὸς ἄλλος (165)/ἐστί, Σαωτήρων ὕπατον γένος· ᾧ ὑπὸ μίτρην / ἵξεται οὐκ ἀέκουσα Μακηδόνι κοιρανέεσθαι/ ἀμφοτέρη μεσόγεια καὶ αἳ πελάγεσσι κάθηνται,/μέχρις ὅπου περάτη τε καὶ ὁππόθεν ὠκέες ἵπποι/ Ἠέλιον φορέουσιν· ὁ δ’ εἴσεται ἤθεα πατρός. (170)/καί νύ ποτε ξυνός τις ἐλεύσεται ἄμμιν ἄεθλος /ὕστερον, ὁππόταν οἱ μὲν ἐφ’ Ἑλλήνεσσι μάχαιραν /βαρβαρικὴν καὶ Κελτὸν ἀναστήσαντες Ἄρηα/ὀψίγονοι Τιτῆνες ἀφ’ ἑσπέρου ἐσχατόωντος /ῥώσωνται νιφάδεσσιν ἐοικότες ἢ ἰσάριθμοι(175)/τείρεσιν, ἡνίκα πλεῖστα κατ’ἠέρα βουκολέονται,/[177a-b]καὶ πεδία Κρισσαῖα καὶ Ἡφ̣αί̣[στο]ι̣ο̣ φ̣ά̣ρ̣[αγγ]ες (178)/ ἀμφιπερι-στείνωνται, ἴδωσι δὲ πίονα καπνόν/γείτονος αἰθομένοιο, καὶ οὐκέτι μοῦνον ἀκουῇ, (180)/ἀλλ’ἤδη παρὰ νηὸν ἀπαυγάζοιντο φάλαγγας/δυσμενέων, ἤδη δὲ παρὰ τριπόδεσσιν ἐμεῖο/φάσγανα καὶ ζωστῆρας ἀναιδέας ἐχθομένας τε /ἀσπίδας, αἳ Γαλάτῃσι κακὴν ὁδὸν ἄφρονι φύλῳ /στήσονται· τέων αἱ μὲν ἐμοὶ γέρας, αἱ δ’ ἐπὶ Νείλῳ (185)/ἐν πυρὶ τοὺς φορέοντας ἀποπνεύσαντας ἰδοῦσαι/ κείσονται βασιλῆος ἀέθλια πολλὰ καμόντος. /ἐσσόμενε Πτολεμαῖε, τά τοι μαντήια Φοίβου.

1. Elegy in praise of a Ptolemaic king: SH 958 [edition and comm.: Barbantani, 2001].

[. . . . πρ]όσθε πύλης καὶ τείχεος αι..πε[       [. . . . . . . .].ην ταύτην ἤνυες ἀγγελίην. [. . . . . . . . .]. .ης, ὦνα, διὰ στόματος λόγου . [       [. . . . . . . . . . ἱ]ερῆς ἔρνεα φυταλίης [. . . . . . . . . . ὀ]πίσω ῥυπαρῆς στάχυες τρ̣ι̣[βόλοιο]        5      [. . . . . . . ἀ]ναγγέλλων εἰς βασιλῆα λόγο[ν. [. . . . . . ]ν ἐπεὶ μάλα πάντα δι’ οὔατος ἔκλ̣[υ]   [. . . . . . . . . . ].ρὸν δ’ αὐτίκα ἄνεσχε λόγ[ον]· [. . . . . . . ]ς ὑβρισταί τε καὶ ἄφρονες, ἀλλὰ μ̣[   [ . . . . . .]ν̣ ταύτης μισθὸν ἀτασθαλίης,                     10 γνώσον]ται δὲ μαθόντες, ἐπεὶ καὶ ἀρεί̣[ονας ἄλλους]     [. . . . . . ] εἰς κρατερὴν δουλοσύνην ἔθεμ̣[εν.] [οὑδ’ἔμπ]η̣ς Μήδοισι βαθυκτεάνοισιν ὁμ[οίως]     [οἶδε βιώ]σασθαι θοῦρος ἀνὴρ Γαλάτης. Οὐ γὰρ πο]ρφυρέοισιν ἐν εἵμασιν οὐδὲ μύ̣ρ̣ο̣ι̣σ̣[ιν]       15    [. . . . .]. . μαλακὸν χρῶτα λιπαινόμενο[ς], ἀλλὰ χα]μευνάδιός τε καὶ αἰθριάα ἐ̣ν̣ι̣[αυτόν].

