The City-State and Its Benefactress: On the Role of Women in the City-States of Aeolis

The subject of the study is the activities of Archippa, daughter of Dikaogenes in Kima of Aeolis, and her relations with the polis, which adopted eight decrees in her honor. On one hand, the expenses of Archippa on public buildings such as the bouleuterion, temple, porticoes, and banquets for all citizens of the city are examined; on the other hand, the honors granted to her by the polis, including statues of her and her father, permission to inscribe these decrees on a marble stele, granting her a place in the cemetery reserved for benefactors of the city after her death, and holding elaborate funerals that only the most deserving citizens received. An important question is about Archippa's marital status, as she manages her affairs independently, although traditionally, a guardian was expected to represent a woman's interests. The article analyzes eight decrees in the ancient Greek language from the city of Kima in honor of Archippa, employing a historical-comparative method to assess changes in the status of women compared to the classical era, considering scientific research on related topics. The scientific novelty lies in the author’s argument, unlike the opinions of other researchers, that there is no data in sources that would allow judgment on Archippa's marital status, and suggests adhering to inscriptions that do not mention her having guardians. The main conclusions of the study are: firstly, Archippa was such an influential woman that her status was indistinguishable from that of men; she managed her affairs and directly addressed requests to the authorities rather than through guardians. Secondly, Archippa’s wealth and generosity were so substantial that the authorities of the polis were willing to break traditions and bestow honors that were previously unavailable to women. Thirdly, during the Hellenistic period, wealthy women began to actively participate in the life of the polis, and their roles were no longer limited to childbearing and managing households. Fourthly, in the poleis, the importance of money and wealth increased, surpassing customs and even legal norms.