A Companion to Ethnicity in the Ancient Mediterranean

Ethnos and Koinon 277

Ionian

Sea

Pella

Amphipolis

Apollonia

Akanthos

Pydna Olynthos

Potidaia

Larisa

Krannon

Pharsalos

Pherai

Pagasai

Herakleia

Trachinia

Opous

Amphissa Hyampolis

Thermon

Kalydon Naupaktos

DelphiKo roneiaThebes

Thespiai

Plataia

Megara

Corinth

Athens

Argos

Stratos

Aigion

Patr ai

Dyme

Elis

Helike

Pharai Sikyon

Tritaia

Olympia

Orchomenos

Megalopolis

Tegea

Messene Sparta

Gytheion

Tanagra

Mantineia

Epidamnos

THRACE

AITOLIA

OZOLIAN

LOKRIS

ELIS

ATTICA

EUBOIA

THE

SSALY

CH

ALK

IDIKE

M

AC

ED

ON

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TIA

OZOLIANLOKRIS PHOKIS

ACHAI

A

ARKAD

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NI

A

AR

GO

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D

LA

KO

NI

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AK

AR

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EP

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Aegean

Sea

KERKYRA

LEUKAS

ITHAKA

KEPHALLENIA

ZAKYNTHOS

SALAMIS

AIGINA

0

0

100

100

Miles

Kilometers

50

50

Gytheion Polis

LEUKAS Island

ELIS Region

Aegean

Sea

Gulf of

Corinth

PeneiosR.

Ache

öol

sR.

Map 18.1 Greece.

The general background is a series of conflicts between Araxa and several neighboring
communities, which were in the hands of people described as tyrants. When the Araxans
sought support from the Lyciankoinonin these conflicts, they sent Orthagoras as
ambassador, and thekoinonin turn made him its ambassador. The decree (ll. 24–25,
59–60) praises Orthagoras for having acted worthily of thedemos(i.e., Araxa) and
of theethnos(i.e., the Lykians). While one might suppose that this latter reference is
not to thekoinonof the Lykians but simply to the Lykians as a unified ethnic group,
description of one of Orthagoras’ deeds makes it clear thatethnoshere certainly refers to
the Lycian state. “The Orloandans...perceiving that the people [of Araxa] were eager