…in front of the gate and the walls… you completed these [gloomy] tidings: “….unpleasant,] o king, from my mouth… of my speech; …the shoots of the sacred tree; …what remains behind are ears of rough tribolos” …bringing the message to the king. …as soon as he had heard the entire tale, … immediately raised a… speech: “Impious and stupid men, but [very soon] [they will pay] the penalty for their impudence. They will learn from experience, because [others, even more courageous], / …we reduced to harsh slavery. The impetuous Galatian man does not certainly [follow a way of life similar] to the rich Medes; for he does not recline in purple garments nor does he …. anointing his delicate skin with unguents, /but rests on the ground and lives in the open [all year round]”.

• Praise of an anonymous Ptolemaic geneal: SH 969 [edition&commentary: S. Barbantani, Φάτις νικηφόρος, Milano 2001].

poll‹ki m¢n perÜ seÝo f‹tiw n[ikhfñrow ·lye    gaÝa`n o. .[.N]e`ilou [. .] a`mb ` . . [ ¤sy`l`o`[t‹]tvn sç brotÇn pr[ot¡rvn kalòn ³nusaw ¦rgon    jion ¤n bæbloiw dñjan Žeir[‹menow         prñs`y`e` gŒr AÞgæptvi ÷te. [                    5   kaÜ yrasçw ¤m pol¡moiw ¦bre[me Keltòw Arhw       fèla m¢n `„Ell®nvn ¤pÜ keÛ[nouw ³lasaw ndraw   p¡mpvn eÞw ‘AÛdhn ŽntÛa [marn‹menow

Often news of your victories came to Egypt (vv. 1-2); with heroic deeds you gained a glory which will remain eternally in books (vv. 3-4); before, in fact, when [Galatians?] raged threatening Egypt (vv. 5-6), you drove the Greek army against them, sending them to Hades (vv. 7-8); [then…. you performed other deeds] (against the Seleucids? vv. 9 ss.)

• Dedication to Zeus Eleutherios of the shield of Cydias, who died at Thermopylae (279 BC); FGE anon. CXL, Paus. 10.21.5. 

ἧμαι δὴ ποθέουσα νέαν ἔτι Κυδίου ἥβην     ἀσπὶς ἀριζήλου φωτός, ἄγαλμα Διί, ἇς διὰ δὴ πρώτας λαιὸν τότε πῆχυν ἔτεινεν,     εὖτ’ ἐπὶ τὸν Γαλάταν ἤκμασε θοῦρος Ἄρης.

Here hang I, yearning for the still youthful bloom of Cydias,/ The shield of a glorious man, an offering to Zeus./ I was the very first through which at this battle he thrust his left arm,/ When the battle raged furiously against the Gaul.

• Dedication of Galatian spolia by Pyrrhus of Epirus, 278 BC: Leonidas, A.P. 6.130; Paus.1.13.2; Plut. Pyrrh.26:

τοὺς θυρεοὺς ὁ Μολοσσὸς Ἰτωνίδι δῶρον Ἀθάνᾳ     Πύρρος ἀπὸ θρασέων ἐκρέμασεν Γαλατᾶν, πάντα τὸν Ἀντιγόνου καθελὼν στρατὸν οὐ μέγα θαῦμα:     αἰχμηταὶ καὶ νῦν καὶ πάρος Αἰακίδαι.

The shields, spoils of the audacious Gauls, did Molossian Pyrrhus hang here as a gift to Itonian Athena, after destroying the whole army of Antigonus.  It is no great wonder: now, as before, the sons of Aeacus are warriors.

• Homeric imagery recontextualized after Alexander. The “glory of the spear”.

