Your Day in the Ancient Greek World
December 18
December 18 in ancient Greece is represented in our source-audited archive by 2 verified records spanning 256 BC to 223 BC. Together, the entries below connect this calendar date with different moments in the ancient Greek world through historical and documentary evidence.
Across the centuries
On This Day
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256 BC
Life on This Day
Quarry Workers Protest Unfair Stone Assignments
On December 18, 256 BC, Greek quarry workers complained that they were being assigned harder stone that wore out their iron tools while easier stone went to other workers. The petition preserves a remarkably direct workplace grievance.
Sources
Primary evidence
- British Library Papyrus 510, Greek quarry-workers complaint
Modern scholarship
- British Library Archives and Manuscripts catalogue
Public links
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223 BC
Life on This Day
Xenon Takes Over Land After Cultivators Cannot Pay
On December 18, 223 BC, Xenon wrote to Milon offering to take over cultivation of thirty arourae after the previous cultivators gave up the land because they could not meet the remaining payments. Xenon undertook the outstanding installments to the royal bank.
Sources
Primary evidence
- P.Eleph. 17; Pap. Berlin P. 13507
Modern scholarship
- Texts & Scripts from Elephantine
- Willy Clarysse, The Archive of the Praktor Milon
Public links