Diophantos of Sinope and the Scythian Wars -- Good Works Translation

Greek civic inscription from IosPE I2 352

The decree for Diophantos is a north Black Sea civic witness to the wars of Mithradates Eupator against Scythian power in Crimea and the Bosporan kingdom.

The inscription names Palakos king of the Scythians, Chabai, Nea Polis, Kalos Limen, the Taurians, the Maiden of Chersonesos, the Scythians around Saumakos, Theodosia, and Panticapaion.

The English is a Good Works Translation from the Greek inscription printed below. Broken passages remain visibly broken where the stone does not permit a continuous rendering.

Translation

IosPE I2 352 / PH184547

[...] son of Zethos spoke:

Since Diophantos son of Asklepiodoros, a Sinopian, being our friend and benefactor, trusted and honored no less than anyone by King Mithradates Eupator, continually becomes the cause of every good thing for each of us, urging the king toward the finest and most glorious actions:

When he was summoned by the king and took up the war against the Scythians, and came to our city, he made the crossing to the other side bravely with the whole army. When Palakos, king of the Scythians, suddenly attacked with a great multitude, Diophantos drew up for battle in the emergency, routed the Scythians who were thought to be irresistible, and made King Mithradates Eupator the first to set up a trophy over them.

He brought the neighboring Taurians under his control and founded a city on the site. Then he went away to the regions around the Bosporus, and after accomplishing many great deeds in a short time he returned again to our regions. Taking with him the citizens who were in their prime, he advanced into the middle of Scythia. When the Scythians surrendered to him the royal seats, Chabai and Nea Polis, it resulted that almost all became subject to King Mithradates Eupator. For these things the people, giving thanks, honored him with the fitting honors, since they had now been released from the dominion of the barbarians.

But when the Scythians made visible the lawlessness that was inborn in them, revolted from the king, and brought affairs to a change, King Mithradates Eupator for these reasons sent Diophantos out again with an army. Although the season was closing into winter, Diophantos took up his own men and the strongest of the citizens and set out toward the very royal seats of the Scythians. When he was hindered by winter storms, he turned back toward the coast. He took Kerkinitis and the Walls, and he undertook to besiege those who occupied Kalos Limen.

Palakos thought the season was working with him. He gathered all his own men, and in addition drew in the nation of the Rheuxinaloi. But the Maiden, who throughout all time protects the Chersonesites, was then also present with Diophantos. By the signs that occurred in the sanctuary she gave forewarning of the action about to happen, and she put courage and daring into the whole army.

When Diophantos had arranged matters prudently, the victory that came to King Mithradates Eupator was noble and worthy of remembrance for all time. Of the foot-soldiers either a single man or no one was saved; of the horsemen not many escaped. Leaving no time idle, Diophantos took the army and, at the beginning of spring, came against Chabai and Nea Polis with his whole weight [...]

[...] so that some [...] fled, while the remaining Scythians resolved concerning their own affairs [...]. He went away to the regions around the Bosporus and settled the matters there well and advantageously for King Mithradates Eupator.

When the Scythians around Saumakos made a revolution, killed Paerisades, king of the Bosporus, who had reared him, and plotted against Diophantos himself, he escaped the danger and boarded the ship sent to him by the citizens. Then he came to our city and summoned the citizens. Having as eager helper the king who sent him out, Mithradates Eupator, he arrived at the beginning of spring with an army of foot and ships. Taking picked citizens in three crews, he set out from our city and took Theodosia and Panticapaion. He punished those responsible for the uprising, captured Saumakos, who had been the murderer of King Paerisades, and sent him under guard to the kingdom. He recovered affairs for King Mithradates Eupator.

By assisting the embassies sent by the people, Diophantos shows himself in every useful matter well-disposed and ambitious for honor toward the Chersonesites.

Therefore, so that the people may be seen to render the fitting thanks to its benefactors, it has been resolved by the council and the people to crown Diophantos son of Asklepiodoros with a gold crown at the Partheneia in the procession, while the symmnamenoi make the proclamation:

"The people crowns Diophantos son of Asklepiodoros, a Sinopian, because of his excellence and goodwill toward it."

Let a bronze armed statue of him be set up in the acropolis beside the altar of the Maiden and that of Chersonesos. Let the magistrates named in the inscription take care of these things, so that they may be done as quickly and as beautifully as possible. Let the decree also be inscribed on the base of the statue. Let the treasurers of the sacred funds give the expense for these things.

These things were resolved by the council and people on the nineteenth day of the month Dionysios, when Agelas son of Lagorinos was king, Menios son of Herakleios was proaisymnon, and Damasi[kles] son of Athanaios was secretary.