4.1. Spearmen in Simonides and the Persian Wars.

A.P.7.258: Οἵδε παρ’ Εὐρυμέδοντά ποτ’ ἀγλαὸν ὤλεσαν ἥβην/μαρνάμενοι Μήδων τοξοφόρων προμάχοις/ αἰχμηταί, πεζοί τε καὶ ὠκυπόρων ἐπὶ νηῶν·/κάλλιστον δ’ἀρετῆς μνῆμ’ἔλιπον φθίμενοι.	These men, fighting with the spear on foot and on board swift ships, lost their glorious youth at the Eurymedon, fighting the front rank of Persian archers, but with their death they left behind the noblest monument of their bravery.
A.P. 7.442: Εὐθυμάχων ἀνδρῶν μνησώμεθα, τῶν ὅδε τύμβος/ οἳ θάνον εὔμηλον ῥυόμενοι Τεγέαν / αἰχμηταὶ πρὸ πόληος, ἵνα σφίσι μὴ καθέληται/ Ἑλλὰς ἀποφθιμένου κρατὸς ἐλευθερίαν.	Let us remember those men who never wavered in battle and whose tomb this is: they died as spearmen protecting Tegea rich in sheep, so that “So that Greece should never strip from the dead heads [the crown of] freedom”.
A.P.7.443: Τῶνδέ ποτ’ἐν στέρνοισι τανυγλώχινας ὀιστοὺς/ λοῦσεν φοινίσσᾳ θοῦρος Ἄρης ψακάδι./ἀντὶ δ’ἀκοντοδόκων ἀνδρῶν μνημεῖα θανόντων/ ἄψυχ’ ἐμψύχων ἅδε κέκευθε κόνις.	Furious Ares once bathed long-barbed arrows with bloody drops in the breasts of these men, but this dust conceals a lifeless memorial not of dead spearmen but rather of them when they were alive.

4.2.Ptolemaic officers as spearmen.

A) Neoptolemos of Tlos: SGO IV 17/11/02; ed.& comm. S. Barbantani, SCO 53 (2007), 67-138
eÞmÜ Neoptñlemow Kressoè, trissÇn d’¤n ŽdelfÇn         ¦stasan TlveÝw, kèdow ¤moè dñratow:  oìneken Ïn PisÛdaw kaÜ [PaÛonaw] ±d’ ƒAgrinaw    kaÜ Gal‹taw tñssouw Žnti‹saw stñresa.		I am Neoptolemus son of Kressus; in the temple of the Three Brothers the citizens of Tlos set (me), glory of my spear; for them, so many Pisidians and Paeonians and Agrianians and Galatians I faced and scattered away.
B) Apollonios: Apollonopolis Magna (Edfu), 2nd BC; Bernand IMEGR nr. 5, ll. 3-14.
εἰμὶ γὰρ εὐκλειοῦς Ἀπολλώνιος ὁ Πτολεμαίου   κοῦρος, ὃν Εὐέρκται μίτρᾳ ἐπηγλάισαν, συγγενικῆς δόξης ἱερὸν γέρας· εὔνοια γάρ μιν       5   βαῖνε καὶ εἴσω γᾶς ἄχρι καὶ ὠκεανόν. τοὔνεκα κἀμὲ πατρὸς καλὸν κλέος εἰσορόωντα   τῆς αὐτῆς ψαύειν θυμὸς ἔθηγ’ ἀρετῆς,             [omissis] καὶ γενόμην εὔνους, γλυκερὰν τηρῶν ἅμα πίστιν       καὶ δορὶ καὶ τόλμᾳ πάντας ἐνεγκάμενος. […]	I am Apollonios son of the illustrious Ptolemy/ whom the Euergetai honoured with a diadem,/ sacred prerogative of the glory of the “relatives”. His goodwill / made him proceed inland, and as far as the Ocean./ Therefore, looking to the noble glory of my father,/ I was seized by the desire of attaining the same virtue,/ [omissis] And I was benevolent, preserving sweet loyalty, and, at the same time/ surpassing all with my spear and my boldness./ […].
C) Ptolemy and his son Menodoros, Apollinopolis Magna, 2nd BC; Bernand IMEGR 4 = GVI 1149.1-12.
ἁγεμόνα Πτολεμαῖον, ὁδοιπόρε, τῆιδέ με κεύθει   τύμβος, ἀνὰ κρατερήν φυλόπιδα φθίμενον, παῖδὰ τε Μηνοόδωρον ἐνὶ πτολέμοισιν ἀταρβῆ   καὶ θρασὺν αἰχμητὴν σημοφόρωι κάμακι,   εὖτ’ ἐπὶ δυσμενέεσσι Μακηδόνι σύν στρατιώτηι,       5   τοῖο τόθ’ ἁγεμόνων, θούριον ἆγον Ἄρη· δήϊα δ’ ἐν προμάχοισι καὶ ἄσπετα φῦλα κανόντας   ἀμφοτέρους Ἀίδας ὠμὸς ἐληΐσατο. κλεινὰ δ’ ὑπὲρ πάτρας θάνομεν θρεπτήρια δόντες,   γυμνασιάρχος ἐν αἷ καὶ τὸ πάρος γενόμαν,            10 πολλάκι τ’ ἐμ πρυλέεσσιν ἀρήιος, ἔνθα δὲ βουλᾶς   χρῆμα, τὸν ἐκ πραπίδων αἶνον ἐνεγκάμενος.  […]		Here, o passer-by, the tomb encloses me, commander Ptolemy:/ I died in a mighty battle; and there is also my son Menodorus, / never trembling in the wars, courageous spearman holding the flag-bearing pole,/ when against the enemies, with the Macedonian troops / of which I was then the commander,/ I guided the furious Ares;/ having killed innumerable enemies, while fighting in the front ranks,/ cruel Hades took both of us./ We died after giving glorious gifts for our homeland/ where previously I was also gymnasiarch,/ often valiant among the infantry, and when it was time to give advice,/ I received the praise for my wisdom./ […]

