Among the numerous inscriptions found during the excavations of the large Theater of Larissa are two decrees by Larissa regarding foreign judges, some from Sparta and others from Messene, as well as the beginning of a letter by the magistrates of the small town of Thalamai. The two decrees by Larissa are interesting for two reasons. By virtue of their syntax, in the Thessalian dialect, and their date, in the last third of the 2nd century BC, they represent the last period in which Thessalian was used; in reality the dialect was already being enriched with expressions common to all Greek cities under Hellenistic administration, and with terms that are morphologically similar to Koine. They offer two new testimonies as to Larissa's relations with the cities of the Peloponnese, relations which seem to have been renewed or strengthened after the end of the Achaian war. The letter of the Thalamai appears to be incorporated into this same trend and puts into context another fragment, known for some time (IG IX 2, 518), belonging to a letter addressed to Larissa by the ephors of Sparta.

Au nombre des inscriptions recueillies dans les fouilles du grand theâtre de Larisa, se trouvent deux decrets de Larisa pour des juges etrangers, les uns venus de Lacedemone, les autres de Messene, ainsi que le debut d’une lettre des magistrats de la petite cite de Thalamai. Ces decrets de Larisa presentent un double interet. Par leur redaction, en dialecte thessalien, et par leur date, le dernier tiers du iie s. av. J.-C., ils representent la periode ultime d’utilisation du thessalien, en realite nourri deja des expressions de la chancellerie hellenistique commune a toutes les cites grecques et de termes a la morphologie proche de celle de la koine. Ils apportent deux nouveaux temoignages sur les relations de Larisa avec des cites du Peloponnese, relations qui semblent avoir ete renouvelees ou renforcees apres la fin de la guerre d’Achaie. La lettre de Thalamai semble s’inserer dans ce meme mouvement et vient sortir de son isolement un autre fragment, connu depuis longtemps (IG IX 2, 518), d’une lettre que les ephores et la cite de Lacedemone avaient adressee a Larisa.

Following upon two previous publications devoted to the decrees of Larisa (BCH 128-129 (2005), p. 377-417; BCH 130 (2006) [2008], p. 435-483), we here present a third stele with three texts: two decrees of Larisa passed when Pausanias son of Thrasymedes of Pherai was strategos (ca 130/129 BC), one for an Athenian philosopher, and the other for three citizens of Kos; and a third decree emanatesing front the Molossian LeagUe and honouring recompenses judges sent from Larisa to Epiros to arbitrate in a dispute between Molossians and Akarnanians. These texts in the Thessalian dialect, which was used at this period to transcribe the official formulae of Hellenistic cities into Forms that progressively lost their coherence and distinctive character until they had no more thana 'Thessalian' tone, are of value For the history of Larisa, since the), are relevant to the intellectual life and certain aspects of the political or cconomic activities of Larisans in the second half of the 2nd c. BC.

Faisant suite aux deux publications précédentes consacrées à des décrets de Larissa (BCH 128-129 (2005), p. 377-417 ; BCH 130 (2006) [2008], p. 435-483), nous présentons ici une troisième stèle qui porte trois textes : deux décrets de Larissa, votés sous la stratégie de Pausanias fils de Thrasymédès, de Phères (ca 130/129 av. J.-C.), l'un pour un philosophe athénien, l'autre pour trois citoyens de Cos ; un troisième décret émane de la Confédération des Molosses et récompense des juges de Larissa envoyés en Epire pour rendre un arbitrage dans un conflit opposant les Molosses aux Acarnaniens. Ces textes en dialecte thessalien, qui à cette date sert à transcrire des formulaires de la chancellerie des cités hellénistiques dans des formes qui perdent progressivement de leur cohérence et de leur particularité pour n'apparaître plus qu'avec une coloration « thessalisante », ont une valeur pour l'histoire de Larissa puisqu'ils se rapportent à la vie intellectuelle et à certains aspects des activités politiques ou économiques des Larisséens dans la seconde moitié du IIe siècle av. J.-C.

A large stele found at Larisa in 1990 is inscribed with three decrees passed by this city during the course of the same year, probably very shortly after the Third Macedonian War, and therefore in 171/0 BC or one of the following years. The first two honour all Athenian philosopher, Satyros son of Philinos, who had Undoubtedly lived for several years in Larisa and had experienced times of war there: the people of Larisa recompensed him by awarding him proxenia and Various honours, culminating in the right of citizenship, which is the object of a Supplementary decree. The third decree was passed for a Mamertine from Sicily called Novius son of Ovius, who had paid the ransom of a Larisan captured by Roman soldiers during the same war, and given him his liberty. In the missing part of the inscription at the bottom of the stele, a Fourth decree probably awarded Novius the right of citizenship, as in the case of the philosopher Satyros. These decrees are of great importance for the further reason that they contain formulae that are very explicit and complete, which is nor common, and because they are drafted in a coherent, representative dialect, providing material For syntactical and stylistic observations that cannot always be made in the case of other Thessalian documents. Their value for the history of Larisa is equally great, since it is possible to assemble around them several more already known documents associated with to the Third Macedonian War, either with the few years preceding it or with 171-169 BC and the immediately following years.

A large stele found at Larisa in 1990 is inscribed with three decrees passed by this city during the course of the same year, probably very shortly after the Third Macedonian War, and therefore in 171/0 BC or one of the following years. The first two honour an Athenian philosopher, Satyros son of Philinos, who had undoubtedly lived for several years in Larisa and had experienced times of war there: the people of Larisa recompensed him by awarding him proxenia and various honours, culminating in the right of citizenship, which is the object of a supplementary decree. The third decree was passed for a Mamertine from Sicily called Novius son of Ovius, who had paid the ransom of a Larisan captured by Roman soldiers during the same war, and given him his liberty. In the missing part of the inscription at the bottom of the stele, a fourth decree probably awarded Novius the right of citizenship, as in the case of the philosopher Satyros. These decrees are of great importance for the further reason that they contain formulae that are very explicit and complete, which is not common, and because they are drafted in a coherent, representative dialect, providing material for syntactical and stylistic observations that cannot always be made in the case of other Thessalian documents. Their value for the history of Larisa is equally great, since it is possible to assemble around them several more already known documents associated with to the Third Macedonian War, either with the few years preceding it or with 171-169 BC and the immediately following years.