The Continuation of a Civic Obligation? The Athenian Trierachy in the Late Third Century BCE

While it is clear that third-centuryBCE Athens continued to maintain a fleet, albeit a much smaller one than in previous centuries, it is usually believed that the Athe-nian trierarchy had been abolished during the reign of Demetrios of Phaleron (318-308 BCE). However, an honorificdecree (I.Rhamnous 31) from Rhamnous, voted for a trier-arch by an association of sailors, gives evidence for the existence of a late-third-century BCE trierarchy, which preserved the basic features of its Classical predecessor. The Athe-nians continued to appoint trierarchs for year-long terms, expected them to serve in person and required them to pay for the maintenance of the ship in their care. The permanent assignment to the ship of a crew, which formed an association and acted as an agent of the Athenian state, represented an innovation.