• Mercenaries as spearmen

A)    Brikkon, Galatian chief: Maronea, 3rd-2nd BCE; Moretti 1975, 115-8, nr.115
πατρὸς Ἀτευρίστου Βρίκκων ὅδε τῇδ’ ὑπὸ γαίῃ     κεῖμαι, Ἀπαμείας πατρίδος ἐκ προμολών· ἦλθον δ’ ἡγήτωρ Γαλατῶν καὶ μοῦνος <ἐ>ν αἰχμᾷ     δάϊον ἐμ προμάχοις Ἄρεα μαρνάμενος λείπομαι· εὐσεβέων δὲ τὸ μυρίον  ἵξομαι ἄστυ,      5      εἴ τι καὶ εἰν Ἀΐδῃ τίμιόν ἐστι βροτοῖς.		I, Brikkon, son of Ateuristos, under this earth/ I am resting, coming from my hometown Apamea; / I came as a commander of the Galatians and I succumbed in the battle (lett. in the spear)/ fighting in the first line against hostile Ares. / I shall go to the vast city of the Blessed, / if also in Hades there is some reward for the mortals.
The Thracian Diazelmis, from Bythinian Apamea, buried in Egypt, Terenuthis, 31BCE; GVI 1153 = IMEGR 10
ὁ πρὶν ἐγὼ κατὰ δῆριν ἐν[όπ]λιον ὄρχαμος ἀνδρῶν       φῦλα δαϊξάνδρῳ χειρὶ τροπωσάμενος, ἀσκηθὴς ἐν νευσὶ καὶ ἀστυφέλικτος ἐπ’ αἴῃ,       πείθ[ων α]ἱμοχαρῆ κ̣ῶ̣[μ]ον Ἐνυαλίου, Ἀσίδο[ς] ἐν γυάλ̣[ο]ις ἦ[μο]ς̣ [λ]ῃστῆρας ἀλαλκὼν     5       σκῦλα δοριδμήιτ[ων ἔ]πρα̣θον ἐνδαπίων, στείχων Αἰγύπτ̣ο̣[υ] κλ̣εινὴν σ̣ταχυμήτορα τύρσιν,      κοιρανίδαις ζαμ̣ενῆ π̣ίσ̣τ̣ιν̣ ἐ̣ν̣ε̣γκάμενος· [….] πάτρη γάρ μ’ ἐλόχευσεν Ἀπάμεα, γαῖα δ’ ἔθρεψεν       Αἰγύπτου θνατο<ῖ>ς πᾶσι γεγῶτα φίλον,   Διάζελμιν, βασιλεῦσι τετειμένον· ὦ παροδῖτα,         15        “χαῖρε”, λέγοις, “κούφῃ δ’ ἀμφιπέλοιτο κόνις”.		Once, in the clash of the weapons, I was commander of men/ and with my murderous hand I routed tribes (of enemies), well experienced on the sea and unshaken on the ground, giving orders to the bloodlusting company of Enyalios,/ when in the valleys of Asia, repelling marauders,/ I took the spoils of the locals tamed by my spear./ Moving to the glorious fortress of Egypt, mother of ears,/ I brought to her rulers my strong loyalty./ [vv.9-12]/ The homeland who gave me birth is Apamea, but the land who nurtured me/ was Egypt: I was dear to everyone,/I, Diazelmis, honored by the kings; passerby,/ may you say “I salute you, may the ground be light on you”.
C)    Antileon of Kaunos, mercenary for the Ptolemies, 3rd-2nd BC; SGO I 01/09/07
[õ d°m]ow õ KaunÛvn | [ƒAn]ti[l¡on]ta [Me]n‹ndrou·   toçw Žgayoçw [êmn]eÝn ôl[Ûg]ow pñnow,  d¢ par’ ŽstÇn        timŒ karæss[ei pa]n`t`ñs[e] tŒw x‹ritaw.   ÷ssa d’¦xv la`[l¡ei]n`, [fÛl’õm]Çw kalŒ kaÜ fÛla d‹mvi,       Žtrek¢w ¤g m[ou ¦]p`ow peæyeo tsde lÛyou·  tòn dorÜ pñll[a kamñn]ta kaÜ eé[k]l¡a sçm basileèsin 5       Bakxi‹daiw p[ñnto]u [k]aÜ x`y`o`nòw gemñsin   ƒAntil¡onta l¡gv toi ¤pi[k]l¡o[w] uåa Men‹ndrou,        ölbiow, eÞ tos[s]Ç`nd`’ Ž`n`t¡`t`u`x’ eåw ger‹vn·    ÷w d¢ kaÜ ¤janæsaw [.]m`n`[. . §]o xeÝraw ¤p’ ölbou         Êrejen, meg‹loiw Žyan‹toisi fÛlow.                       10	The people of Kaunos to Antileon son of Menander. An easy toil is to celebrate the braves, and, arising from the citizens,/Fame proclaims everywhere feelings of gratitude for him./ What I have to say, equally pleasant and friendly to the people,/ you will know directly from me, this stone;/ the one who accomplished many glorious deeds with his spear, together with his kings/ descendants from Bacchus, lords of sea and land,/ Antileon, I mean, the son of the glorious Menander. /Lucky, if he had a share in so many prizes;/ Although he accomplished so much, [he never] laid his hands on riches,/ therefore he is a friend of the Great Immortals.