SEG 42:695 / PH339370

[...] to flee, while the remaining Scythians resolved concerning their own affairs [...] with him. He went away to the regions around the Bosporus and settled the matters there well and advantageously for King Mithradates Eupator.

When the Scythians around Saumakos made a revolution and killed the king [...]

Colophon

This Good Works Translation was made from the Greek text of IosPE I2 352 / PH184547, with the parallel SEG 42:695 / PH339370 fragment appended as preserved in the local source text.

The English translation is independently derived from the Greek source body. Damaged and restored portions have been translated only where the preserved wording permits a coherent English rendering.

Compiled for the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.

🌲

Source Text: Greek

### IosPE I² 352 / PH184547

col. I.1 [— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —]σω[— — — — — — — — — —]
[— — — — — — —]ω̣ν̣ Ζ̣ή̣θου̣ ε̣ἶπαν· ἐπε̣[ιδὴ Διόφαντος Ἀσκλ]α̣[πι]οδώρου Σινωπεὺς φίλος [μὲν καὶ]
[εὐεργέτας ἁμῶν] ἐ̣ών, πιστε[υ]όμενος δὲ κ̣α̣[ὶ τιμώμενος οὐ]θενὸς ἧσσον ὑπὸ βασιλέος Μιθραδάτ̣α Εὐπά-
[τορος], δ̣ι̣ὰ παντὸς ἀγαθοῦ παραίτιος γίνεται ἑ̣[κάστωι] ἁ̣μῶν, ἐπ[ὶ] τὰ κάλλιστα καὶ ἐνδοξότατα τὸν
5 [βασ]ιλέα προτρεπόμενος· παρακληθεὶς δ’ ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ̣ [καὶ] τ̣ὸν ποτὶ Σκ̣ύθας πόλεμον ἀναδεξάμενος
[καὶ] π̣αραγενόμενος εἰς τὰν πόλιν ἁμῶν, ἐπάνδρως παντὶ τῶι στρατοπέδῳ τὰν εἰς τὸ πέραν διάβα-
[σι]ν ἐποήσατο. Παλάκου δὲ τοῦ Σκυθᾶν βασιλεῖος αἰφνιδίως ἐπιβαλόντος μετὰ ὄχλου πολλοῦ, παρα-
[τα]ξάμενος ἐν χρε̣ίαι, τοὺς ἀνυποστάτους δοκοῦντας εἶμεν Σκύθας τρεψάμενος πρῶτον ἀπ’ αὐ-
[τῶ]ν ἐπόησε βασιλέα Μιθραδάταν Εὐπάτορα τρόπαιον ἀναστᾶσαι· τοὺς δὲ παροικοῦντας Ταύρους ὑ-
10 [φ’ ἑ]αυτὸν ποησάμενος καὶ πόλιν ἐπὶ τοῦ τόπου συνοικίξας, εἰς τοὺς κατὰ Βόσπορον τόπους ἐχωρί-
[σθη] καὶ πολλὰς καὶ μεγάλας ἐν ὁλίωι χρόνωι πράξεις ἐπιτελέσας πάλιν εἰς τοὺς καθ’ ἁμὲ τόπους [ἐ]πέ-
[στ]ρεψε καὶ παραλαβὼν τοὺς ἐν ἀκμᾶι τῶν πολιτᾶν εἰς μέσαν τὰν Σκυθίαν προῆλθε. παραδόντων δὲ
[αὐτ]ῶι Σκυθᾶν τὰ βασίλεια Χαβαίους καὶ Νέαν πόλιν, σχεδὸν πάντας ὑπακόους συνέβα γενέσθαι
[βα]σ̣ιλεῖ Μιθραδάται Εὐπάτορι· ἐφ’ οἷς ὁ δᾶμος εὐχαριστῶν ἐτίμασε ταῖς καθηκούσαις αὐτὸν τιμαῖς,
15 [ὡ]ς̣ ἀπολελυμένος ἤδη τᾶς τῶν βαρβάρων ἐπικρατείας. τῶν δὲ Σκυθᾶν τὰν ἔμφυτον
[α]ὐ̣τοῖς ἀθεσίαν ἐκφανῆ καταστασάντων καὶ τοῦ μὲν βασιλεῖος ἀποστάντων, τὰ δὲ πρά-
[γμ]ατα εἰς μεταβολὰν ἀγαγόντων, δι’ ἃς αἰτίας βασιλεῖος Μιθραδάτα Εὐπάτορος Διόφαντον
[πά]λιν ἐκπέμ̣ψαντος μετὰ στρατοπέδου, καίπερ τοῦ καιροῦ συγκλείοντος εἰς χειμῶνα, Διό-
[φα]ντος ἀναλαβὼν τοὺς ἰδίους καὶ τῶν πολιτᾶν τοὺς δυνατωτάτους ὥρμασε μὲν ἐπ’ αὐτὰ
20 [τὰ β]ασίλεια τῶν Σκυθᾶν, κωλυθεὶς δὲ διὰ χειμῶνας, ἐπιστρέψας ἐπὶ τὰ παραθαλάσσια Κερκινῖτιν
[μὲν] ἐλάβετο καὶ τὰ Τείχη, τοὺς δὲ τὸν Καλὸν λιμένα κατοικοῦντας πολιορκεῖν ἐπεβάλετο. Παλά-
