Sylae
(
σῦλαι). The Greek equivalent of the modern
“letters of marque and reprisal.” When a Greek State had been insulted or
injured by citizens of some other State, yet was unable or unwilling formally to declare war,
it often gave a sort of license or commission to individuals to make reprisals upon the
property and citizens of the offending nation. This was called
σύλας or
σῦλα διδόναι.