5. Epitaphs of citizen-soldiers at war with “barbarians”.

Menas: Nicaea, Bithynia, ca. 281 BC; GVI 1965=SGO II 09/05/16
εἰ καὶ μεῦ δολιχὸς περιαίνυται ὄστεα τύμβος,    ξεῖνε, τὸ δυσμενέων γ’ οὐχ ὑπέτρεσσα βάρος· πεζομάχος δ’ ἱππεῖας ἐνὶ προμάχοισιν ἔμεινα     ὁππότε περ Κούρου μαρνάμεθ’ ἐμ πεδίωι· [Θ]ρήϊκα δὲ προπάροιθε βαλὼν ἐνὶ τεύχεσιν ἄνδρα   5     [κ]αὶ Μυσόν, μεγάλας κάτθανον ἀμφ’ ἀρετᾶς· τ̣ῶι <τ>ις ἐπαινήσειε θοὸν Βιοήριος υἷα         Βιθυνὸν Μηνᾶν, ἔξοχον ἡγέμονα.                         ἄλλο· [δ]άκρυα μὲν δειλοῖς τις ἰὼν ἐπιτύμβια χ<ε>ύοι     [ν]ώνυμον ἐγ νούσων δεξαμένοις θάνατον·              10 αὐτὰρ ἐμὲ Φρυγίοιο πάρα ῥοόν, ἀμφί τε πάτρης,      ἀμφί τε κυδαλίμων μαρνάμενον τοκέων εὐκλέα δέξατο γαῖα μετὰ προμάχοισι δαμέντα,     δυσμενέων πολλοὺς πρόσθε δαϊξάμενον· Βιθυνὸν τῶι τις Βιοήριος υἱέα Μηνᾶν                           15       αἰνήσαι με, ἀρετᾶς φέγγος ἀμειψάμενον.				Even if a long tomb encloses my bones,/ stranger, I did not fear the mass of the enemies;/ I, infantry soldier, stood the ground in the first ranks of the cavalry / when we fought at Kurupedion; / assaulting in arms Thracian and Mysian warriors, / I died with great valor;/  therefore one could praise the swift son of Bioeris, the Bithynian Menas, excellent commander.   One should shed funerary tears for the cowards,/ who received an anonymous death from illness; / but I, while I was fighting near the stream of Phrygios, for my homeland / and the venerable parents/ I, was received by the earth in my full glory, killed in the first ranks,/ my chest pierced several times by the enemies./ Therefore one should praise me,/ the Bithynian Menas son of Bioeris, / who exchanged his life for  bravery.
B) Apollonios: Pantikapaios (Kerch), 1st BCE (in iambic trimeters); GVI 1471= CIRB 119
Σὺ μὲν πρὸς Ἅδην ἀστένακτος ἔδραμες λιπὼν{ν} ἀήταις πνεῦμα θουρίᾳ χερί, ἡ σὴ δ’ ὅμευνος δακρύοις ἀναστένει ἀπροσδόκητον πένθος εἰσδεδεγμένη. Τεὸν δ’ ὄλωλε κ〈ά〉λλος, ἔσζϐεσται χάρις,     5 φρόνησις ἔπτη, πάντα συνφορᾶς γέμει· ὁ τῆς γὰρ ἀρετῆς μοῦνος ἐκλάσθης κανών. Ἀλλ’ εἰ σὲ κλωστὴρ Μοιρέων ἐρόμϐισεν, πρὸς δεινὸν ἔγχος βαρϐάρων νενευκότα, μοὖν οὐ κελαινὸς οἶκο{ι}ς, ἡρώων δὲ σὲ    10 ἕξουσι σηκοί· σοὶ γὰρ, Ὠπολλώνιε, καὶ πρόσθε σεμνὴ βάξις ἦν τεθημένη{ν}, καὶ νῦν θανόντι πᾶσα{ι} κοσμῖται