Age Categories and Chronology in the Hellenistic Theseia

Abstract

THREE ATHENIAN INSCRIPTIONS from the second century B.c. (IG II2 956-958) are the best-preserved of a series of texts containing decrees honoring agonothetai of the Theseia and catalogues of victors in various events.These documents, it is now generally agreed, refer to the penteteric version of a festival known from earlier inscriptions which has come to be called the Greater Theseia.1 Interest has centered on the lists' chronological value, as they preserve the names of three archons, Aristolas, Anthesterios, and Phaidrias, usually dated to 161/0, 157/6, and 153/2 respectively.2 Consequently, research into the age categories of victors has been aimed at establishing the archon dates rather than at elucidating the organization of the games themselves. But, in fact, a thorough examination of the age categories in use at the Theseia will show that one of these archons needs to be redated and that an important assumption about the nature of the festival requires revision. The contests of the Theseia usually comprised a torch race (lampas), athletic events making up a gumnikos agon, as well as competitions in horsemanship and military displays. In one particular year, the agonothete's expansion of the equestrian events caused him to be praised for putting on a fully-fledged hippikos agon in addition to the normal complement (IG II2 957, lines 4-5). In the list from that year, the events are as follows:3

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