Proxeny
Encyclopedia
Proxeny or Proxenia in ancient Greece
was an arrangement whereby a citizen (chosen by the city) hosted foreign ambassadors at his own expense, in return for honorary titles from the state. The citizen was called Proxenos (πρόξενος; plural: Proxenoi or Proxeni) or Proxeinos (πρόξεινος). The proxeny decree
s, which amount to letters of patent and resolutions of appreciation were issued by one state to a citizen of another for service as proxenos, a kind of honorary consul looking after the interests of the other state’s citizens. A cliché phrase is euergetes (benefactor) and proxenos (πρόξεινος τε ειη και ευεργέτης).
A Proxenos would use whatever influence he had in his own city to promote policies of friendship or alliance with the city he voluntarily represented. For example, Cimon was Sparta
's Proxenos at Athens
and during his period of prominence in Athenian politics, previous to the outbreak of the First Peloponnesian War
, he strongly advocated a policy of cooperation between the two states. Cimon was known to be so fond of Sparta that he named one of his sons Lacedaemonius
.
Being another city's Proxenos did not preclude taking part in war against that city, should it break out - since the Proxenos' ultimate loyalty was to his own city. However, a Proxenos would naturally try his best to prevent such a war from breaking out and to compose whatever differences were threatening to cause it. And once peace negotiations were on the way, a Proxenos' contacts and goodwill in the enemy city could be profitably used by his city.
The position of Proxenos for a particular city was often hereditary in a particular family.
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
was an arrangement whereby a citizen (chosen by the city) hosted foreign ambassadors at his own expense, in return for honorary titles from the state. The citizen was called Proxenos (πρόξενος; plural: Proxenoi or Proxeni) or Proxeinos (πρόξεινος). The proxeny decree
Decree
A decree is a rule of law issued by a head of state , according to certain procedures . It has the force of law...
s, which amount to letters of patent and resolutions of appreciation were issued by one state to a citizen of another for service as proxenos, a kind of honorary consul looking after the interests of the other state’s citizens. A cliché phrase is euergetes (benefactor) and proxenos (πρόξεινος τε ειη και ευεργέτης).
A Proxenos would use whatever influence he had in his own city to promote policies of friendship or alliance with the city he voluntarily represented. For example, Cimon was Sparta
Sparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
's Proxenos at Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
and during his period of prominence in Athenian politics, previous to the outbreak of the First Peloponnesian War
First Peloponnesian War
The First Peloponnesian War was fought between Sparta as the leaders of the Peloponnesian League and Sparta's other allies, most notably Thebes, and the Delian League led by Athens with support from Argos. This war consisted of a series of conflicts and minor wars, such as the Second Sacred War...
, he strongly advocated a policy of cooperation between the two states. Cimon was known to be so fond of Sparta that he named one of his sons Lacedaemonius
Lacedaimonius
Lacedaimonius was an Athenian general, the son of Cimon. Like his father and grandfather Lacedaimonius was a general and served Athens. His name comes from Lacedaimon, another name for the city state of Sparta. Cimon so admired the Spartans he showed them a sign of goodwill by naming his son after...
.
Being another city's Proxenos did not preclude taking part in war against that city, should it break out - since the Proxenos' ultimate loyalty was to his own city. However, a Proxenos would naturally try his best to prevent such a war from breaking out and to compose whatever differences were threatening to cause it. And once peace negotiations were on the way, a Proxenos' contacts and goodwill in the enemy city could be profitably used by his city.
The position of Proxenos for a particular city was often hereditary in a particular family.