χάρις	You ran to Hades without funerary lament, and surrendered your vital breath to the winds under the blows of an impetuous hand, while your wife in tears wailed, struck by unexpected grief. Your beauty perished, your grace vanished, your wisdom gone, all is full of misfortune. You were destroyed even though you alone were a model of virtue. But if the spindle of the Fates has strayed so far as to direct you towards the terrible spear of the barbarians, no, certainly, it will not be an obscure abode that will welcome you, but the sacred enclosure of heroes. Long ago, O Apollonius, this destiny was set to you and now that you are dead, full reward is granted to you.
C) Lysimachos, killed by Scythians (Nomades), Pantikapaios (Kerch), 1st BC, GVI 843
Λυσίμαχον μύθοι[σ]ι προσηνέα πᾶσι πολίταις    καὶ ξίνοις νομάδων ἔκταν[ε] θοῦρος Ἄρης· [ᾧ] ἔπι πᾶς ἐλεεινὸν ἐπεστενάχησε θανόντ[ι]     οἰκτείρων θαλερὴν ἀνέρος ἡλικίη[ν].		Lysimachos, kind with words with all his fellow citizens and the strangers, was killed by the bold Ares of the Nomads. Everyone sobbed pitifully for his death, lamenting the flowering youth of this man.
Ariston: Mesambria (Nesebar),1st BC, IGBulg I² 344
τὸ πρὶν μὲν πάτραι τε καὶ οἷς κ̣[․3-4․]οισιν     πο[λ]λάκις  ἀντιπάλους κτείνας ἐνὶ προμάχοις ἐχθομ̣ένοις Βεσσοῖσιν ἐναντί’ ἐδάϊ’ Ἀρίστων·    δεινὰ δ’ ἐν ὑσμίναις ἔκλαγες ἀνδροφόνοις, νῦν δ’ ὅκ’ ὁ δυσνίκατος ἐναντίος ἦλθέ τοι Ἄδας,      5     οὐ λά̣[θ]ας ἐπέχεις δῶμ’ Ἀχερουσιάδος, ἀλλ’ ἄρ̣ι̣στα κύδανε τὸν ἀντιπάλων ὀλετῆρα     ἀνέρα καὶ στεφάνοις δᾶμος ἔρεψε νέκυν· ἁλίκα δ’ ἐν ζωοῖς τε συνάρχοντες τῖον ἐσθλοί,    ταλίκα καὶ φθιμένωι τίμιά τοι τέλεσαν                  10			You, who once for your homeland and for those who […] often killed your adversaries in the front ranks of battles, faced with the ignoble Besses you fought, Ariston. You uttered terrible war cries in the mortal fights.  Today the invincible Hades came against you, and it is not towards the abode of Acheronian oblivion that you are heading, but the people have distinguished you with the greatest honors, you who killed your adversaries, they have crowned your corpse. Your fellow noble officers honored you in death as when you were among the living.

6.Hellenistic soldiers as Homeric  heroes (Ajax, Achilles, Hektor).

