The Letoon trilingual, or Xanthos trilingual, is an inscription in three languages: standard Lycian or Lycian A, Greek, and Aramaic covering the faces of a four-sided stone stele called the Letoon Trilingual Stele, discovered in 1973 during the archeological exploration of the Letoon temple complex (devoted to the goddess Leto), near Xanthos, ancient Lycia, in present-day Turkey. It was created when Lycia was under the sway of the Persian Achaemenid Empire.[1] The inscription is a public record of a decree authorizing the establishment of a cult, with references to the deities, and provisions for officers in the new cult. The Lycian requires 41 lines; the Greek, 35 and the Aramaic, 27. They are not word-for-word translations, but each contains some information not present in the others. The Aramaic is somewhat condensed.[2]
Lētōon temple complex. The foundations of the three temples are clearly visible.
Although the use of the term "Letoon" with regard to the inscription and the stele is unequivocal, there is no standard name for either. Xanthos trilingual is sometimes used, which is to be distinguished from the Xanthos bilingual, meaning the Xanthos stele. However, sometimes Xanthos stele is used of the Letoon trilingual stele as well as for the tomb at Xanthos. Moreover, the term Xanthos trilingual (Lycian A, Lycian B, Greek) is sometimes used of the tomb at Xanthos. In the latter two cases only the context can provide clues as to which stele is meant. The Aramaic inscription is known as KAI 319.
The Lētōon was a temple complex about 4 kilometers (2 mi) south of Xanthus, capital of ancient Lycia. The complex dates to as early as the 7th century BC and must have been a center for the Lycian League. In it were three temples to Lētō, Artemis and Apollō. The stele was found near the temple of Apollo. It has been removed to the museum at Fethiye. The entire site is currently under several inches of water.
Date of the inscription
Close up of the text from the stele
The first five lines of the Aramaic version mention that the inscription was made in the first year of the reign of the Persian king, Artaxerxes, but does not say which Artaxerxes:
In the month Siwan, year 1 of King Artaxerxes. In the fortress of Arñna (Xanthos). Pixodarus, son of Katomno (Hecatomnus), the satrap who is in Karka (Caria) and Termmila (Lycia)....[2]
If the king in question was Artaxerxes III Ochus, the date of the inscription would be the first year of his reign, hence 358 BC.[2] But Hecatomnus is thought to have ruled from ca. 395 to 377 BC and Pixodarus, son of Hecatomnus, was satrap of Caria and Lycia no earlier than 341/340. Therefore, the Persian king most likely was Artaxerxes IV Arses, son of Artaxerxes III, who took his father's name on coming to power. In that case the trilingual is dated to the first year of Artaxerxes IV, that is 337/336 BC.[3]
Summary of the text
Lines 1-5 of the Lycian text date the inscription to the government of Pixodaros.
Lines 5-8: the Xanthians introduce a cult for two gods, "the Kaunian Ruler and King Arkesimas".
Lines 9-11: a certain Simias is made priest, his priestship will be hereditary.
Lines 12-20: definition of the territory owned by the temple, and of the salary to be awarded to the priest.
Lines 20-24: on behalf of the temple a new tax is instituted, to be levied when a slave is liberated.
Lines 24-30: the revenues thereof shall be spent on sacrifices at regular times.
Lines 30-36: the citizens of Xanthos and the territory of Xanthos vow to execute faithfully those regulations.
Sample of the Lycian text
Letoon trilingual stele, portion in Lycian.
Letton trinlingual stele. Aramaic inscription.
Below is a transliteration of a sample of lines with an English translation:[4][5]
^Reger, Gary (2014). "Hybrid Ethnicity and Borderlands in the Greco-Roman World". In McInerny, Jeremy (ed.). A Companion to Ethnicity in the Ancient Mediterranean. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p. 117. ISBN978-1444337341. And the Lycians quite early came to use Greek as well as Lycian for their inscriptions, most famously in the so-called Trilingual Inscription of the Letoon, set up in Aramaic (the ruling language of the Persian Empire, at that time sovereign over Lycia), Lycian, and Greek.
^ abcTeixidor, Javier (April 1978). "The Aramaic Text in the Trilingual Stele from Xanthus". Journal of Near Eastern Studies. 37 (2): 181–185. doi:10.1086/372644. JSTOR 545143. First page displayable no charge.
^Laroche, Emmanuel (1979). "L'inscription lycienne". Fouilles de Xanthos. VI: 51-128.
Bibliography
Bryce, Trevor R. (1986). The Lycians - Volume I: The Lycians in Literary and Epigraphic Sources. Copenhagen: Museum Tusculanum Press. ISBN87-7289-023-1.
