EPI´DOSEIS
EPI´DOSEIS (
ἐπιδόσεις)
were voluntary contributions, either in money, arms, or ships, which were
made by the Athenian citizens in order to meet the extraordinary demands of
the state. When the expenses of the state were greater than its revenue, it
was usual for the prytanes to summon an assembly of the people, and after
explaining the necessities of the state, to call upon the citizens to
contribute according to their means. Those who were willing to contribute
then rose and mentioned what they would give; while those who were unwilling
to give anything, remained silent or retired privately from the assembly.
(
Plut. Alc. 10,
Phoc. 9;
Dem.
c. Mid p. 567.162; Theophrast.
Char. 22;
Athen. 4.168 f.) The names of those who had
promised to contribute together with the amount of their contributions, were
written on tablets, which were placed before the statues of the Eponymi,
where they remained till the amount was paid. (Isae.
Or. 5
[
Dicaeog.], § § 37, 38.)
These
epidoseis, or voluntary contributions, were
frequently very large. Sometimes the more wealthy citizens voluntarily
undertook a trierarchy, or the expenses of equipping a trireme. (Dem.
c. Mid. p. 566.161.) We, read that Pasion furnished 1000
shields, together with five triremes, which he equipped at his own expense.
(Dem.
c. Steph. i. p. 1127 § 85.)
[p. 1.749]Chrysippus presented a talent to the state, when Alexander
moved against Thebes (Dem.
c. Phorm. p. 918.38);
Aristophanes, the son of Nicophemus, gave 30,000 drachmas for an expedition
against Cyprus (Lysias,
pro Aristoph. bonis, § 43);
Charidemus and Diotimus, two commanders, made a free gift of 800 shields
(Dem.
de Cor. p. 265.115). The liberality of
Demosthenes himself was especially noteworthy: besides other liturgies, he
gave on different occasions three triremes, and also at one time eight
talents, to which he afterwards added three more for the building of the
walls, one talent after the battle of Chaeroneia, and another for the
purchase of corn. These acts of munificence were recorded in the decree by
which a crown was voted to him. When in Macedonia on the embassy, he also
spent large sums in ransoming Athenian prisoners (Dem.
F. L.
p. 394, § § 169-70=186-7; Aeschin.
F. L.
§ 100). (Boeckh,
P. E. pp.
586-7=
Sthh.3 1.686;
Schömann,
Assemblies, p. 292.)
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