Ø  Generic references to the mortality of heroes:

 

Epigonos, Laodikeia on the Lykos, Phrygia, 1st BC, SGO I 02/14/11
οὐκ ἄλλου, παροδῖτα, τόδε μνημῆον [ἐσαθρεῖς],    ἀλλ’ οὗ τὰν ἀρετὰν οὐδ’ ὁ χρόνος μαρανε[ῖ] Ἐπιγόνου, πρωτῆα παρὰ ζωοῖσι λιπόντος    σωφροσύνας μορφᾶς θ’ εἵνεκα θειοτάτα[ς]· οὔτε γὰρ ὁ κτίνας Πριάμου παῖδ’ Ἕκτορ’ Ἀχιλλεύ[ς]   5     οὔθ’ ὁ τὰ λέκτρα φυγὼν τοῦ πατρὸς Ἱππόλυτος τοιοίδ’ οὐκ ἐγένονθ̣’ οἷο[ς] γένετ’ Ἐπίγονος π[αῖς]     Ἀνδρέου εὐγενέτα πατ[ρ]ὸς ἴσου βασιλε[ῖ]. ἀλλ’ ὁ μὲν Ἐπίγονος μνᾶμα ζωιοῖς δια[μίμνει]·    οὐδ’ Ἀχιλλεὺς δ’ ἔφυ̣γ̣εν̣ μ̣οῖρ[αν] ἀ̣ὶ Θέτιδος [….   10	This monument that you see, passerby, is of none other but of Epigonos, whose virtue Time will not corrupt; he left among the living the preeminence of temperance and divine beauty. Neither Achilles, the one who killed Hektor, son of Priam, nor Hippolytos who avoided his father’s bed, were like Epigonos, son of Andreas, noble son of a father equal to a king. But Epigonos leaves a lasting memory among the living; not even Achilles, son of Thetis, escaped the destiny…
Cf.Il.18.117-8:οὐδὲ γὰρ οὐδὲ βίη Ἡρακλῆος φύγε κῆρα,/ὅς περ φίλτατος ἔσκε Διὶ Κρονίωνι ἄνακτι; Soph.Ajax 714: πάνθ’ὁ μέγας χρόνος μαραίνει·; Simonid. fr.531 PMG: ἐντάφιον δὲ τοιοῦτον οὔτ’εὐρὼς/οὔθ’ ὁ πανδαμάτωρ ἀμαυρώσει  χρόνος

• Ajax and Achilles.

The Lycian Osses and Manossas, Choma, 4th-3rd BC, SGO  IV 17/17/01
ἀσπίδα καὶ σιβύνην καὶ φάσγανον ἠδὲ κυνείην  σημε’ ἀρήϊα ἐφέστα  Ὀσσης Ὀσαβίμος υἱός  Ὀσσῃ πατρὸς πατρί καὶ τούτου πατρί Μανόσσᾳ ἀνδράσι ἰφθίμοισι γέρας ἐπιτύμβιον εἶναι σώφροσιν εὐκλεέσιν ἐτεόλβοις ἠνόρεσίν τε          5 προστασίῃ τε Αἴαντι  ὁμωίοις Τελαμῶνος, τοὺς καὶ  δοιὼ δουπήσαντες  ἔχει γεραιοὺς ὅδε τύμβος ἀενάοιο δόμῳ  Ἀίδος  μακάρων ἐνὶ χώρῳ.	Osses, son of Osabimis, set up the shield, spear, sword and helmet, emblems of war, to be an adornment of the tomb of Osses his grandfather and Manossas his great-grand-father, mighty men of good fame, prudent and brave, of honest wealth, champions equal to Ajax son of Telamon, both fallen in their old age, held by this tomb in the land of the Blessed, in the halls of eternal Hades.

