Stratioticon

The Athenian war chest was called the Stratiotikon (pl. Stratiotika ) . Closely related to this was the theorikón , the festival box. Normally, the tax revenue of the city of Athens ( merismós ) was divided between different coffers according to rigid distribution keys . In times of crisis and war, this ratio could shift in favor of the war chest.

The term stratioticon was first used in pseudo-Demosthenes speeches (49.12; 49.16; 50, 10) in the 370s and 360s BC. Occupied. However, the assignment to the cash register, which will later also be designated as this, is not certain, as this may only be a technical term. The cash register is first documented with certainty for the year 349/348 BC. Chr.

In addition to normal payments, surpluses from other funds could also be allocated to the stratiotikon . Here, too, stratiotikon and theorikón faced each other as “rivals”. Demosthenes and his partisans like Apollodorus tried several times to shift the distribution in favor of the war chest, but were only able to get away with each other in 339/338 BC. Prevailed. From now on, in times of war, all proceeds went to the war chest.

The treasury was administered by a treasurer ( tamías ), who was elected for one or four years and had extensive powers. He was present when government income was leased and also made money available from his coffers for honorary inscriptions and other non-military purposes. At the time of the Lycurgus the office was evidently vacant, but later reappeared. In Hellenistic times it is difficult to prove the cash register. The last time she was 49/48 BC. Chr. Attested.

literature

• Alan S. Henry: Athenian Financial Officials after 303 BC In: Chiron . Vol. 14, 1984, pp. 49-92.
• Karl-Wilhelm Welwei : Classical Athens. Democracy and Power Politics in the 5th and 4th Centuries. Primus-Verlag, Darmstadt 1999, ISBN 3-89678-117-0 , p. 302 ff.