Honorary decrees for the Samians

The stele, whose decorative element is the relief, is made of Pentelic marble. It has a total height of 1.65 metres and a width of 52–55 centimetres. The relief scene is framed by a projecting horizontal epistyle supported by two slender side pilasters with a cornice. It shows the goddess Athena on the right and the goddess Hera on the left. Athena clasps Hera's hand. Below the relief are carved three Athenian decrees of the Boule and the demos of the Athenians, which have been fully studied and translated. It bears the following inscriptions: «ΚΗΦΙΣΟΦΩΝ ΠΑΙΑΝΕΥΣ ΕΓΡΑΜΜΑΤΕΥΕ» ("Kephisophon of Paiania served as secretary.") and «ΣΑΜΙΟΙΣ ΟΣΟΙ ΜΕΤΑ ΤΟ ΔΗΜΟ ΤΟ ΑΘΗΝΑΙΩΝ ΕΓΕΝΟΝΤΟ» ("To the Samians who became allies of the Athenian People."). == Historical background ==

After the defeat at the Battle of Aegospotami, only the Samians remained loyal allies of the Athenians. The demos of the Samians expelled the oligarchs from their city and sent two envoys to Athens, offering their help anew so that the struggle could continue. In 404 BCE Lysander besieged and captured Samos, exiled the demos in turn, and restored the oligarchy. After the restoration of democracy in Athens, the Athenians passed a decree in honor of the exiled Samian democrats. The decree is of great importance for understanding the events of the final years of the Peloponnesian War. == Interpretation ==

The relief belongs to the class of decorative artworks that served as a supplementary or explanatory element on a decree stele. Athena represents the city of Athens, while Hera was the patron goddess of Samos. The symbolic handshake confirms the Athenians’ esteem for their loyal allies and attests to the alliance between the two cities. == Historical placement ==

The relief carries three decrees. The first decree is dated to the archonship of Alexios in 405/404 BCE. The cutting of the three decrees and of the relief was carried out at the same time as the last two decrees, which are dated to the archonship of Eucleides in 403/402 BCE. The form of Hera may, according to Petersen and Collignon, derive from the Hera by Alkamenes. == References ==