• Hektor

Leukios: Pantikapaion, 1st-2nd AD, GVI 1521 = CIRB 136
[—]ε υἱὲ Λευκίου, |  χαῖρε. |  [παυσαμένοιο πόν]ων τ<ε> καὶ ἐς τέλος οἰχομένοιο      [ἔκλιπε κ]αὶ ψυχὰ σῶμα σὸν ἀντίπαλον,  [Λεύκιε, κ]α̣ὶ πάτρας ἀντάξια καὶ τὰ πρὸς ἐκχθροὺς    [ἔν]τερα (scil. ἔντεα?) βαρϐαρικῷ αἵματι φυρόμενα. [ὧ]δ’ ἔθανες δηίων ὑπὸ πλήθεϊ· καὶ γὰρ ὁ Τροίας        5    Ἕκτωρ ἐν προμάχοις πότμον ἐπεσπάσατο.	Leukios (?) son of Leukios, greetings. Having found an end to your toils and having reached the end, your soul [left?] the body –her antagonist-, Lukios, and and left deeds worthy of your country and the weapons used against the enemies drenched in barbaric blood. Thus you died, overpowered by the multitude of the enemies: the Trojan Hektor too met his destiny in the first ranks.
Homeric lexicon: l.4, [ἔν]τερα (here not “bowels”, like in Homer, probably an error for ἔντεα, weapons; l.5 δηίων, l.6 πότμον ἐπεσπάσατο reinteprets the Homeric expression πότμον ἐπίσπῃ (he met his destiny, from ἐπισπεῖν, ἐφέπω; e.g.Il.2.359; 6.412, 15.495, 20.337, 22.39) using the verb  ἐπισπάω.

Anonymous veteran: Bithynia, 2nd AD, GVI 689.1-5= TAM IV,1 322
τὸν Φρυγίη[ς πρόμαχον, τὸν θαύμασε] θεῖος Ὅμηρος, κάλλει καὶ σ[θένεϊ  ζηλοῦντά ποτ’ ἠδὲ καὶ] ἀλκῇ, Ἑκτόριον π[αράδειγμα πόλει, κύδους ἰσ]όμοιρον, τόν ποτε χα[λκοχίτων’ ἐφέποντ’ ἀλγειν]ὸν Ἄρηα, κείμενον [οὐκ ἐχθρῷ δεδμημένον, ἀ]λλ’ ὑπὸ Μοίρης,     5	Emulating the defender of Phrygia, admired by the divine Homer, in beauty and wisdom and courage and strength, I was an Hektorean example for the city, sharing with him a glorious fate. Once, dressed in bronze, I served baneful Ares; I lie here not tamed by the enemy but by the Moira [….]

Further bibliography on the individual texts:

• Silvia Barbantani, Φάτις νικηφόρος, Frammenti di elegia encomiastica nell’età delle guerre galatiche: Suppl. Hell.958, 969, Milano 2001;
• – The glory of the spear. A powerful symbol in Hellenistic poetry and art. The case of Neoptolemus “of Tlos” (and other Ptolemaic epigrams), SCO 53 (2007), pp. 67-138;
• – Déjà la pierre pense où votre nom s’inscrit”. Identity in context in verse epitaphs for Hellenistic soldiers, in R. Hunter, A. Rengakos, E. Sistakou (eds.), Hellenistic Studies at a Crossroads. Exploring Texts, Contexts and Metatexts, Berlin-New York 2014, pp. 305-338;
• – “Simplify me when I am dead.” War heroes in Hellenistic funerary epigrams, AevAnt 16 (2016), pp. 183-239;
• – ‘Fui buon poeta e buon soldato’. Kleos militare e paideia poetica negli epigrammi epigrafici ellenistici, Eikasmos 29 (2018), pp. 283-312;
• – Hellenistic and Roman military epitaphs on stone and on papyrus: questions of authorship and literariness, in C. Carey. I. Petrovic M. Kanellou (eds.), Greek Literary Epigram: From the Hellenistic to the Byzantine Era, Oxford 2019, pp. 154-175;
• – Models of virtue, Models of poetry: the quest for everlasting fame in Hellenistic epigrammatic poetry, in R.A. Faber, (ed.), Celebrity, Fame, and Infamy in the Hellenistic World. Toronto 2020, pp. 37-69;
• – Farewell to arms,Farewell in arms. Depictions of weapons on stone and in Hellenistic inscriptional epigrams, Erga/Logoi 12.1 (2024), pp. 119-147;
• – Hellenistic military epitaphs in the Anthologia Palatina: where do they come from?, RCCM 66.1 (2024), pp. 69-83.

Η ερευνητική της παραγωγή την καθιστά ως μια από τις πιο δυναμικές παρουσίες στο χώρο μελέτης της ελληνιστικής περιόδου και όλων των πτυχών της. Με τις έρευνές της και τις δημοσιεύσεις της σε ελάσσονα και μείζονα θέματα της περιόδου αυτής αναδεικνύει μια σειρά από σημαντικές πληροφορίες με βάση τις πηγές και τα σχετικά δεδομένα έτσι ώστε να προσφέρει υλικό για περαιτέρω έρευνα.