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Proxeny or ( grc-gre, προξενία) in
Proxeny or ( grc-gre, προξενία) in ancient Greece
Ancient Greece ( el, Ἑλλάς, Hellás) was a northeastern Mediterranean civilization, existing from the Greek Dark Ages of the 12th–9th centuries BC to the end of classical antiquity ( AD 600), that comprised a loose collection of cu ...
was an arrangement whereby a citizen (chosen by the city) hosted foreign ambassadors at his own expense, in return for honorary titles from the state. The citizen was called (; plural: or , "instead of a foreigner") or (). The proxeny decree
A decree is a legal proclamation, usually issued by a head of state (such as the president of a republic or a monarch), according to certain procedures (usually established in a constitution). It has the force of law. The particular term used ...
s, which amount to letters patent
Letters patent ( la, litterae patentes) ( always in the plural) are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch, president or other head of state, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, tit ...
and resolutions of appreciation
Resolution(s) may refer to:
Common meanings
* Resolution (debate), the statement which is debated in policy debate
* Resolution (law), a written motion adopted by a deliberative body
* New Year's resolution, a commitment that an individual mak ...
were issued by one state to a citizen of another for service as ''proxenos'', a kind of honorary consul
A consul is an official representative of the government of one state in the territory of another, normally acting to assist and protect the citizens of the consul's own country, as well as to facilitate trade and friendship between the people ...
looking after the interests of the other state's citizens. A common phrase is (benefactor) and ().
A proxenos would use whatever influence he had in his own city to promote policies of friendship or alliance with the city he voluntarily represented. For example, Cimon
Cimon or Kimon ( grc-gre, Κίμων; – 450BC) was an Athenian ''strategos'' (general and admiral) and politician.
He was the son of Miltiades, also an Athenian ''strategos''. Cimon rose to prominence for his bravery fighting in the naval Batt ...
was Sparta
Sparta ( Doric Greek: Σπάρτα, ''Spártā''; Attic Greek: Σπάρτη, ''Spártē'') was a prominent city-state in Laconia, in ancient Greece. In antiquity, the city-state was known as Lacedaemon (, ), while the name Sparta referr ...
's proxenos at Athens
Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates a ...
and during his period of prominence in Athenian politics, previous to the outbreak of the First Peloponnesian War
The First Peloponnesian War (460–445 BC) was fought between Sparta as the leaders of the Peloponnesian League and Sparta's other allies, most notably Thebes, Greece, Thebes, and the Delian League led by Athens with support from Ancient Argos, ...
, he strongly advocated a policy of cooperation between the two states. Cimon was known to be so fond of Sparta that he named one of his sons Lacedaemonius (as Sparta was known as Lacedaemon
Sparta (Doric Greek: Σπάρτα, ''Spártā''; Attic Greek: Σπάρτη, ''Spártē'') was a prominent city-state in Laconia, in ancient Greece. In antiquity, the city-state was known as Lacedaemon (, ), while the name Sparta referred ...
in antiquity).''Who's Who in the Greek World'' by John Hazel, page 56.
Being another city's proxenos did not preclude taking part in war against that city, should it break out – since the proxenos' ultimate loyalty was to his own city. However, a proxenos would naturally try his best to prevent such a war and to resolve the differences that were threatening to cause it. And once peace negotiations were on the way, a proxenos' contacts and goodwill in the enemy city could be profitably used by his city.
The position of proxenos for a particular city was often hereditary in a particular family.
See also
* Hospitium * XeniaReferences
Bibliography
* Monceaux, P., ''Les Proxénies Grecques'' (Paris, 1885). * Walbank, M., ''Athenian Proxenies of the Fifth Century B.C.'' (Toronto, 1978). * Marek, C., ''Die Proxenie'' (Frankfurt am Main, 1984) (Europäische Hochschulschriften: Reihe 3, Geschichte und ihre Hilfswissenschaften, 213). * Gerolymatos, A., ''Espionage and Treason: A Study of the Proxeny in Political and Military Intelligence Gathering in Classical Greece'' (Amsterdam, 1986). * Knoepfler, D., ''Décrets Érétrians de Proxénie et de Citoyenneté'' (Lausanne, 2001) (Eretria Fouilles et Researches, 11). * Gastaldi, Enrica Culasso, ''Le prossenie ateniesi del IV secolo a.C.: gli onorati asiatici'' (Alessandria: Edizioni dell'Orso, 2004) (Fonti e studi di storia antica, 10). * ''Encyclopædia Britannica''External links
* {{Authority control * Ancient Greek titles Ancient Greek law Diplomacy