External links
Melchert, Craig H. (2000). "The Trilingual Inscription of Letoon: Lycian Version" (pdf). Achemenet. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
January 31, 2023
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The Letoon trilingual or Xanthos trilingual is an inscription in three languages standard Lycian or Lycian A Greek and Aramaic covering the faces of a four sided stone stele called the Letoon Trilingual Stele discovered in 1973 during the archeological exploration of the Letoon temple complex devoted to the goddess Leto near Xanthos ancient Lycia in present day Turkey It was created when Lycia was under the sway of the Persian Achaemenid Empire 1 The inscription is a public record of a decree authorizing the establishment of a cult with references to the deities and provisions for officers in the new cult The Lycian requires 41 lines the Greek 35 and the Aramaic 27 They are not word for word translations but each contains some information not present in the others The Aramaic is somewhat condensed 2 The Letoon trilingual stele in Fethiye Museum Letōon temple complex The foundations of the three temples are clearly visible Although the use of the term Letoon with regard to the inscription and the stele is unequivocal there is no standard name for either Xanthos trilingual is sometimes used which is to be distinguished from the Xanthos bilingual meaning the Xanthos stele However sometimes Xanthos stele is used of the Letoon trilingual stele as well as for the tomb at Xanthos Moreover the term Xanthos trilingual Lycian A Lycian B Greek is sometimes used of the tomb at Xanthos In the latter two cases only the context can provide clues as to which stele is meant The Aramaic inscription is known as KAI 319 Contents 1 Find site 2 Date of the inscription 3 Summary of the text 4 Sample of the Lycian text 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Notes 6 2 Bibliography 7 External linksFind site EditFurther information Letoon The Letōon was a temple complex about 4 kilometers 2 mi south of Xanthus capital of ancient Lycia The complex dates to as early as the 7th century BC and must have been a center for the Lycian League In it were three temples to Letō Artemis and Apollō The stele was found near the temple of Apollo It has been removed to the museum at Fethiye The entire site is currently under several inches of water Date of the inscription Edit Close up of the text from the stele The first five lines of the Aramaic version mention that the inscription was made in the first year of the reign of the Persian king Artaxerxes but does not say which Artaxerxes In the month Siwan year 1 of King Artaxerxes In the fortress of Arnna Xanthos Pixodarus son of Katomno Hecatomnus the satrap who is in Karka Caria and Termmila Lycia 2 If the king in question was Artaxerxes III Ochus the date of the inscription would be the first year of his reign hence 358 BC 2 But Hecatomnus is thought to have ruled from ca 395 to 377 BC and Pixodarus son of Hecatomnus was satrap of Caria and Lycia no earlier than 341 340 Therefore the Persian king most likely was Artaxerxes IV Arses son of Artaxerxes III who took his father s name on coming to power In that case the trilingual is dated to the first year of Artaxerxes IV that is 337 336 BC 3 Summary of the text EditLines 1 5 of the Lycian text date the inscription to the government of Pixodaros Lines 5 8 the Xanthians introduce a cult for two gods the Kaunian Ruler and King Arkesimas Lines 9 11 a certain Simias is made priest his priestship will be hereditary Lines 12 20 definition of the territory owned by the temple and of the salary to be awarded to the priest Lines 20 24 on behalf of the temple a new tax is instituted to be levied when a slave is liberated Lines 24 30 the revenues thereof shall be spent on sacrifices at regular times Lines 30 36 the citizens of Xanthos and the territory of Xanthos vow to execute faithfully those regulations Sample of the Lycian text Edit Letoon trilingual stele portion in Lycian Letton trinlingual stele Aramaic inscription Below is a transliteration of a sample of lines with an English translation 4 5 1 2 When Pixodarus the son of Hecatomnus became satrap of Lycia 1 Ẽke trm misn xssa8rapazate pigesere 2 katamlah tideimi 2 5 he appointed as rulers of Lycia Hieron ijeru and Apollodotos natrbbejẽmi and as governor asaxlazu of Xanthus Artemelis erttimeli sẽnnente 3 pddẽhadẽ trm mile pddẽnehm mis 4 ijeru senatrbbejẽmi se j arnna 5 asaxlazu erttimeli 5 6 The citizens arus and the Xanthian neighboring residents decided mehntitubedẽ 6 arus se j epewẽtlm mẽi arnnai 7 8 to establish an altar to the Kaunian Ruler and the King Arkesimas 7 m maitẽ kumezijẽ 88ẽ xntawati 8 xbidẽnni se j arKKazuma xntawati 9 10 and they chose as priest Simias the son of Kondorasis 9 sẽnnaitẽ kumazu mahana ebette 10 eseimiju qnturahahn tideimi 11 and whoever is closest to Simias 11 sede eseimijaje xuwatiti 12 and they granted him exemption arawa from taxes 12 seipijẽtẽ arawa ehbijẽ esiti See also Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Letoon Trilingual Stele Asia portalLycian language Lycian script LyciaReferences EditNotes Edit Reger Gary 2014 Hybrid Ethnicity and Borderlands in the Greco Roman World In McInerny Jeremy ed A Companion to Ethnicity in the Ancient Mediterranean John Wiley amp Sons Inc p 117 ISBN 978 1444337341 And the Lycians quite early came to use Greek as well as Lycian for their inscriptions most famously in the so called Trilingual Inscription of the Letoon set up in Aramaic the ruling language of the Persian Empire at that time sovereign over Lycia Lycian and Greek a b c Teixidor Javier April 1978 The Aramaic Text in the Trilingual Stele from Xanthus Journal of Near Eastern Studies 37 2 181 185 doi 10 1086 372644 JSTOR 545143 First page displayable no charge Bryce 1986 pages 48 49 Bryce 1986 pages 68 71 Laroche Emmanuel 1979 L inscription lycienne Fouilles de Xanthos VI 51 128 Bibliography Edit Bryce Trevor R 1986 The Lycians Volume I The Lycians in Literary and Epigraphic Sources Copenhagen Museum Tusculanum Press ISBN 87 7289 023 1 External links EditMelchert Craig H 2000 The Trilingual Inscription of Letoon Lycian Version pdf Achemenet Retrieved 2017 04 04 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Letoon trilingual amp oldid 1102491579, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