[κο]υ̣ δὲ συνε̣ργεῖν τὸν καιρὸν ἑαυτῶι νομίζοντος καὶ συναγαγόντος τοὺς ἰδίους πάντας, ἔτι δὲ
[καὶ] τ̣ὸ τῶν Ῥευξιναλῶν ἔθνος συνεπισπασαμένου, ἁ διὰ παντὸς Χερσονασιτᾶν προστατοῦσα
[Πα]ρ̣θένος, καὶ τότε συμπαροῦσα Διοφάντωι, προεσάμανε μὲν τὰν μέλλουσαν γίνεσθαι πρᾶξιν
25 [διὰ τ]ῶν ἐν τῶι ἱερῶι γενομένων σαμείων, θάρσος δὲ καὶ τόλμαν ἐνεποίησε παντὶ τῶι στρ̣α̣τοπέ-
[δωι· Δ]ιοφάντου δὲ διαταξαμένου σωφρόνως, συνέβα τὸ νίκαμα γενέσθαι βασιλεῖ Μιθ[ρ]αδά-
[ται Εὐ]π̣άτορι καλὸν καὶ μνάμας ἄξιον εἰς πάντα τὸν χρόνον· τῶν μὲγ γὰρ πεζῶν ἤτοι τις ἢ̣ οὐ-
[θεὶς ἐσώ]θ̣η, τῶν δὲ ἱππέων οὐ πολλοὶ διέφυγον· οὐδένα δὲ χρόνον ἀργὸν παρείς, παραλαβὼν
[τὸ στρατόπεδον], ἄ̣κ̣ρου τοῦ ἔαρος ἐπὶ Χαβαίους κα̣ὶ Νέ[αν π]όλιν ἐλθὼν παντὶ τ̣ῶ̣ι̣ β̣ά̣ρε̣ι̣
col. II.30 [— — — — —]Μ̣σ[․]ω[․․]ι[— — — — — — — — ὥστε τοὺς μὲν — — — — — — — —]
Δ̣․Ε̣Ε̣[— —]․φυγεῖν, τ̣οὺς δὲ λοιποὺς Σκύθας περὶ τῶν καθ’ ἑαυτοὺ̣[ς — — — — —]
τωι βουλεύσασθαι. εἴς τε τοὺς κατὰ Βόσπορον τόπους χωρισθ̣ε̣[ὶ]ς καὶ [καταστα]-
σάμενος καὶ τὰ ἔν⟨θ⟩ινα καλῶς καὶ συμφερόντως βασιλεῖ Μιθραδάται Εὐπά̣[τορι],
τῶν περὶ Σαύμακον Σκυθᾶν νεωτεριξάντων καὶ τὸν μὲν ἐκθρέψαντα αὐτὸν {²ΑΥΤΟ[—] (facs.)}² [βα]-
35 σιλέα Βοσπόρου Παιρισάδαν ἀνελόντων, αὐτῶι δ’ ἐπιβουλευσάντων, διαφ[υγὼν τὸν]
κίνδυνον ἐπέβα μὲν ἐπὶ τὸ ἀποσταλὲν ἐπ’ αὐτὸν ὑπὸ τῶν πολιτᾶν πλοῖον, παραγ̣[ενό]-
μενος δ̣[ὲ] καὶ παρακαλέσας τοὺς πολίτας, συνεργὸν πρόθυμον ἔχων τὸν ἐξ[απο]-
στέλλοντα β̣ασιλέα Μ[ι]θραδάταν Εὐπάτορα, παρῆν ἔχων ἄκρου τοῦ ἔαρος σ̣[τρα]-
τόπεδον πεζ̣ικ̣[ό]ν τε καὶ ναυτικόν, παραλαβὼν δὲ καὶ τῶν πολιτᾶν ἐπιλέ-
40 κτους ἐμ πληρώμασι τρισί, ὁρμαθεὶς ἐκ τᾶς πόλεος ἁμῶν παρέλαβ[ε]
μὲν Θεοδοσίαν καὶ Παντικάπαιον, τοὺς δὲ αἰτίους τᾶς ἐπαναστάσεο[ς]
τιμωρησάμενος καὶ Σαύμακον τὸν αὐτόχειρα γεγονότα βασιλέος Παιρι-
σάδα λαβὼν ὑποχείριον εἰς τὰν βασιλείαν ἐξαπέστειλε, τὰ δὲ πράγματα ἀ̣-
νεκτ[ά]σατο βασιλεῖ Μιθραδάται Εὐπάτορι. ταῖς τε πρεσβείαις ταῖς ἀποστελ-
45 λομέναις ὑπὸ τοῦ δάμου συνεργῶν εἰς πᾶν τὸ συμφέ[ρ]ον Χερσονασίταις εὔ-
νουν ἑαυτὸν καὶ φιλότιμον παρέχεται. ὅπως οὖν καὶ ὁ δᾶμος τοῖς εὐεργέταις
ἑαυτοῦ τὰς καθηκούσας φαίνηται χάριτας ἀποδιδούς, δεδόχθαι τᾶι βου-
λᾶι καὶ τῶι δάμωι στεφανῶσαι Διόφαντον Ἀσκλαπιοδώρου χρυσέωι στεφά-
νωι Παρθενείοις ἐν τᾶι πομπᾶι, τὸ ἀνάγγελμα ποιουμένων τῶν συμμναμόνων·
50 "ὁ δᾶμος στεφανοῖ Διόφαντον Ἀσκλαπιοδώρου Σινωπέα ἀρετᾶς ἕνεκα καὶ εὐνο[ί]-
ας τᾶς εἰς αὐτόν". σταθῆμεν δὲ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰκόνα χαλκέαν ἔνοπλον ἐν τᾶι ἀκροπό-
λε[ι] παρὰ τὸν τᾶς Παρθένου βωμὸν καὶ τὸν τᾶς Χερσονάσου, περὶ δὲ τούτων ἐπιμε-
λὲ̣[ς] γενέσθαι τοῖς ἐπιγεγραμμένοις ἄρχουσι, ὅπως ὅτι τάχιστα καὶ κάλλιστα
γέ̣νηται· ἀναγράψαι δὲ καὶ τὸ ψάφισμα εἰς τὰν βάσιν τοῦ ἀνδριάντος, τὸ δὲ εἰς
55 ταῦτα γενόμενον ἀνάλωμα δόμεν τοὺς ταμίας τῶν ἱερῶν. ταῦτ’ ἔδοξε βουλᾶ̣[ι]
καὶ δ̣άμωι μηνὸς Διονυσίου ἐννεακαιδεκάται, βασιλεύοντος Ἀγέλα τοῦ Λ[α]-
γορίνου, προαισυμνῶντος Μήνιος τοῦ Ἡρακλείου, γραμματεύοντος Δαμ̣[ασι]-
[κλ]εῖος τοῦ Ἀθαναίου. vacat

