AN ANALYSIS OF ANTHOLOGIA PALATINA XVI, 6
AN ANALYSIS OF ANTHOLOGIA PALATINA XVI, 6

Summary/Abstract: In this article is presented and analyzed an epigram from the collection, called Greek or Palatine Anthology (Anth. Pal. XVI, 6), that reports for a booty, won by Philip V of Macedon in result of a military campaign. This booty had belonged to Ciroadas, his children and their territory, called Odryas. The content of the text and the opinions expressed for its interpretation are carefully considered. It is pointed out, that the relation of this epigram with the history of Thrace and the Thracians is predetermined by the definition of the Macedonian king as ‘lord of Europe’; in Antiquity the Thracian lands were invariably included under this geographical name. Exposed are the problems in identifying the two names, Ciroadas and Odryas, as well as these related with placing the information of the epigram in historical context. In conclusion are presented some observations of the author on the issues considered. It is concluded that a relation between Odryas and the Odrysians is possible but cannot be considered as proven in the absence of other data than their common root. This makes it difficult to interpret the epigram. The opinion expressed in historiography for dating the dedication to the end of the 3rd century BC is adopted and an attempt for refinement is proposed: the Macedonian king had the greatest reason to be called ‘lord of Europe’ after the conquest of the Thracian coast to the Hellespont in 200 BC.

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