Epidoseis ( grc, ἐπιδόσεις) was a form of non-compulsory, non-tax financial giving 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 cult ...

. These epidoseis were voluntary contributions, either in money, arms, or ships, which were made by the citizens of

Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh List ...

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

prytaneis The ''prytaneis'' (πρυτάνεις; sing.: πρύτανις ''prytanis'') were the executives of the '' boule'' of ancient Athens. Origins and organization The term (like '' basileus'' or '' tyrannos'') is probably of Pre-Greek etymology (po ...

to summon an assembly of the people -- ''

ecclesia Ecclesia (Greek: ἐκκλησία ''ekklēsia'') may refer to: Organizations * Ecclesia (ancient Greece) or Ekklēsia, the principal assembly of ancient Greece during its Golden Age * Ecclesia (Sparta), the citizens' assembly of Sparta, often w ...

'' -- 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 said what they would give; while those who were unwilling to give anything, remained silent or retired privately from the assembly.

Demosthenes Demosthenes (; el, Δημοσθένης, translit=Dēmosthénēs; ; 384 – 12 October 322 BC) was a Greek statesman and orator in ancient Athens. His orations constitute a significant expression of contemporary Athenian intellectual pro ...

, ''

Against Meidias "Against Meidias" ( grc, Κατὰ Μειδίου) is one of the most famous judicial orations of the prominent Athenian statesman and orator Demosthenes. Background Meidias, a wealthy Athenian, punched Demosthenes, who was at the time a choregos a ...

'' pp. 566-567. 23 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 until the amount was paid. These voluntary contributions were frequently very large. Sometimes the more wealthy citizens voluntarily undertook a "trierarchy", or the expenses of equipping a

trireme A trireme( ; derived from Latin: ''trirēmis'' "with three banks of oars"; cf. Greek ''triērēs'', literally "three-rower") was an ancient vessel and a type of galley that was used by the ancient maritime civilizations of the Mediterranean ...

. We read that the freedman

Pasion Pasion (also Pasio; grc, Πασίων; before 430 – 370 BC) was a slave in Ancient Athens in the early 4th century BC, who rose to become a successful banker and Athenian citizen. Life Pasion was born some time before 430 BC. It is unkn ...

furnished 1000 shields, together with five triremes, which he equipped at his own expense.

Chrysippus Chrysippus of Soli (; grc-gre, Χρύσιππος ὁ Σολεύς, ; ) was a Greek Stoic philosopher. He was a native of Soli, Cilicia, but moved to Athens as a young man, where he became a pupil of the Stoic philosopher Cleanthes. When Cl ...

presented a talent to the state, when

Alexander the Great Alexander III of Macedon ( grc, Ἀλέξανδρος, Alexandros; 20/21 July 356 BC – 10/11 June 323 BC), commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon. He succeeded his father Philip II to ...

moved against Thebes during the

Battle of Thebes The Battle of Thebes was a battle that took place between Alexander the Great and the Greek city-state of Thebes in 335 BC immediately outside of and in the city proper in Boeotia. After being made hegemon of the League of Corinth, Alexand ...

; Aristophanes, son of Nicophemus gave 30,000

drachma The drachma ( el, δραχμή , ; pl. ''drachmae'' or ''drachmas'') was the currency used in Greece during several periods in its history: # An ancient Greek currency unit issued by many Greek city states during a period of ten centuries, f ...

e for an expedition against

Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is ...

;

Charidemus Charidemus (or Kharidemos, grc-gre, Χαρίδημος), of Oreus in Euboea, was an ancient Greek mercenary leader of the 4th century BC. He had a complicated relationship with Athens, sometimes aiding the city in its efforts to secure its interes ...

and

Diotimus Diotimus ( el, Διότιμος) was a Stoic philosopher, who lived c. 100 BC. He is said to have accused Epicurus of being depraved, and to have forged fifty letters, professing to have been written by Epicurus, to prove it. According to Athenae ...

, two commanders, made a free gift of 800 shields; and similar instances of liberality are mentioned by German classical scholar

August Böckh August Böckh or Boeckh (; 24 November 1785 – 3 August 1867) was a German classical scholar and antiquarian. Life He was born in Karlsruhe, and educated at the local gymnasium; in 1803 he left for the University of Halle, where he studied t ...

, from whom the preceding examples have been taken.

, ''The Public Economy of Athens'' pp. 586, 587, 2nd. ed.

Notes

{{DGRA, author=WS, title=Epidoseis, page=468, url=http://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/moa/acl4256.0001.001/482 History of taxation Personal taxes Giving Ancient Greek law Economy of ancient Greece Taxation in ancient Athens