### SEG 42:695 / PH339370

col. II.31 [․․․․․] φυγεῖν, [τ]οὺς δὲ λοιποὺς Σκύθας περὶ τῶν καθ’ ἑαυτοὺ[ς σπείσασθαι {²⁷διομολογεῖν(?); συμβαλέσθαι(?)}²⁷ αὐ]-
τῶι {²⁷[σπεῖσαι Διοφάν]|τωι}²⁷ βουλεύσασθαι. εἴς τε τοὺς κατὰ Βόσπορον τόπους χωρισ[θεὶ]ς καὶ [καταστα]-
σάμενος καὶ τὰ ἔν⟨θ⟩ινα καλῶς καὶ συμφερόντως βασιλεῖ Μιθραδάται Εὐπ[άτορι],
τῶν περὶ Σαύμακον Σκυθᾶν νεωτεριξάντων καὶ τὸν μὲν ἐκθρέψαντα αὐτὸν [τὸν {²⁷πότε}²⁷ βα]-
35 σιλέα ...

Source Colophon

The Greek source body was extracted from the local Diophantos source text and copied for this translation pass at Tulku/Tools/scythian/sources/expansion_bench_2026-05-11/diophantos_scythian_wars_greek_source_manual83.txt.

The local source text identifies the records as PHI Greek Inscriptions IosPE I2 352 / PH184547 and SEG 42:695 / PH339370 from Chersonesos, preserving the damaged and restored state of the inscription.

🌲