Abstract
This paper investigates loans from local Attic temples to the Athenian state during the opening phase of the Peloponnesian war. Specifically, two documents are analyzed: IG I3 369, which calculates the loans the state received from temples (432/1-423/2); and IG I3 383, the inventory of the Treasury of the Other Gods (428/7). The evidence for these loans, although fragmentary, reveals a broad range of monetary support for the state. Over one-third of temples do not lend to Athens while many other temples lend once or on multiple occasions. Athenian documentation of these loans is epigraphically presented to the public through a framework of cooperation and solidarity with the state. They are recorded without organizational criteria of temple size, temple location in Attica, or loan amount so that all forms of financial support, no matter how small, receive equal recognition. The state, however, decreased its reliance upon the Other Gods during this time. Loans now complemented major funding from the Treasury of Athena and from allied phoros. A case study of the temple of Artemis Agrotera, which had one of the strongest financial relationships with the state, serves as an illustration of the temple-state financial nexus. It is argued that Artemis Agrotera’s major source of revenue was dedicated war spoils; the temple converted these spoils into a novel source of financing by lending them at interest to the state. Artemis Agrotera’s annual festival reinforced Athenian political and military dominance through commemoration of its victory at Marathon, and her classical temple was built (ca. 440) at the height of Athenian power in the Delian league. The evidence suggests that Artemis attracted worship and dedication from Athenian hoplites who offered spoils (i.e., sale proceeds from prisoners) to celebrate Athenian military strength. These spoils then became funding for future Athenian operations.